Diet patches are among the many products that claim to help you lose weight without having to break a sweat. The patches, similar to medication patches such as those worn to stop smoking, supposedly deliver diet-enhancing substances through your skin. But unlike patches for stopping smoking, there is no evidence that diet patches actually work.
Basics
Diet patches contain a variety of different substances that their manufacturers claim will help dieters lose weight. These substances are typically naturally occurring plant compounds. Medicinal patches work by transmitting substances through the layers of skin. Once they have crossed the skin barrier, they can be absorbed by the body. Although it sounds simple, the ability for substances to pass through the skin and perform as predicted varies.
Original Diet Patches
A couple of diet patches call themselves the "original." The Original Dermothol Diet Patch contains bladderwrack, garcinia cambogia, guarana and menthol. One patch is recommended for wearing all day and claims to help control appetite and curb cravings. The Original Diet-Patch, manufactured by The Original Diet-Patch Manufacturers, contains bladderwrack and supposedly improves the body's ability to lose fat by improving the psychology of the dieter, making the process more easy and pleasurable.
Ingredients
Common diet patch ingredients include bladderwrack and menthol. Bladderwrack is extracted from a brown algae, which may be used because of its iodine content, according to the Health Services at Columbia University. Iodine is thought to stimulate the thyroid and speed up metabolism, although there is no evidence that supports this claim. Menthol helps the patches stick to the body. Garcinia cambogia, or mangosteen fruit, and guarana are purportedly control appetite and increase energy.
Criticisms
No diet patch has shown in a reputable scientific study to effectively aid in weight loss, reports the Los Angeles Times in a November 2009 article, "The Healthy Skeptic:
Do diet patch claims stick?" Substances common to weight-loss patches are not shown to achieve the results that are claimed. Furthermore, no known metabolism booster actually results in weight-loss, and known appetite suppressants have significant side effects such as causing the heart to race.
Recommendations
To lose weight, you must consume fewer calories than your body needs, forcing it to burn stored energy, ideally in the form of fat. All diet aids, including those with natural ingredients, should be examined carefully before use. Some compounds can interact with other medications and cause side effects, so you should check with your doctor before using them.
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