Two-thirds of Australian adults are now classified as overweight or obese, so it’s logical that supplements promising effortless weight loss are a lucrative market.
But those numbers of overweight and obese Australians are rising — so it’s also logical that these weight-loss supplements don’t actually work.
And that is indeed the case, according to University of Sydney obesity researcher Dr Nick Fuller, who appeared on Today Extra to reveal the science (or lack thereof) behind four common ingredients in these supplements.
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Green coffee extract
“This is one of the biggest marketing scams of the 21st century,” Fuller decreed, which is about as blunt as it gets.
While caffeine does give your metabolism a slight (and very short-lived) boost, there’s no scientific evidence that contributes to weight loss in any meaningful way, according to a University of Sydney review.
Hemp seeds
A product of the cannabis plant, hemp seeds were legalised as food in Australia in late 2017 — and hemp products have rapidly cropped up on shelves since then.
“But again, sadly there’s no evidence to suggest it helps with weight loss,” cautioned Fuller.
Garcinea
It’s the hydroxycitric acid (HCA) in the skin of garcinia cambogia fruit that’s supposed to speed up weight loss, and Fuller says there is some legit research suggesting it’ll help drop fat.
But (there’s always a but) that weight loss is tiny: according to Fuller, those who took a garcinia supplement in a 12-week trial only lost a kilo more than those who took a placebo.
“So it’s definitely not worth it,” he said.
Capsaicin
This the compound that gives chili its heat and, like caffeine, it does speed up your metabolic rate. But, like caffeine, its effect is so modest it’s not going to help burn extra calories.
Moral of the story is that you’re just going to have to lose weight the old-fashioned way: eating better, and moving more. On the bright side, it’s cheaper than forking out for an expensive pill that doesn’t work…
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