- With Mayo Clinic nutritionist
Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
As a specialty editor for the Food & Nutrition Center, Katherine Zeratsky helps you sort through the facts and figures, the fads and the hype to learn more about nutrition and diet.
A Marinette, Wis., native, she is certified in dietetics by the state of Minnesota and the American Dietetic Association. She has been with Mayo Clinic since 1999.
She is active in nutrition-related curriculum and course development in pediatrics at Mayo Clinic Rochester and nutrition education related to the physiology and recommended intakes for premature infants.
Other areas of interest include breast milk and formula safety, neonatal feeding, and nutrition for breast-feeding mothers.
She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, served a dietetic internship at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and worked as a registered dietitian and health risk counselor at ThedaCare of Appleton, Wis., before joining the Mayo Clinic staff.
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Question
Hoodia: An effective appetite suppressant?
Is hoodia an effective appetite suppressant?
Answer
from Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
There is no conclusive evidence that hoodia is an effective appetite suppressant or that it contributes to significant, long-term weight loss. Hoodia is a cactus that is native to the Kalahari Desert in Africa. Natives supposedly eat it to reduce hunger during long hunts, which led to interest in hoodia as a possible weight-loss aid.
One small study — sponsored by a supplement manufacturer — found that hoodia may affect the part of the brain that controls hunger. But much more research is needed to establish the potential effectiveness and long-term safety of hoodia.
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