Veggie Blog

Weight loss patches: what they promise and what to know

For very overweight people who have been unable to lose weight by ordinary means, the weight loss patch is often advertised as an option.

Basically, a weight loss patch is a product that is supposed to help people lose weight. The weight loss patch, also known as the diet patch (one brand is the Slim Form Patch), is a weight loss product that is readily available on the market.

Its manufacturers say that the ingredients used in weight loss patches are 100% natural, so people who use them can be assured of a safe and effective weight loss regimen. “Natural”, however, does not automatically mean safe or effective.

To understand more about weight loss patches, here is a list of the main claims made for them, and what is known about each:

1. It is described as a natural and easy way of losing weight.

The manufacturers say that the patches are made from 100% natural ingredients, which is why they claim the products are safe to use. Patches are certainly simple and easy to use. But herbal ingredients can still have side effects and interact with medicines, and diet patches are generally not tested for safety or effectiveness the way medicines are.

2. It is presented as different from the usual fad diet.

Sellers say the patches are clinically proven and can safely burn calories and fat without skipping meals or crash dieting. There is no good scientific evidence that diet patches cause weight loss, and the US Federal Trade Commission has taken action against companies for making unsupported claims about diet patches.

On the positive side, a patch does not require you to cut out any food groups, so a person using it can still eat a well-balanced diet. Any weight lost while using a patch is most likely due to that diet and to exercise.

3. It uses what is called patch, or transdermal, technology.

The sellers’ explanation is that substances taken by mouth pass through different organs of the body, and that harmful ingredients that enter the body this way may pose greater risks.

According to this claim, the substances go through organs such as the stomach and liver before they reach the bloodstream, and therefore pose a greater risk to the person concerned.

With patch technology, substances are absorbed through the skin and go straight into the bloodstream, without passing through the stomach and liver first. Transdermal patches are a real and useful way of giving some medicines, such as nicotine or hormones.

However, the claim that the blood filters out harmful substances, so that only the useful ones reach the cells, is not accurate. Whatever is absorbed reaches the whole body, and there is no evidence that the herbal ingredients in diet patches are absorbed in amounts that affect weight.

Manufacturers also say that their patches contain ingredients that help people lose weight while improving their health and well-being. These claims are not backed by reliable studies.

So before you spend money on a weight loss patch, think carefully and talk to your doctor or pharmacist, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or have a health condition.

The patches are usually sold in packs of 30, and one patch is meant to be worn each day, so a pack lasts about a month.

Weight loss patches are marketed as making weight loss easy for everyone.

In practice, lasting weight loss still comes from a balanced diet, regular exercise and patience, with or without a patch. If you do choose to try one, treat it as an extra, never as a replacement for healthy habits.