The allure of dietary supplements promising effortless weight loss, such as Trimova weight loss drops, is undeniable. These products, often marketed with claims of melting away fat and promoting natural weight loss, flood the market. However, a critical examination is necessary to determine their efficacy and safety. This article delves into the world of weight-loss supplements, including a discussion of GLP-1 supplements and prescription weight loss drugs, examining their ingredients, potential risks, and the importance of a holistic approach to weight management.
The Appeal and Regulation of Weight Loss Supplements
Stores are replete with dietary supplements presented as health aids, readily available for oral consumption. It's important to recognize that dietary supplements are not medicines, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn't need to approve dietary supplements before they are sold. While companies that make supplements must ensure their safety, clinical trials are rarely conducted by manufacturers of dietary supplements.
Questionable Claims and Limited Evidence
Many weight-loss supplements tout clinical proof, but these claims often warrant scrutiny. For instance, raspberry ketone is marketed as a weight-loss product with clinical backing. Some trials involve a small number of participants over a short period. The trial assigned them at random to one of two groups. One group got a pill with no active ingredient, called placebo. These results seem to favor the supplement group. But it was a small trial that lasted only eight weeks. That means the results can't be used to predict real-life results of using the supplement. Also, the trial used a supplement that had more than one ingredient. It would be ideal if these first results had been tested in a much longer trial. Ideally the trial would have hundreds of people that researchers watched for side effects.
The "Natural" Misconception and Hidden Dangers
Just because a product is labeled "natural" does not guarantee its safety. Supplements can have potent effects. Ephedra (ma-huang), an herb once used for weight loss, exemplifies this. Furthermore, some weight-loss supplements have been found to contain unlisted ingredients, including prescription medicines. This poses a significant risk to consumers who may be unaware of these hidden components and their potential side effects.
GLP-1 Supplements: A Closer Look
With the rise in popularity of prescription weight loss drugs like Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide), compounded versions have emerged as cheaper alternatives. However, as the FDA cracks down on these compounded versions, Americans may be drawn to a dicey sector of the dietary supplement market. Dietary supplements that claim to “complement” or “supercharge” the body’s levels of the gut hormone GLP-1 are a dime a dozen. These 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. If you can buy it without a prescription, it’s not an actual GLP-1 drug,” Alan said. “It is something else that’s marketed to support your endogenous GLP-1 production. These things are just older weight loss [supplements] that are rebranded, and there’s really no scientific evidence for these.”
Read also: Safe Alternatives to Trimova
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 brand Kind Patches indicates its GLP-1 adhesive “does not contain synthetic GLP-1 and is not a GLP-1 agonist drug.” Lemme, Kourtney Kardashian Barker’s wellness brand, features an identical disclaimer for its GLP-1 Daily Support Capsules. Trim Biome GLP-1, manufactured by Inno Supps, boasts “clinically studied ingredients” but not the hormone in the product’s name.
The Regulatory Vacuum and Consumer Vulnerability
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. There could be harm in some of these,” Alan said. “There are going to be some people who might have a significant drug interaction, who might have a significant medical condition. In most people there’s probably minimal risk of harm, but that’s not true for everyone.”
The FDA declared the tirzepatide shortage over in December and did the same for the semaglutide shortage in February. Compounders must now pull their products. The grace period for tirzepatide manufacturers is over, and semaglutide producers have until Tuesday or May 22, depending on whether they’re a state-licensed pharmacy or an outsourcing facility. That leaves a huge opening for GLP-1 supplement sellers to flood the $49.3 billion global market - and convince consumers a $15 pack of unproven patches will yield the same results as brand-name drugs that have undergone comprehensive clinical trials, said Dr. W. Scott Butsch, director of obesity medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Bariatric and Metabolic Institute.
Worse still, Butsch said, compounders and now supplement companies are using lower pricing to target an already vulnerable clientele. [The wellness market] has continued to prey on the desperate, and these are people who have poor access,” Butsch said. “Patients with obesity have always had poor access to obesity medications.” He added, “You have some optimism among people who think that they can save some money and still get the benefit. But it’s a bigger carrot that they’re carrying in front of the horse now.”
The Reality of Weight Loss: Lifestyle Changes vs. Quick Fixes
Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist and the director of Tufts University’s Food Is Medicine Institute, said, “There’s no simple dietary fix that’s going to do what these drugs do in a short amount of time.” Still, the metabolic mechanism the supplements claim to achieve - boosting natural GLP-1 production - isn’t without merit. “The food I’m eating is biologic information that’s activating hormones in my body, including GLP-1,” Mozaffarian said, noting that healthy fats and high-fiber foods have been shown to trigger GLP-1 production. But its natural release into the bloodstream is fleeting; GLP-1 drugs work by mimicking the hormone and keeping it around longer, which can aid in appetite suppression.
Read also: Weight Loss Guide Andalusia, AL
Red Flags and Deceptive Marketing Practices
The Maementcurves.com site, portraying itself as Australian, claimed the product had even saved the life of a customer who had been “seriously obese and close to death”. It claimed the solution was made in Australia and developed by a local, family-owned company, although the box Guardian Australia received said the treatment had been “made in the USA” and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. The site claims the product is made locally and approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
HCG Diet Products: A Cautionary Tale
HCG stands for human chorionic gonadotropin. It's a hormone made in the body during pregnancy. Lab-made HCG is added to some weight-loss products that are sold without a prescription. 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. HCG weight-loss products are sold at some retail stores, weight-loss clinics and online. Some of these products are labeled "homeopathic" to suggest that they're healthy. But the FDA says that these products aren't safe and that the homeopathic claim is illegal. The FDA has approved HCG as a prescription medicine for some uses, such as to help people get pregnant. 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.
FDA Public Notifications: A History of Hidden Ingredients
The FDA maintains a list of public notifications regarding weight loss products found to contain hidden drug ingredients. This list includes a multitude of products marketed under various names, highlighting the prevalence of this issue.
Prescription Weight Loss Drugs: Options and Risks
Side effects of drugs used for weight loss may vary depending upon the type of drug you take and how the drug works. The latest prescription drugs, like Zepbound, Wegovy and Saxenda are approved for chronic (long-term) weight loss and come as subcutaneous (under the skin) injections. Up to a 20% weight loss or more has been seen with these newer treatments. Prescription weight loss drugs such as phentermine and topiramate (Qsymia), bupropion and naltrexone (Contrave) are used for chronic, long-term weight loss, but only if adequate results occur. Orlistat (alli, Xenical) can be used for longer-term weight loss, including the maintenance of previously lost weight. Weight loss medications should be used alongside a low calorie diet and a doctor-approved exercise plan for best results. Be sure to talk to your doctor for sound advice before starting any weight loss program and understand it will take time and discipline for permanent results. Increased blood pressure and heart rate, insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, dependence, abuse or withdrawal may occur with long-term use. Tingling or numbing sensation (paresthesias), dizziness, altered taste, insomnia (difficulty sleeping), constipation, dry mouth. The dose is taken once daily in the morning; avoid an evening dose as it may keep you awake.
Wegovy is also approved to help protect the heart. Saxenda is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist first approved in Dec. 2014. It is used in addition to diet and exercise for long-term weight management in adults who are obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) or overweight (BMI ≥27 kg/m2) with other weight-related medical issues. The Victoza brand of liraglutide contains the same active ingredient as Saxenda but is used to treat type 2 diabetes. Anorexiants are drugs that act in the brain to help lower a person’s appetite. They have an effect on the parts of the brain which help control how full you feel. Anorexiants are used as a treatment for weight loss, along with a regular plan of diet and exercise. Bupropion is an antidepressant medicine and naltrexone is usually given to block the effects of narcotics or alcohol in people with dependence. Contrave side effects can include constipation, dizziness, headache, trouble sleeping, and upset stomach. Phentermine suppresses the appetite similar to an amphetamine stimulant. Topiramate is used a medication to control seizures. Some forms may cause stomach side effects like constipation, dry mouth, nausea or vomiting. Stimulants are classified as controlled substances. As these medicines are amphetamine-related, drug dependence, abuse or withdrawal may occur with long-term use. Xenical, the prescription form of orlistat, was first FDA-approved in 1999. Xenical was followed by the lower dose, over-the-counter (OTC) orlistat (alli) in 2007. Side effects of orlistat can be unpleasant: oily spotting, gas, stomach pain, fecal urgency or incontinence, soft stools, and the possibility of serious liver injury can occur.
Read also: Beef jerky: A high-protein option for shedding pounds?
Weight loss drugs can be associated with important or serious side effects, and some may have the potential for dependence and abuse. In studies with rats and mice, these medicines caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. In November 2024, the FDA updated the warnings for all GLP-1 agonist and GLP-1 / GIP agonist medicines to note that these agents can increase the risk of food or liquid getting into your lungs (called pulmonary aspiration) during procedures or surgery while you are under deep sedation or general anesthesia. This can occur because these medicines can slow down gastric emptying. Amphetamine-derivative, stimulant type weight loss drugs may be associated with constipation, dry mouth, restlessness, withdrawal effects, or insomnia (difficulty falling asleep), drug abuse and addiction. Qsymia has restricted access because one of its active ingredients known as topiramate may cause severe birth defects in pregnant women. Do not use Qsymia if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy. Do not use Contrave with other bupropion-containing products (such as Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, Aplenzin) as it may increase the risk of severe side effects.
The Risks of "All-Natural" or "Herbal" Supplements
If you are interested in losing weight, you may have considered buying an "all-natural" or "herbal" diet weight loss product, also called a weight loss dietary supplement, at the store or from the Internet. Chromium, Green Tea extract, Hoodia, and Guar Gum are some of the herbal dietary supplements available on the market today that claim to help with weight loss. These products may claim to "magically melt" fat away and seem like an easy fix to shed a few pounds. Federal regulators have warned that many of these marketed dietary supplements aren’t effective and may even cause serious side effects.
In 2004 the FDA removed dietary products with the stimulant ephedra completely from the market due to severe side effects such as heart attack, stroke and seizures. It’s important to know that over-the-counter (OTC) dietary supplements are not reviewed or approved by the FDA. The FDA does investigate herbal supplements if they appear to be causing harm. Many examples exist of recalled dietary supplements used for weight loss and other conditions.
Common Side Effects of Weight Loss Drugs
Newer prescription weight loss drugs like Wegovy or Zepbound can produce dramatic weight loss results of at least 20%, but come with a initial risk of stomach-related side effects, like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or stomach-area pain. Drugs that are considered appetite suppressants and that contain stimulants may common cause insomnia (trouble sleeping), constipation, headache or dry mouth. Lipase inhibitors such as alli or Xenical (orlistat) can cause oily spotting, gas, stomach pain, fecal urgency or incontinence, soft stools, and the possibility of serious liver injury.