What You Need to Know About Fat Burners and Other Weight Loss Supplements

Weight loss is a touchy subject for a lot of people. In a survey during the start of 2021, 51% of Americans want to lose weight while 60% want to live healthier. Because of this, it wasn’t surprising to see why 55% of people are willing to try diets such as paleo and keto just to achieve this goal. 

This desire to lose weight is also the reason why weight loss supplements and fat burners are thriving. US weight loss supplement market was at $78 billion in 2019. Sales of meal replacements and over-the-counter pills were at $5.25 billion in 2020. 

Before you even buy fat burners and other weight loss supplements, here are some things that you first need to know. 

Not a magic pill  

The first thing that you should know about any weight loss supplement is that it isn’t a magic pill. Fat burners, despite the name, don’t do a lot of help if you are not going to make the necessary changes in your diet and your activities. Just think of it as a little bump. If you’re losing 2 pounds every week, maybe the fat burner can get you up to 3 pounds a week. 

However, if you notice that you are getting results too quickly, it might be a good idea to stop. Anything that offers results instantly is most likely dangerous to your health. 

Some products contain ingredients dangerous to your health 

This brings us to our second point. There are instances when fat burners can endanger your health. In some instances, there were cases wherein a person died because of fat burners. There are also instances when people who take these diet pills don’t necessarily think of death as a deterrent to be extra cautious. 

There were reports of acute liver problems related to taking slimming pills. Some products are even dubbed as “herbal” pills to making people believe that there are no side effects since these are made of “natural” ingredients. The next thing you know, you’ll turn jaundice with accompanied abdominal pain. Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated case. There were 1,000 medications and herbal products linked to liver problems. 

So where exactly is the FDA when it comes to these fat-burning pills? Lots of slimming pills and fat burners are not regulated by the FDA. 

As a rule of thumb, you can decrease the risk of hepatotoxicity by being careful when you are taking slimming pills. If you are taking other medications or drinking alcohol, these are instances that can make your liver work extra hard to process all the supplements and drugs.

Contains strong stimulants 

If you are already taking coffee, energy drinks, and other pre-workout drinks, adding fat burners might not be a good idea. Fat burners can help boost a person’s metabolic rate. This can lead to problems such as insomnia. You can also experience palpitations and even suffer from heart conditions if you have an existing cardiovascular ailment. If you are having a sluggish metabolic rate, it might be a good idea to do things the more natural way. It is better to build muscle or do exercises that are known to boost metabolism. Focus on squats and other exercises that work on large muscle groups to get your metabolic rate to go up the natural way. 

May cause addiction 

Fat burners can be very addicting. Some products may contain traces of amphetamine that can cause a person to feel dependent on their slimming pills. And once you stop, you may also experience irritability and other things typical of having withdrawal symptoms. 

Nutritional Problem

Fat burners don’t always make your body just burn additional calories. Some products prevent the body from absorbing fats. And because of this, it causes diarrhea. Unfortunately, by not absorbing fats, you could also deprive your body of absorbing some vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, and K will need fats to be able to become useful for the body. 

Lots of marketing and unverified information

Just make a quick Google search of different fat burners and weight loss supplements in the market and you’ll realize how different brands use different “proprietary ingredients” and claims to lure their market. Unfortunately, many of these products lack research. You’ll never know whether you are wasting your money or you are putting your health in danger. 

Should you buy weight loss supplements?

Should you be getting weight loss supplements? The simple answer is to always ask your doctor. Be sure that you are going to consult with a doctor and let him or her know what you are taking as a supplement. Some medical professionals would advise against fat burners given the risks. 

As much as possible, you’d want to stay away from fat burners. There are instances when it’s a waste of money. In some instances, it can even damage your organs. 

Final Thoughts 

If you are serious about losing weight the right way, you might as well do it the right way. Fat burners may sometimes give you the edge, but you also have to keep in mind the risks. Losing fats the right way requires a good balance of exercise and diet. Unfortunately, a lot of people want shortcuts.