The data was presented this month at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity (NAASO).
The data reveals that Hispanics and African Americans are less likely to use commercial weight loss programs and more likely to exercise and use dietary supplements for weight loss compared to whites.
The researchers have not publicized what constitutes 'unproven' dietary supplements.
The survey is significant in that it highlights that different ethnic groups have a predisposition towards different dietary supplement or functional food products.
This is information likely to be of use to marketers looking to steer their products across a gamut of consumer demographics.
A recent major trend in the US has been for food marketers to target Hispanic consumers with ethnic and Latin flavours.
The initial survey was conducted between November 18, 2005 and January 10, 2006 at the Center for Survey Research & Analysis (CSRA) at the University of Connecticut.
A sample of 3,500 people completed the telephone interview for a response rate of 28 percent.
The researchers defined commercial weight loss programs as organized programs where clients attend regular meetings either in person or online, while they define dietary supplements for weight loss as herbs or plant extracts.
According to the National Institutes of Health, 66 percent of US adults are overweight or obese, with Hispanic and African Americans tending to have higher rates than whites.
The researchers highlighted factors that may have contributed to ethnic differences in reported use of supplements.
These include: differences in preference, specific knowledge of weight loss options and supplement advertising targeted to ethnic minorities.