This world is a unique place of contradictions. While many parts of this world are grappling with the constant fight of undernourishment and malnutrition, obesity and weight gain has almost attacked population across countries and continents like an epidemic. While such problems of gaining weight and obesity have grave and serious medical consequences, these tend to mar the levels of confidence of individuals suffering from such problems. According to statistics, in India alone the cases of obesity have been rampantly observed among all age groups across genders and across all kinds of classifications. In such a circumstance, while some segments prefer going the hard way and adopt dieting and weight loss exercises to tone them down, there is another segment which believes in taken medically proven weight loss supplements in order to complement such regimes for better actions.
Medically Proven Weight Loss Supplements
Various weight loss solutions are available in the market. More than the medically proven weight loss solutions available in the market, suggestions from known and unknown faces start taking focus when someone starts taking weight as a serious issue. However, it is always advisable to take the opinion of a practicing doctor with relevant experience in this area before committing to any regime or consuming any such medicine.
Most of these supplements help in making the weight loss process easier when combined with other relevant methods such as strict diet and exercise regime, if not help in losing weight in itself. This is possible because such supplements do either of the following or sometimes a combination of more than one such step:
- Help in reducing appetite of the individual by making him/her feel fuller, thus limiting the calorie intake
- Helps in reducing the absorption of nutrients such as fats, thus again limiting the calorie intake
- Helps in increasing the rate of burning fat, thus helping in burning more calories in the body
Several natural and over the counter weight loss pills and supplements include:
- Orlistat: This is one pharmaceutical over the counter drug sold under the trade name Alli or under prescription as Xenical. This composition is known to breakdown the fat molecules in one’s gut while reducing the calorie intake of the body. Researches prove that this composition can help in losing around 2.7 kilograms as compared to a dummy pill. This composition also helps in reducing blood pressure apart from reducing the risk of Type 2 Diabetes. Some side effects associated with the drug include problems in digestion such as flatulence, loose stool, and frequent bowel movements, apart from deficiency in essential fat soluble vitamins such as vitamin A, D, K, and E.
- Meratrim: This is a relatively new diet pill available in the market which is prepared by the extracts of two plants. This diet pill is known to change the metabolism of the fat cells by making it harder for them to multiply while decreasing the amount of fat they can pick from blood, thus helping in burning the body fat. Researches have proved that the diet pill was effective in reducing weight by 5.2 kilograms in eight weeks apart from improving the quality of life of the individuals by reducing cholesterol, blood sugar, and triglycerides.
- Conjugated Linoleic Acid: CLA or Conjugated Linoleic Acid is a popular fat loss supplement and is found naturally in certain fatty animal foods such as butter and cheese. This acid helps in reducing appetite, boosting the metabolism, and stimulating the breakdown process of body fat. While the compound is found to be effective in reducing weight some side effects associated with the substance include complaints of fatty liver, making one resistant to insulin, and increasing inflammation.
- Caffeine: This is one naturally and commonly used and consumed psychoactive substance which is blessed with weight loss properties. This substance is commonly found in coffee, green tea, and chocolate apart from other processed foods and beverages. This substance is known for helping in boosting metabolism of the body (around 3-11 percent according to a study) which helps in burning the body fat (around 29 percent according to a study). Such an effect is known to help in modest loss of weight among human beings. Some individuals have sensitivity to caffeine while others can get an addiction to the substance. While the substance is known to have excellent antioxidant properties, some of the prominent side effects of the substance when consumed in large quantities include insomnia, anxiety, nausea, diarrhea, and irritability among others.
- Garcinia Cambogia Extract: This is the extract of a small pumpkin shaped green colored fruit whose skin contains HydroxyCitric Acid or HCA which is the active ingredient used for weight loss solutions. This extract has been found to inhibit the production of fat producing enzyme while increasing the levels of serotonin which helped in reducing cravings for food, thus limiting calorie intake. However, some reports prove that the extract can cause modest loss of weight, but such effects of weight loss are so small that they often can go unnoticed. There are no reported side effects of the supplement apart from mild complaints of digestive problem.
- Raspberry Ketones: Ketones are responsible for the distinctive smell of raspberry. Such chemical compounds (including the one synthetically produced in the lab) have been found to be good weight loss supplements. This particular compound helps in breaking the fat molecules faster while increasing the levels of a hormone called adiponectin which helps in loss of weight. This particular compound doesn’t have huge side effects except that one’s burps might smell like raspberries.
- Hydroxycut: Various ingredients used to prepare this supplement include extracts of few plants and caffeine help in losing weight (around 9 kilograms over a period of three months, according to a study). The supplement has certain side effects for individuals who are sensitive to caffeine such as experiencing anxiety, nausea, and diarrhea, among others.
Some other naturally found compounds which are effective in weight loss programs include Green Coffee Bean Extract (which helps in increasing the rate of burning fat while slowing down the process of breaking carbohydrate molecules), Glucomannan (a fiber found in the roots of elephant yam), Green Tea extract (which increases the activity of norepinephrine, a hormone which helps in burning fat), and bitter orange, among others. Apart from this, some other medically proven weight loss supplements include pills such as Osymia, Belviq, Contrave, and Phentermine.
You should always ask a doctor before taking any supplements.