A University of Connecticut survey has found that one-third of Americans trying to lose weight are using supplements – more than double the 15 percent that used prescription drugs.

The survey, funded by GlaxoSmithKline, which hopes to soon have FDA approval to sell a low-dose version of the prescription drug Xenical (orlistat) as the first FDA-approved over-the-counter diet pill, was conducted nationwide from November 2005 to January 2006.

Nearly half the participants in the survey said they had made a serious attempt to lose weight at some point for at least three days., with 34 percent saying they used supplements -- which the FDA does not have to approve -- compared to the 15 percent who used prescription drugs.

The results were also interesting in that 40 percent of obese respondents said they had never been advised by their doctor to lose weight, and even fewer respondents indicated they would discuss the subject with their doctor.

GlaxoSmithKline, which is still awaiting FDA approval of alli (pronounced Al-EYE), is clearly betting that millions of Americans that are reluctant to talk about diet drugs with their doctor will decide to try an FDA-approved diet drug instead of one of the many unregulated herbal products and diet supplements.