Are you an adult looking for a way to jumpstart your weight loss journey? Many adults struggle with weight loss and look for solutions that are safe and effective. Fortunately, there are several fat burner supplements available that are designed specifically for adults to help them lose weight quickly and easily. However, it's crucial to approach these supplements with caution and a well-informed perspective.
Understanding Fat Burners
Fat burners are dietary supplements designed to boost your body's natural fat-burning processes. They work by increasing your metabolism, suppressing your appetite, and enhancing the body's ability to burn fat as fuel. While these supplements can be highly effective in aiding weight loss, it is important to understand that they are not a magic solution for shedding pounds.
It is important to note that not all fat burners are created equal. Some contain harsh stimulants or synthetic ingredients that can have negative side effects on the body. Others may not be as effective as they claim to be. When used properly and as part of a healthy lifestyle, fat burners can help boost weight loss results and improve overall body composition.
Choosing Fat Burner Supplements Wisely
If you're considering using fat burner supplements, here's how to choose them wisely:
- Look for natural ingredients: Always choose fat burner supplements that contain natural ingredients, such as green tea extract, caffeine, and cayenne pepper.
- Check the dosage: Check the dosage instructions before purchasing a fat burner supplement. Make sure to follow the recommended dosage and not exceed it.
- Read reviews: Read customer reviews before making a purchase. This will help you understand the effectiveness and safety of the supplement.
- Check for certifications: Look for certifications such as GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and FDA (Food and Drug Administration).
- Consult a healthcare professional: If you have any underlying health conditions or taking medications, consult a healthcare professional before taking any fat burner supplement.
Lifestyle Changes for Sustainable Weight Loss
While fat burner supplements can be an effective tool in helping you lose weight, they are not a magic solution. In order to truly see results and maintain a healthy weight, it’s important to make lifestyle changes that support your weight loss journey.
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- Exercise regularly: Regular exercise not only burns calories, but it also helps to build muscle, which can increase your metabolism.
- Eat a balanced diet: Incorporate plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats into your diet.
- Drink plenty of water: Staying hydrated can help to boost your metabolism and reduce feelings of hunger.
- Get enough sleep: Lack of sleep can disrupt your metabolism and lead to increased feelings of hunger.
- Manage stress: High levels of stress can lead to increased cravings and overeating.
Remember, sustainable weight loss is not a quick fix. It’s important to make lifestyle changes that you can stick to in the long term.
Precautions When Using Fat Burner Supplements
- Stick to the recommended dosage: Always stick to the recommended dosage mentioned on the product label and do not exceed it.
- Avoid using multiple fat burner supplements: Combining multiple fat burner supplements may cause adverse effects on your health.
- Be aware of stimulants: Some fat burner supplements contain stimulants like caffeine, which may cause jitteriness, increased heart rate, or insomnia.
- Stay hydrated: Fat burner supplements may cause dehydration, especially those containing diuretics.
- Don't use fat burner supplements as a replacement for a healthy diet and exercise: While fat burner supplements may aid weight loss, they should not be used as a replacement for a healthy diet and exercise.
The Danger of Illegal Slimming Pills
When it comes to losing weight, most of us know the only real way to do it is a sustained period of healthy eating and exercise, requiring hard work and patience. But every year, thousands of people buy illegal slimming pills on the internet, enticed by miracle claims of rapid weight loss. One in three slimmers have purchased pills online, according to the joint #FakeMeds survey by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Slimming World.
“You just don’t know what you are putting in your body,” warns Danny Lee-Frost, head of enforcement at the MHRA. Many slimming pills have an amphetamine-like effect, and will increase your heart rate. “If there’s a weakness in your heart, you’re in trouble. If you don’t know about it, you will once you start taking them.”
The desperation to lose weight can cause otherwise sensible people to be reckless: four out of 10 survey respondents said they used slimming pills knowing there were health risks.
Case Studies: When Slimming Pills Go Wrong
Elaine Gormley was desperate when she turned to slimming pills. She had been obese since childhood but lost a significant amount of weight by going to Slimming World classes in her early 20s. But by 2012, following a breakup and an operation, the 29-year-old from Belleek in County Fermanagh had gained all 10 stone 6lb of it back. She now weighed 21 stone 5lb.
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“I lost my focus. I felt I was unloved,” she says. “A friend said to me that his sister had tried these pills called Dexaprine. She got them on the internet. I said I would give them a go. I heard she was getting massive results.”
Having ordered the pills from Amazon, she started having unpleasant side effects almost immediately. “Within minutes I was beginning to get really, really hot sweats,” she says. “I wasn’t even moving, and the sweat was lashing off me. But at the same time I felt really cold, and my heart was beginning to beat so hard. By the time I got to work, my hands were shaking.”
She tolerated the side effects for three days, weighing herself on the third day. She had lost 8lb. “I thought, ‘This is the miracle that I have been waiting for.’ But then on the fourth day, I took the tablet and my chest started to really ache. I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I had no choice but to stick my fingers down my throat to force myself to be sick - to get the tablet out.”
Gormley told her mother, who threw the pills away. She was lucky. Dexaprine is a potent thermogenic fat-burning dietary supplement, which has since been banned in the UK and the Netherlands. It contains the amphetamine derivative DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine), which has been linked to psychiatric disorders, heart attacks, and strokes. In 2012, it was implicated in the death of 30-year-old London marathon runner Claire Squires, who collapsed a mile from the finish line. In 2014, Dutch scientists announced that they had found a “cocktail of synthetic stimulants” in the supplement.
Sue Golder had been overweight when she was young, later compounded by three pregnancies and a hectic family life, but it was only after she lost her husband that she felt compelled to do something drastic.
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“Everything I read and saw on TV said obesity was linked to every cancer you could imagine. It frightened me into thinking, ‘You’ve got to do something, you’ve only got yourself here for the kids now,” she says.
“I’d been to my doctors. I had sat in tears and asked for help. They had been helpful, just said, ‘You need to exercise more and eat less,’ but it wasn’t the quick fix that I wanted. I Googled “diet pills,” and loads of sites came up. And the one that I was drawn to showed a doctor with a stethoscope around his neck. I looked through it and there was this questionnaire. It looked official. It was so easy to order them on my credit card.”
Golder took the pills for three weeks before a terrifying episode made her stop. “I was here on my own - the children were all at school. I just felt awful - it came over me like a wave. I thought I was going to be sick. My legs were shaking, I could see all these silver dots flying around my head and I was thinking, ‘Oh my God, I’m going to die. My kids are going to find me dead on the floor.’”
The pills that Golder took were Reductil, which contained the now-prohibited substance sibutramine. In 2010 a large clinical trial, the Sibutramine Cardiovascular Outcomes study, found that the cardiovascular risks of sibutramine outweighed its benefits. Although banned throughout the EU, it is still available widely online, and there have been numerous reports of disturbing side effects. In 2012 an Irish teenager developed ischaemic colitis, a severe swelling of blood vessels supplying the intestines, after taking pills containing the substance.
Sibutramine poses a serious threat, Lee-Frost says. “Reductil was a big blockbuster, sold all over the world. Very popular, and then reports came in of unforeseen incidents. Strokes and heart attacks. Eventually, it was pulled. You will still find [sibutramine] on the internet, being churned out. It comes out of factories in China. It shouldn’t be sold - it’s an unlicensed product.”
He explains that, although some pills will openly contain sibutramine - an infamous version coming out of China has a blister pack in the shape of a woman’s hourglass figure and lists sibutramine as an ingredient - others don’t mention it at all. “You have pills, capsules, and tablets that say they are natural, safe, herbal. But when we have them analyzed they contain more sibutramine than the original withdrawn Reductil did.” Aduki diet pills, which claim to be completely natural, are one dangerous example. More than 28,000 of them were seized in a Manchester raid in 2016.
In 2017, 24-year-old Liam Willis died in Swansea after taking diet pills containing 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), which speeds up the metabolism to a dangerously fast level. Two years before, pills containing DNP had been blamed for the death of Eloise Parry, 21, from Shrewsbury. The dealer who sold those pills was later jailed for seven years. The same chemical also killed schoolboy rugby star Chris Mapletoft, 18, in 2013. “This was never about rugby. It was never about sport. I think it was all about the six-pack,” his mother, Lesley, told the BBC after his inquest. “A parent should never have to bury their child, not over something like this.”
Thankfully, Josh Hewitt, 20, from Richhill in County Armagh, stopped taking the pills he bought on eBay before they could do serious harm, but they did have a detrimental effect on his mental health, making him feel paranoid and anxious (some diet pills have been linked to psychotic episodes). They also made him put on weight. The aspiring vlogger points to the role that social networks played in his decision to use them. “There are pressures that come from online,” he says. “People look for likes and want to look the best for photos.”
Hewitt had always had a weight problem and suffered low self-esteem but never confided in anyone. “You see girls on TV saying they suffer from body confidence issues, but as a guy you bottle it in. You don’t want someone to think less of you, what you’re going through. It’s a big issue for men.”
Addressing the Root Causes
Almost all the diet pill users I spoke to mentioned their very low self-esteem, whether they were overweight or not (my university friend wasn’t). Many felt isolated and were dealing with feelings of shame that prevented them from confiding in others. We need, the psychotherapist Susie Orbach says, to “diversify the damn aesthetic”. Society’s perception of physical beauty - male and female - is still so one-note. “Body positive” campaigners are working to change this, but there is still a long way to go.
“How to stop these pills being attractive?” asks Orbach. “There’s the rub. It isn’t one thing, it’s systemic, which means we need to help parents and educators relax about food and bodies so their preoccupations don’t become their children’s addictions. We need to challenge the narrowness of the government’s ludicrous obesity policy. We need to prosecute [slimming pill] companies for false advertising. We need to show bodies moving and active at all sizes, as the Sport England This Girl Can advert did. We need to start to question the narrow aesthetic and the notion that body is all.”
Golder and Gormley eventually lost their weight healthily, thanks to Slimming World. Hewitt is eating a more balanced diet and taking his dog for more walks. The promise of a miracle transformation didn’t work for them. They were lucky to stop before anything worse could happen to them, but their cases illustrate just how little consumers know about the tablets they are buying. The MHRA encourages people to use its free search function to check that suppliers are licensed. Had Golder used that, she would never have bought those pills. “It’s taken me years to realize it but there is no quick fix,” she says.
Examining Specific Supplements
Weight loss supplements contain active ingredients - such as fiber, herbs, and minerals - that target your body’s metabolism, fat absorption, and satiety. You may find supplements in tablet, liquid, and powder forms.
There are many supplements on the market, and each has its own claims and potential benefits with regard to weight loss.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) points out that only some supplements are supported by research.
Here’s a look at what people who have used certain weight loss supplements say about the products they have used. These three weight loss supplements were chosen because they contain ingredients that have some scientific backing, they have customer reviews, and they have relatively mild side effects.
alli (Orlistat)
alli is the only weight loss supplement approved by the Food and Drug Administration. It contains the active ingredient orlistat. This product works by preventing your digestive tract from absorbing up to 30% of the fat you eat. Any undigested fat exits your body through feces.
Research suggests that by combining this supplement with a low-calorie diet, people may be able to lose 5-10% of their starting weight. The supplement also appears to help people keep the weight off over time. The manufacturer of alli recommends it for use in adults over 18 with a BMI of 25 or higher. Possible side effects include bloating, diarrhea, oily discharge, and flatulence.
What people say about Orlistat:
Dani shares: “With diet and exercise and these pills, I have managed to lose and keep off 30 pounds over the course of three and a half months. The key [is including] diet and exercise. I’m not just taking these pills hoping that … they are just going to make me lose weight without having to put in any work. There are some side effects … [I]f you consume too much fat in a meal, you may run into some [digestive] side effects. I have found this to be true.”
Stripfast5000 Fire Bullets with K-CYTRO
This Amazon bestselling supplement relies on high caffeine content to promote weight loss. Its active ingredients include green tea, raspberry ketone extract, cayenne pepper, and green coffee extract.
According to the NIH, caffeine may boost your energy levels, increase your calorie burn, and help your body break down fat. And green coffee extract, green tea, and caffeine may help you lose a small amount of weight. Green coffee extract, specifically, may reduce fat and help your cells use blood sugar for energy.
This supplement is for people over 18 and is not suitable for people who have a sensitivity to caffeine, are pregnant or nursing, or have high or low blood pressure.
What people say about StripFast5000 Fire Bullets:
Ariana shares: “I started seeing results in the first week. When I put my pants on, they were not super tight on the stomach. Then I started not feeling so hungry and had so much energy that I started going back to the gym and got so much muscle. If you want to lose weight, just give this a try. Just make sure to drink tons of water.”
NaturaLife Labs Acetyl L-Carnitine 1,500 mg
L-carnitine is another ingredient with research to support its weight loss claims. Your body actually makes carnitine, and it’s found naturally in foods such as dairy products, fish, and poultry. L-carnitine works by supporting fat metabolism in your body. According to the NIH, it may help people lose a small amount of weight. With regard to safety, dosage matters. Adults can safely take up to 2,000 milligrams per day for 1 year. Possible side effects include stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. You may also notice a foul, fishy body odor when using this supplement.
What people say about NaturaLife Labs Acetyl L-Carnitine 1,500 mg:
Recom_48221 shares: “I’ve been struggling with trying to lose weight for several years and was at a stuck-point. I added the Acetyl L-Carnitine to a 10-day detox regimen after reading about its effectiveness as a weight loss aid. I ended up losing a total of 15 pounds with the use of Acetyl L-Carnitine. I definitely credit my use of this product for the success.”
How Long Does It Take For a Supplement to Work?
The amount of time it takes for a supplement to work depends on the supplement and various factors unique to your overall health. Taking supplements along with other lifestyle measures, such as diet and exercise, may help you lose weight more quickly. For example, using alli, you can expect to lose weight each week. For every 2 pounds you lose with diet and exercise, you may lose an additional 1 pound from the supplement alone. Over 6 months, most people lose 5-10 pounds total.
Side effects will depend on the active ingredients in the supplement you choose. Read labels carefully and discuss any concerns with a pharmacist or another healthcare professional.
It’s a good idea to make an appointment with a healthcare professional to discuss taking over-the-counter supplements, the possible side effects of these products, and any interactions they may have with medications you’re taking.
If you’re trying to lose weight, consider making an appointment with a healthcare professional. They may suggest a diet or exercise program that can help you reach your goals.
The Dark Side of "Natural" Supplements: A Case of Liver Failure
Globally, people are struggling with obesity. Many effective, non-conventional methods of weight reduction, such as herbal and natural dietary supplements, are increasingly being sought. Fat burners are believed to raise metabolism, burn more calories, and hasten fat loss. Despite patient perceptions that herbal remedies are free of adverse effects, some supplements are associated with severe hepatotoxicity.
A previously healthy 28-year-old female bodybuilder with no risk factors for liver disease presented to her local emergency center with fatigue, malaise, inability to exercise, and new-onset jaundice. Her symptoms worsened over a span of one week before hospitalization. The patient was a professional bodybuilder taking a multi-ingredient, nonstimulant health supplement and fat burner (Somalyz and Lipolyz, Species Nutrition, USA). Somalyz contains usnic acid (4 mg), propionyl-L-carnitine (167 mg), phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine (50 mg), gamma-aminobutyric acid (667 mg), and vitamin E (27 IU) per capsule. Lipolyz contains usnic acid (12 mg), propionyl-L-carnitine (500 mg), green tea extract (300 mg), guggulsterone Z and guggulster-one E (10 mg), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (2 mg), and vitamin E (20 IU) per capsule. She was taking one to two capsules of Somalyz at bedtime and one capsule of Lipolyz with meals three times a day as recommended for one month before illness.
On evaluation at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, there were no stigmata of chronic liver disease. Blood work revealed a total serum bilirubin level of 82.08 mmol/L (normal range 1.71 mmol/L to 20.5 mmol/L), a direct bilirubin level of 47.88 mmol/L (1.71 mmol/L to 13.6 mmol/L), a serum alanine aminotransferase level of 1220 U/L (1 U/L to 53 U/L), a serum aspartate aminotransferase level of 577 U/L (1 U/L to 50 U/L), an alkaline phosphatase level of 111U/L (30 U/L to 110 U/L), a gamma-glutamyl transferase level of 125 U/L (8 U/L to 35 U/L), an international normalized ratio of 2.6, and a serum creatinine level of 53.04 μmol/L (44.2 μmol/L to 106.2 μmol/L).
Etiological workup included the following: negative viral serology (hepatitis A virus immunoglobulin M, hepatitis B virus surface antigen and core antibody, hepatitis C virus antibody [polymerase chain reaction assay], cytomegalovirus DNA and Epstein-Barr virus immunoglobulin M); negative syphilis rapid plasma regain; negative autoimmune markers (antinuclear antibody, antiliver kidney muscle antibody, antimitochondrial antibody, and antismooth muscle antibody); and normal serum gamma globulins. Extensive toxicology screening was negative, with no features of acetaminophen toxicity (acidosis, high lactate, or renal failure). She had normal levels of ferritin, ceruloplasmin, and alpha-1 antitrypsin. A pregnancy test was negative. A computed tomography scan of her abdomen revealed a normal-size liver with a patent portal vein, hepatic artery, hepatic vein, and normal biliary anatomy.