The quest for effective weight loss solutions has led to a variety of products, including weight loss patches. Marketed as a convenient way to deliver weight-loss ingredients through the skin, these patches have gained popularity. However, their effectiveness and safety remain a topic of debate. This article explores the ingredients commonly found in weight loss patches, the scientific evidence (or lack thereof) supporting their use, and what you should consider before trying them.
Understanding Weight Loss Patches
Weight loss patches are adhesive patches applied to the skin, designed to transfer ingredients into the body over a prolonged period. This delivery method, known as transdermal, aims to bypass the digestive system and directly enter the bloodstream. They are sometimes referred to as “slim” or “slimming” patches.
How They Claim to Work
The patches supposedly work by releasing active ingredients from an embedded delivery system onto the skin’s surface. Then, the skin must absorb the particles of the active ingredient to allow them to enter the person’s bloodstream. Nicotine patches are an example of medication delivery via a patch.
In transdermal patches, active and nonmedicinal ingredients must incorporate into the appropriate delivery system, which releases the active ingredients from the patch onto the skin. The ingredients must also be small enough to pass through the skin barrier and enter the bloodstream. If they can do this, the manufacturers must determine whether the amount in the bloodstream is safe and effective for its intended purpose.
Common Ingredients in Weight Loss Patches
Several types of patches exist, each containing natural and plant-based ingredients or prescription medications. Some common ingredients in weight loss patches include:
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Açai Berry: Açai is a fruit found on the Amazon palm tree. Recently, interest has grown in using it as a nutritional supplement because of its numerous advertised health benefits. For instance, a small 2019 study found that consuming 200 grams (g) of açai pulp for 60 days helped reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, which are both associated with weight gain and obesity. However, limited research has examined the effects of acai in weight loss patches. More research is needed to draw conclusions about the fruit’s effectiveness.
Green Coffee Bean Extract: While some studies suggest potential benefits, little evidence suggests green coffee beans or green coffee extract can significantly affect weight loss. A small 2021 study found that people living with obesity reduced their body fat using the supplement for 12 weeks, but only 60 individuals were involved in the study, and it did not involve a patch. While this recent research is interesting, more is needed to determine the effects and safety of green coffee beans.
Garcinia Cambogia: Garcinia cambogia is a popular ingredient in weight loss patches. It comes from a tree that grows in Asia, Africa, and the Polynesian Islands. A 2020 research review found that garcinia cambogia supplementation helped decrease body fat, composition, and weight. However, garcinia cambogia may pose harsh side effects. A 2018 case report and literature review found that this supplement may cause liver toxicity, inflammation, and fibrosis. Additionally, you may experience the following side effects with garcinia cambogia: headache, nausea, cough, congestion, upset stomach, and diarrhea.
Fucus Vesiculosus: The SlimKick patch contains Fucus vesiculosus. Manufacturers sometimes add this seaweed extract to weight loss products. Fucus vesiculosus contains iodine, which may link to diabetes, but no evidence of weight loss in humans exists. It may be safe when a person applies it to the skin.
Pyruvate: Pyruvate is another popular weight-loss ingredient in the SlimKick patch. Supplement manufacturers claim that dietary pyruvate increases fat breakdown and reduces body weight. Although this ingredient is safe at oral doses of 30 grams daily for up to 6 weeks, researchers cannot confirm its effectiveness in patches.
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Japanese Mint: The Himitsu patch contains Japanese mint. Its developers report that mint can help break down fat cells, boost metabolism, and block the absorption of sugar and starch. However, studies on the benefits and risks of Japanese mint on weight loss are lacking.
Bitter Orange Extract: The Zycie Nutrition Slimming Patch also contains bitter orange extract, which may reduce a person’s appetite and help their body burn more calories and break down fat more efficiently. However, the evidence behind these claims is lacking. Some people report side effects when using bitter orange, including chest pain, anxiety, headaches, muscle and bone pain, rapid heartbeat, and high blood pressure.
The Science (or Lack Thereof) Behind Weight Loss Patches
Despite the marketing claims, there is limited scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of weight loss patches.
Limited Human Studies: A 2024 animal study found that weight loss patches may help reduce body weight, but very few studies have examined their effects on humans.
FDA Regulation: Dietary supplements don’t have to meet the same standards as over-the-counter and prescription medications for effectiveness, so the evidence isn’t there to prove weight loss patches induce weight loss. Additionally, any studies conducted by the product manufacturers are typically small and do not meet the usual standards for scientific research.
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Transdermal Delivery Concerns: Not all areas of the skin offer the same absorption rates, as the characteristics of the skin’s surface affect its ability to absorb. Humidity and heat are additional factors that can affect the absorption across the skin.
Inconsistent Results: Researchers have studied the effects of oral doses of some ingredients in weight loss patches. However, it is impossible to claim that ingredients will have the same results in the form of a patch as when a person ingests them.
Microneedle Patches: Microneedle weight loss patches involve a patch on the skin using tiny needles to deliver ingredients into the skin. A 2024 study found that a microneedle patch infused with dopamine particles decreased the weight of obese mice by 19% in combination with photothermal therapy. However, further studies on humans are necessary to confirm whether microneedle patches aid weight loss.
Safety Considerations
The safety of weight loss patches is another area of concern.
Lack of Regulation: The FDA has not approved weight loss patches because no evidence of their effectiveness and safety is available. As the FDA does not control these products, it does not regulate the quantity or quality of the active ingredients in each patch.
Unknown Side Effects: A 2021 research review suggests transdermal drug delivery like patches may pose fewer side effects than oral drugs and injections because they’re easier to administer and there’s less blood and pain. However, the side effects of weight loss patches are not fully understood. This may be because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate dietary supplements and ingredients in transdermal weight loss patches have only been studied for their effectiveness taken orally. Also, different patches contain different ingredients, so side effects will vary.
Potential Interactions: It is unknown whether any weight loss patch is better than another or better than weight loss pills. Further research in humans is still necessary to answer these questions.
Body Shape Weight Loss System: FDA continues to advise consumers not to purchase or use Body Shape Weight Loss System, a product promoted and sold for weight loss. FDA laboratory analysis confirmed that Body Shape Weight Loss System contains sibutramine. Sibutramine is a controlled substance that was removed from the market in October 2010 for safety reasons. This product poses a threat to consumers because sibutramine is known to substantially increase blood pressure and/or heart rate in some people and may present a significant risk for people with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, or stroke. Phenolphthalein is a chemical that is not an active ingredient in any approved drug in the United States.
Alternative Approaches to Weight Loss
Given the lack of evidence supporting weight loss patches, it's essential to focus on proven strategies for weight management.
Lifestyle Changes: The most effective way to lose weight is by making lifestyle changes. These can help people reach realistic weight loss goals in small incremental steps.
Realistic Goals: If a person is likely to experience health benefits by losing weight, a doctor may recommend that they aim to reduce their starting weight by 10%. For example, a person weighing 200 pounds (lb) could try to lose 20 lb. A safe and sustainable rate of weight loss is about 1-2 lb per week. Once the person reaches their initial goal, they may continue to try to lose weight if they wish to or if a doctor advises them.
Low-Calorie Diet: Doctors recommend following a low calorie diet to aid weight loss. The number of calories a person should consume daily depends on several factors, including their baseline weight, gender, age, and activity level. A doctor or nutritionist can help people calculate the best total daily calorie intake and macronutrient breakdown for them.
Exercise: Combining a low calorie diet with an exercise regimen can promote weight loss that may result in lower abdominal fat, which determines cardiovascular health.
Behavioral Therapy: These measures are not easy to implement every day, and some people may find behavioral therapy beneficial as they adjust to lifestyle changes. Having a strong and consistent support system may also help people who are trying to lose weight or maintain their weight loss.
GLP-1 Medications: GLP-1 injections containing semaglutide - often known by the generic term “Ozempic” - are FDA-approved medications that directly activate GLP-1 receptors in the body, helping regulate appetite, blood sugar and digestion. They work by helping people feel full sooner and for a longer period. When used at the recommended dose and combined with lifestyle changes, they can lead to significant weight loss and improved health.
SNAP Incentives for Healthy Eating
While weight loss patches may not be the answer, there are other avenues to explore for improving overall health and well-being, including leveraging resources like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP offers various incentive programs aimed at making nutritious food more accessible and affordable.
How SNAP Incentives Work
SNAP healthy incentives empower Americans to eat more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and other healthful foods. Improving what we eat can significantly reduce diet-related chronic diseases and disparities. Generally, a SNAP customer earns incentives, such as a coupon, discount at the point of purchase, or extra funds for SNAP purchases, when they purchase eligible incentive foods with their SNAP EBT card. They can then redeem the incentives to purchase more eligible incentive foods or other SNAP eligible foods.
Eligible Foods
Retailers can offer incentives for foods in the following food group categories: Fruits, Vegetables, including legumes (beans and peas), Whole grains, and Dairy foods. Incentives can apply to specific products or any combination of products as long as they fall into one of the categories above.
Types of SNAP Incentive Programs
Federally Funded: Electronic Healthy Incentives Pilot (eHIP), Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), Healthy Fluid Milk Incentive (HFMI) projects.
State or Local Government Funded: Incentives can be funded by state, local, and tribal governments that partner with SNAP-authorized retailers.
Privately Funded: SNAP-authorized retailers can independently fund incentive programs or non/for-profit organizations can fund incentives in partnership with stores.
Farmers Market: Farmers markets are authorized to provide incentives to SNAP recipients to make local foods more affordable and support farmers.
Finding Participating Retailers
The SNAP Retailer Locator allows anyone to locate nearby SNAP-authorized retailers by entering a street address, city and state, or zip code. If a retailer is participating in SNAP healthy incentives, you will see that information on the pop-up window. You can also use the “SNAP Healthy Incentive” filter function to search for participating retailers.