People who want to lose weight are often looking for some quick fix. While it’s true that a nutritious diet and workout routine are often the best option, some weight-loss products also create expectations. Will the same thing happen with slimming patches?
Slimming patches are similar to weight loss pills. In this case, instead of being taken as an oral supplement, the active ingredients penetrate the skin through the patch. From there, they pass into the bloodstream and can supposedly melt fat.
Skin patches (also called transdermal patches ) are not new. They have long been used to treat a variety of health conditions. However, there are some contraindications to be wary of weight loss patches.
For example, many substances that claim to promote fat loss are not that helpful and can even be dangerous. Also, receiving these substances through a patch has not been shown to make them work better. Remember that herbal remedies, including slimming patches, are not regulated, so there is no evidence that they actually work.
Even if you still think a weight loss patch is a good option, keep in mind that most patches contain a cocktail of ingredients, some of which may not be listed on the label.
Types of slimming patches
Slimming patches are adhesives that are applied to an area of the skin. Once applied, they are supposed to transfer their ingredients to the body over a controlled period of time. Transdermal patches are also used with prescription medications.
Dietary supplements that do not contain vitamins or minerals are reportedly a common complementary health approach. The supplements included in these patches include various ingredients that claim to be natural and plant-based. There are also many different types of patches available.
The efficacy of ingredients intended to be absorbed into the skin through them has not been adequately studied. Even with oral intake, research is lacking, but the transdermal form is even less well understood. Some common ingredients in weight loss patches are as follows.
orange extract
Bitter orange extract is found in citrus fruits such as Seville oranges and contains synephrine, a stimulant with effects similar to ephedrine.
Because of this, the makers of bitter orange extract patches claim that it can help with weight loss by helping you burn more calories and fat, as well as suppressing your appetite. However, the study concluded that these effects are minimal and more research is still needed.
Acai
Açai is a fruit found in the Amazon palm tree. In recent years, interest in using it as a nutritional supplement has grown due to its many advertised health benefits. More research is needed to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the fruit. But because açai is a fruit, it does have some nutritional value.
It is rich in antioxidants, so it reduces oxidative stress in the body. Obesity and type 2 diabetes are known to cause increased oxidative stress, so there is a possibility that antioxidant intake may play a small role in helping to control these conditions. But it’s not clear how much of an impact the açai berry has.
Extract of green coffee beans
Green coffee beans are unroasted coffee beans that advertisers claim to decrease fat storage and promote energy. However, when we look at the evidence, there is very little evidence that green coffee beans or green coffee extract can have a significant impact on weight loss.
Still, there are small studies that found that people living with obesity reduced their body fat using the supplement for 12 weeks. However, more research is needed to determine the effects and safety of green coffee beans.
Cannabidiol
Cannabidiol, or CBD, has grown in popularity in recent years, particularly as a more natural method of relieving pain and anxiety, and is also beginning to appear in patch form.
CBD oil may have some appetite-suppressing qualities, so people may be intrigued enough to give it a try. However, like CBD creams, these patches are often intended for uses like muscle pain relief and much more research is needed when it comes to weight loss.
garcinia cambogia
From a tree that grows in Asia, Africa, and the Polynesian Islands, garcinia cambogia is a popular ingredient in slimming patches. The hydroxycitric acid in the fruit is meant to decrease the number of fat cells in the body while suppressing appetite. When we eat less, we take in fewer calories and, as a result, we are more likely to limit the amount of weight we gain. It may sound like a good idea to some, but does garcinia cambogia really work that way?
The truth is that the evidence is limited when it comes to effects on body weight, but we do know that it has serious side effects. For example, one study showed that this supplement causes liver toxicity, inflammation, and liver fibrosis. Additionally, you may experience other side effects such as headache, nausea, cough, congestion, tummy ache, or diarrhea.
Do they work for weight loss?
Because dietary supplements don’t have to meet the same efficacy standards as over-the-counter and prescription drugs, there is no evidence that slimming patches induce weight loss.
Furthermore, any studies conducted by product manufacturers are often small and do not meet the usual standards for scientific research. Some of these weight loss patches may have a minimal impact on weight loss, but there may be side effects that exceed that minimal impact.
In other words, the benefits do not outweigh the risks.
Side effects
Because dietary supplements are not regulated like other drugs, and the ingredients in transdermal weight loss patches have only been studied for effectiveness taken orally, their side effects are not fully known.
Also, as the patches contain different ingredients, the contraindications will vary. The best way to find out how a particular weight-loss patch might affect you is to talk to your doctor.
Low security
Because they aren’t regulated in the same way as over-the-counter or prescription drugs, dietary supplements don’t have to meet the same safety standards. As a result, many nutritional supplements, including weight-loss patches, have not been tested for safety.
What makes these patches potentially unsafe is not only their ingredients, but also the purity of those ingredients and the dosage.
unsafe ingredients
Just because we can easily buy a supplement doesn’t mean its ingredients are always safe to use. For example, many slimming patches claim to use natural plant ingredients. But being natural does not guarantee that they are safe and without side effects.
An investigation explained that many herbal ingredients could pose the same dangers as prescription drugs. Some ingredients can increase blood pressure and heart rate, which is potentially dangerous for people with heart problems or a history of stroke.
If we decide to take any type of supplement, it is best to check the ingredients and consult a doctor before taking any pills or patches that have rare ingredients listed.
