Do Weight Loss Pills Really Work? A Research-Based Review

So, you are here to know advantages and disadvantages of different weight loss pills as well as some tips on weight loss that really work safely, right? 

Ok, let’s start the journey…

 A short statistics:

In the United States, more than 60 percent of adults are overweight (More). Although experts agree that making lifestyle changes is the basis for achieving long-term weight loss, most people turn to weight loss pills. Because they see making diet and lifestyle changes very difficult. 

Taking weight loss supplements is common in the United States. Around 15 percent of adults in U.S. use pills for weight loss and Americans spend about $2 billion a year on weight loss pills (More). 

So, here is my review of different supplements that you may hear of before.

Rooibos tea

There is a connection between tea and weight loss. And when it comes to rooibos tea, weight loss is much easier.

Rooibos tea is particularly good at helping you lose body fat effectively because it is:


1. Low in calories – you need not to add extra sugar that reduce your caloric intake.

2. Naturally sweet – this drink is naturally sweet, which is helpful for weight loss as well as your overall health.

It is also good news that along with weight loss effects, rooibos tea can relieve various skin conditions like eczema, sunburn, rashes, and dry skin. In severe skin conditions, you can apply it directly to the spots to get better results.

Synephrine

Bitter oranges contain synephrine that can work to suppress appetites and increase metabolism. And taking synephrine daily, you can reduce some weight as it has fat burning effects.

Garcinia cambogia

This fruit, especially its skin, contains hydroxycitric acid which has fat decreasing and craving reducing effects.

How it works: studies shows that hydroxycitric acid can inhibit a fat producing enzyme in your body and reduce cravings for foods.

Effectiveness: a study has shown that garcinia cambogia intake can help in weight loss of about 1 pound in 6 weeks.

Side effects: you may experience moderate digesting problems if you take it longer.

Takeaway: though it has weight loss effects, it takes very long time to lose expected amount of weight.

Glucomannan

You can find it everywhere in the world. And it is a hugely used herb that has various health benefits, including diabetes and blood sugar control, and weight loss.

Glucomannan helps you feel fuller for longer, reducing craving for foods. And if you take it on a regular basis, you can stop accumulation of fat in your body.

It can result in some mild side effects, like bloating, flatulence, and diarrhea.

Forkolin

This hugely used herb can decrease your fat mass as well as muscle mass. 

Forskolin can raise levels of cMPA, a compound of cells, which can stimulate fat burning and weight loss. Studies found that it is able to reduce body fat and increase muscle mass. 

It is not without its downside; you may experience some health conditions. So whenever you notice any problems, stop taking it and talk to you physician.

Meratrim

Meratrim is a recent add to weight loss supplements. It has some cool ingredients that can burn fat.

Some of the most important ingredients of the weight loss pills are Sphaeranthus indicus extract, Garcinia managostana, green tea extract, and L-carnitine.  

Sphaeranthus indicus extract can help control lipids and blood sugar levels.

Garcinia mangostana has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-oxidant effects which are helpful for overweight people. And increased C-Reactive Protein (CRP) contributes to obesity. Reducing CRP levels may help you get rid of some fat. Fortunately, garcinia mangostana has effect of decreasing  CRP levels, which is useful for weight management.

L-Carnitine increases the effects of functions of metabolism by improving fatty acid transportation within cells. And such L-Carntine increases the rate at which fat is burned. It can also reduce muscle damage during exercises.

Green tea extract contains camellia sinesis, an herbal item, which is well known for reducing fat in blood.

How the supplement works: the manufacturer of the product claims that if taken twice 30 minutes before foods it can decrease the amount of fat that cells pick up from the bloodstream, and helps the cells burn the stored fat.

Effectiveness: a study showed that people who took meratrim along with 2000 calorie diet had lost 11 pounds in 8 weeks.

Side effects: people who take meratrim can experience nausea, vomiting, headaches, and high blood pressure. Someone with severe health conditions like heart problem, kidney disease, and high blood sugar should avoid it.

Takeaway: you will not be benefited by the supplement if you are not able to reduce caloric intake level to around 2000 kcal. Moreover, you need to do some physical exercises like walking, running, and swimming. 

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)

Meat and dairy products contain good amount of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). This type of fatty acid can benefit overweight people.



 Though there is no good evidence of its effectiveness in weight loss, many weight loss fills include this ingredient.

Grass fed animals are great sources of CLA. You can eat meat and dairy products from grass-fed animals regularly to get enough CLA, which can help you lose some weight. And some mushrooms also contain some CLA.

Possible side effects are fatty liver, insulin resistance, and increased inflammation in rare cases.

PhenELITE as weight loss pills

The makers claim that their product can:

• Help rapid fat losses, boost your metabolism, and allow you to lose about 15 founds quickly and safely!

• Break away stubborn fat calls

• Enhance energy and suppress appetite, which minimize food cravings to help you achieve your weight loss goals faster.

Manufacturer also claims that the product is made in a strict GMP and FDA certified laboratory, which is why it is able to be 100% effective in body weight loss.

Ingredients for PhenELITE

The first and most effective component of the weight loss fill is Raspberry Ketone. Tweet It 

And Raspberry Ketone is a natural substance, found in blackberries, cranberries, Kiwis, and other processed foods, that gives raspberries their powerful aroma and flavor.

Raspberry ketones became popular for their weight loss effects.

In most weight loss supplements, raspberry ketones are used synthetically made in an industrial process.

Researchers argue that raspberry ketones can boost your metabolism. And they can make your isolated fat cells break down fat and release adiponectin.

African mango extract in the supplement can work as appetite suppressant.

Gracinia cambogia is a natural extract that is a useful ingredient of PhenELITE. It helps you prevent the storage of carbohydrates as fat, which can prevent weight loss. And this ingredient can also promote fat burning in your body.

This supplement also contains Green tea extract that is a good choice for weight loss. It is useful in boosting the metabolism and its antioxidants can promote burning.

Green coffee bean extract included in the supplement is one of the most popular fat loss ingredients. It can help you lose weight effectively.

And apple cider vinegar in PhenELITE’s formula can lead to small amount of weight loss if you consume it daily. A study has shown that those who took the apple cider vinegar for three months lost 1 to 2 pounds more than their water counterparts.

This is not a complete list of the ingredients. And combination of different ingredients in the supplement works together to lose body fat.

How PhenELITE works: its formula is natural ingredients that help your body shed some fat. Some of the ingredients in the formula have a little fat burning effect. The supplement mainly works by boosting your metabolism and suppressing appetite.

Warnings

Don’t take more than 2 capsules a day, preferably one in the morning and another is at night 30 minutes prior to foods intake. Occasionally you may experience side effects like vomiting, jitters, dizziness, nausea, and feeling sick. But if you have any severe health conditions, consult your doctor.

Moreover, some ingredients, such as caffeine and Naringin, in the supplement can cause problems like increased heart rate, heart palpitations, dehydration, and insomnia.

Alli as weigh loss pills

Alli (orlistat) is not an herbal supplement, it is a pharmaceutical drug made by a famous company, named GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). It inhabits your body from fat absorption, leading to weight loss.

And it is the over-the-counter version of orlistat which is used to manage obesity. FDA approved the drug in 1999 to be used for long-term obesity management.

How Alli work: in short, this medicine prevents your body from absorbing dietary fat by blocking lipase, an enzyme in the gut (More).

Effectiveness of Alli: the Swedish XENDOS study conducted a research on 3,305 overweight people. And they were divided into two groups – one group was given 120 mg of orlistat (Alli) three times daily and another group was given placebos.

During the first year orlistat given group lost 23.3 pounds, while the placebo group lost 13.6 pounds.

Moreover, Alli is helpful in reducing type 2 diabetes risk, cholesterol level, and blood pressure (More). 

Side effects: Alli (orlistat) may cause some very mild health conditions like flatulence, frequent bowel movements, and oily stools. It may also lead to deficiency in fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Takeaway: Alli is one of the most effective weight loss pills that work better with no severe side effects. It is most used drug for overweight people around the world. To get better results out of this drug you should also lower your caloric intake along with some physical activities. Do not take more than 3 capsules a day.

Conclusion

To speak the tooth, there are no shortcuts to weight loss. You need to be consistent and maintain balanced diet, lower caloric intake, take healthy life style, and engage in some physical activities. 

Then you may take a pill like Alli or PhenELITE to accelerate body weight loss process. You can buy these products from online shops like Amazon
.

Pay special attention when it comes to buying supplements as most of the pills on market are risky. And unfortunately, many pills or supplements even do not work at all.

You should not take any weight loss pills unless you can change your life style and food choices. 

Moreover, people who have medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease should not take weight loss pills without talking with their health care provider.

Let me know your experience of weight loss pills and supplements intake in the comment, if any. And don't forget to share feedback regarding the article in the comment.