The allure of quick weight loss solutions is undeniable, particularly with the rise of social media marketing and the increasing influence of the supplement industry. Among these solutions, "skinny drops," also known as metabolism drops, have gained popularity, especially among teenagers. However, experts warn that these unregulated products pose significant mental and physical health risks, particularly to young, developing bodies. This article delves into the safety and efficacy of skinny drops, examining their ingredients, potential side effects, and the perspectives of health professionals.
Understanding "Skinny Drops" and Their Appeal
"Skinny drops" are marketed as wellness "hacks" that promise to boost metabolism and promote weight loss. The products are available in retail stores, weight-loss clinics, and online. Companies such as Dao Wellness offer these drops as a comparative product to the recalled Rae Metabolism Drops. These products are often promoted through social media, making informal marketing easier than ever. This ease of access and the promise of rapid results make them particularly appealing to teenagers and adults seeking a quick fix for weight loss.
The Regulatory Landscape: An Unregulated Market
One of the most significant concerns surrounding "skinny drops" is the lack of regulation. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate vitamins and supplements for safety or effectiveness before they hit the market. There is currently no legislation or approval process from the FDA or other regulatory bodies ensuring supplements are safe or work effectively. Supplement companies typically only test that what’s on the label is in the pill, but this certification doesn’t show that it’s safe or that it’s going to work. This lack of oversight means that consumers are essentially participating in a "big experiment" with unknown consequences.
Expert Opinions: A "False Promise"
Two top public health experts, David Ludwig, a nutrition researcher at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Sharon Akabas, a professor of nutrition at Columbia University, agree that no weight loss supplement is worth taking, no matter how flashy or convincing the product appears. Ludwig states there's "no evidence that any of these over the counter metabolism boosters are effective,” and Akabas calls the drops a "false promise." They emphasize that metabolism can't be hacked, and the ingredients in metabolism drops can't be backed by any study as verifiable weight loss aids.
Ingredients and Their Dubious Effects
"Skinny drops" typically contain a mix of ingredients such as raspberry ketones, caffeine, taurine, green tea leaf, and dandelion root. None of these ingredients have been rigorously tested over the long term.
Read also: Skinny Guys Bulking Guide
- Caffeine: Caffeine appears to speed up metabolic rate in the short term but has no long term effect on weight loss, research shows. The stimulant can also have an ill effect on the brain. Anxiety is exacerbated by caffeine, particularly in vulnerable individuals, which are often adolescents. The negative effects on mood could exacerbate unhealthy dietary patterns and eating disorders.
- Raspberry Ketones: There’s some evidence raspberry ketones also increase metabolic rate, but only in extremely high doses. Any quantity that would make a measurable difference would likely cost hundreds of dollars and be impractical to consume, as well as come along with extra calories and salt.
- Green Tea Extract and Taurine: Green tea extract and taurine, an amino acid commonly found in energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster, haven’t been found to produce meaningful weight loss, either.
Potential Side Effects: More Harm Than Good
Ingesting these ingredients can lead to relatively minor side effects like digestive issues, sleep disruption, jitters, and elevated blood pressure, to more severe consequences, like heart attacks and liver damage. In the past, weight-loss substances like ephedrine have been banned by the FDA for posing an "unreasonable risk of illness and injury." Ludwig is concerned that if supplements like "skinny drops" are effective at all, then "they're highly likely to be toxic at the same time.”
Metabolism Myths: Separating Fact from Fiction
Metabolism is often portrayed as a system that can be easily hacked to achieve weight loss or gain energy. However, human metabolism is a complex chain of chemical reactions that convert food and drinks into energy for basic bodily functions. It is dynamic and influenced by factors such as body size and composition, sex, and age. The only tested ways to boost metabolism are exercise, physical activity, and strength training. Supplements like metabolism drops present as fitness short-cuts, offering a quick, convenient way for people to bypass these daily habits - all while introducing ingredients that could be doing more harm than good.
A Tragic Real-Life Example
The potential dangers of "skinny drops" were tragically highlighted by the case of Sarah Thompson, a 34-year-old mother who died after taking the drops to lose weight. Sarah, who had struggled with her weight after throat cancer treatment, lost over four stone in a month after taking the drops. However, she experienced severe side effects, including vomiting and an inability to keep down food or liquid. Just days later, she was found dead in her bed. While test results are still pending, her loved ones believe the drops were to blame. This heartbreaking story underscores the importance of caution and skepticism when considering unregulated weight loss products.
GLP-1 Supplements: Echoing the Hype of Weight Loss Drugs
As the Food and Drug Administration cracks down on compounded versions of popular weight loss drugs Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide), Americans who rely on these cheaper medications may be drawn to a dicey sector of the dietary supplement market. From colorful patches and fruit punch-flavored gummies to prebiotic powders and under-the-tongue tinctures, dietary supplements that claim to “complement” or “supercharge” the body’s levels of the gut hormone GLP-1 are a dime a dozen. So-called GLP-1 supplements, named to echo the class of glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist drugs that includes Wegovy and Zepbound, are likely to be ineffective for weight loss.
Ingredients popping up on GLP-1 supplement labels include everything from berberine to chromium to saffron extract, which have a minimal body of research supporting their effects on weight loss. The FDA doesn’t regulate dietary supplements for safety or effectiveness before they hit the market, whether they’re a daily multivitamin or a post-workout protein powder. For that reason, the agency advises consulting a health care provider before adding any supplement to your regimen.
Read also: The Truth About Skinny Fiber
FDA Notifications: Hidden and Harmful Ingredients
The FDA has issued numerous public notifications regarding dietary supplements, including those marketed for weight loss, that contain hidden and potentially harmful ingredients. These products often contain undeclared drugs like DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine or methylhexanamine). These hidden ingredients can pose serious health risks, including heart problems and liver damage.
The Importance of Skepticism and Research
Given the risks associated with unregulated supplements, it is crucial for adolescents and older consumers to be skeptical and do their research before taking any supplement. The wellness market often preys on the desperate, and these are people who have poor access. Patients with obesity have always had poor access to obesity medications. It’s very tricky, because they’ll put that big ‘GLP-1’ on there and it makes you think, ‘Well, maybe this is the drug,’ if you’re not thinking about how to read these labels or if you don’t know how to read these labels.
Safer Alternatives: A Focus on Sustainable Health
If weight loss is your goal, choose safer ways to lose weight. Talk with your healthcare professional about making healthy changes that lead to lasting weight loss. Instead of relying on quick fixes, focus on sustainable lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, physical activity, strength training, and a healthy diet. These methods are proven to boost metabolism and promote long-term health without the risks associated with unregulated supplements.
The HCG Diet: Another Dangerous Trend
Another weight loss trend to avoid is the HCG diet. HCG stands for human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone made in the body during pregnancy. Lab-made HCG is added to some weight-loss products that are sold without a prescription. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns against using these products. There's no proof that HCG weight-loss products alone help you lose weight. Any weight loss likely comes from getting very few calories as part of the HCG diet. People who follow diets so low in calories are likely to lose weight in the short term. HCG weight-loss products are linked with making some cancers worse, including prostate cancer. The HCG in these products may prompt the body to make hormones called androgens. The FDA has approved HCG as a prescription medicine for some uses, such as to help people get pregnant.
Read also: How to Gain Weight if You're Skinny