US to ban aid to weight loss

The US Food and Drug Administration is banning the weight-loss aid ephedra, saying it is unsafe and can cause heart attacks and strokes.

It is the first time the FDA has banned a supplement.

The agency said dieters were likely to do more harm than good by taking ephedra, which raises metabolism.

The ban will become effective 60 days after the new rule is published, but the FDA gave no publication date.