Although all diet products have essentially the same purpose--helping you to burn calories and increasing daily energy expenditures to promote weight loss--there is a range of diversity among these products. Diet and weight management supplements come in a variety of forms, including pills and powders, with a wide range of ingredients. Because of the variety, examine the ingredients or supplements carefully before using to ensure safety. In addition, consult a doctor before using any supplements or beginning a diet plan.
Appetite Suppressants
Appetite-suppressant products are intended to encourage weight loss by reducing cravings for food. These supplements can come in pill form, and often contain caffeine, which can increase your energy level but also can act as an appetite suppressant. In addition, some diet pills contain hoodia gordonii, which research from the October 2008 issue of the Journal of Ethnopharmacology explains was originally used as a thirst-quenching ingredient but also can suppress hunger.
Fat Blockers
Fat blockers can help to reduce weight by interfering with the body's absorption of fat or encouraging it to excrete some of the fat eaten. According to research in the May 2003 issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, one particularly effective fat-blocking ingredient is orlistat. This research found that 21 days of orlistat supplementation helped to inhibit the activity of certain gastrointestinal enzymes, producing a 27 percent reduction in fat absorption. However, fat blockers may not be the best diet-supplement choice, as the body does require some fat for optimal function. In addition, the May 2003 research indicates orlistat can induce side effects such as abdominal pain.
Stimulant Fat Burners
Stimulant fat burners contain central nervous stimulants such as caffeine and guarana, which can elevate energy levels and increase metabolic rate so you burn more calories. These supplements also contain ingredients said to increase fat oxidation, or fat burning. Although many supplements claim their ingredients increase fat oxidation, only a few have scientific backing. One ingredient supported by research is fucoxanthin: A study in the September 2010 issue of the Biotechnology Journal found this ingredient increased fat oxidation and reduced fatty-acid production.
Non-Stimulant Fat Burners
As the name implies, non-stimulant fat burners do not contain ingredients such as caffeine, and are intended for use by those who are sensitive to stimulants or those who wish to use these products at night. These supplements can have a variety of ingredients, some of which can be found in other forms of diet pills and powders. One particularly effective ingredient used in some non-stimulant fat burners is a fat called medium chain triglycerides, or MCTs. The health publication Nutrition Review explains that MCT supplementation can prompt increases in fat burning.
References
- Journal of Ethnopharmacology; Hoodia gordonii: a natural appetite suppressant; FR van Heerden; October 2008
- Journal of the American College of Nutrition; The Effect of Short-Term (21-Day) Orlistat Treatment on the Physiologic Balance of Six Selected Macrominerals and Microminerals in Obese Adolescents; J Zhi, R Moore, L Kanitra; May 2003
- Biotechnology Journal; Fucoxanthin-rich seaweed extract suppresses body weight gain and improves lipid metabolism in high-fat-fed C57BL/6J mice; SM Jeon et al; September 2010
- Nutrition Review; Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) Beneficial Effects on Energy, Atherosclerosis and Aging; W Dean, J English; 2010
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