Dietary supplements sold for weight loss pose a risk to public health due to deceptive claims and unscrupulous manufacturing practices in the context of weak federal regulation. Efforts to strengthen U.S. federal oversight have not been successful, thus action at the state and local levels should be explored. This study investigates proposed action to impose excise taxes on weight-loss supplements.

We reviewed U.S. federal law on taxation at federal, state, and local levels and precedent for taxation of harmful consumer products to promote public health. We assessed the rationale, legal viability, and potential effectiveness of proposed excise taxes on weight loss supplements.

Taxation of tobacco and sweetened beverages is effective in reducing consumer use. Imposition of excise taxes on weight-loss supplements is within the authority of federal, state, and local governments, though is least politically feasible at the federal level. State or local taxation of these products has clear rationale, legal viability, and likelihood of effectiveness in reducing the public health burden posed by these products.

Excise taxation is an effective policy intervention to reduce consumer use, particularly among youth, and is a promising public health strategy to decrease consumer exposure to noxious weight-loss supplements.

在联邦监管薄弱的情况下，由于欺骗性的声称和不道德的制造做法，为减肥而出售的膳食补充剂对公众健康构成风险。加强美国联邦监督的努力并未成功，因此应探索州和地方层面的行动。本研究调查了对减肥补充剂征收消费税的拟议行动。

我们审查了美国关于联邦、州和地方各级税收的联邦法律以及对有害消费品征税以促进公众健康的先例。我们评估了对减肥补充剂提议的消费税的基本原理、法律可行性和潜在有效性。

对烟草和加糖饮料征税可有效减少消费者的使用。对减肥补充剂征收消费税属于联邦、州和地方政府的权力范围，尽管在联邦一级在政治上是最不可行的。这些产品的州或地方税收在减少这些产品造成的公共卫生负担方面具有明确的理由、法律可行性和有效的可能性。

消费税是减少消费者使用的有效政策干预措施，尤其是在年轻人中，并且是减少消费者接触有害减肥补充剂的有前景的公共卫生战略。