Natural Diet Supplements To Lose Weight

Medically reviewed by Alisha D. Sellers, BS Pharmacy, PharmD — By Rachael Ajmera, MS, RD and Kris Gunnars, BSc — Updated on April 4, 2023

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Prescription weight loss medications, including GLP-1 agonists, orlistat, and setmelanotide, are more likely to be effective for weight loss than many over-the-counter options.

Some options are more popular than others, including certain pills, drugs, and natural supplements. These claim to help you lose weight, or at least to make it easier to lose weight when you combine them with other methods.

However, you should always discuss any diet or supplement changes with a healthcare professional, such as a doctor or registered dietitian, and use medications or OTC pills only as directed.

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Several drugs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss for overweight and obesity. These medications require a prescription from a doctor and should only be taken under medical supervision.

These medications should be combined with a balanced weight loss diet, as they are not likely a helpful long-term solution to obesity and may lead to weight regain over time. They also have many possible side effects, some of which can be serious.

Orlistat is an oral medication that is available via prescription as Xenical. It can also be purchased over the counter as the brand Alli.

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How it works: Orlistat works by blocking the activity of certain enzymes used to break down fats in the digestive tract, which helps to reduce the amount of calories that you absorb (

Effectiveness: According to a 2011 study of 80 people with obesity, those who took orlistat lost an average of 10.3 pounds (lb), or 4.65 kilograms (kg), after 6 months. They also experienced significant reductions in body mass index (BMI), belly fat, and total and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels (

Side effects: Orlistat often causes digestive issues like loose or oily stools, gas, and frequent bowel movements. It could also contribute to nutrient deficiencies, including in fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, or K (4).

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Phentermine/topiramate is an oral medication that belongs to a class of drugs known as sympathomimetic amines. It requires a prescription from a doctor and is sold under the brand, Qsymia.

How it works: This medication includes phentermine, a central nervous system stimulant and appetite suppressant with similar mechanisms to amphetamine. It also includes topiramate, an anticonvulsant that helps reduce appetite and enhance satiety to promote weight loss (

Effectiveness: One review concluded that phentermine/topiramate resulted in an average weight loss of 17 lb (7.7 kg) and significantly reduced belly fat, blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels (

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Another review comparing the effectiveness of several weight loss medications found that people with overweight or obesity who took phentermine/topiramate lost an average of 19.4 lb (8.8 kg) after 1 year (

Side effects: The most common side effects associated with phentermine/topiramate include dry mouth, constipation, and paresthesia, or a sensation of pins and needles (

This medication, sold under the name Contrave, is an oral medication that combines bupropion, an antidepressant, and naltrexone, which is used to manage opioid or alcohol use disorder (

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A doctor can determine whether Contrave may be a good option for you and may provide a prescription. Some online services may also prescribe Contrave following a virtual consultation with a healthcare professional.

How it works: Though the exact mechanism of naltrexone/bupropion is not fully understood, it’s believed to promote weight loss by acting on certain parts of the brain to reduce food intake, boost metabolism, and increase feelings of fullness (

Effectiveness: One review of four studies showed that naltrexone/bupropion was associated with significant weight loss compared to a placebo. Over 1 year, participants lost an average of 11–22 lb (5–9 kg) (

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Side effects: Naltrexone/bupropion may cause nausea, constipation, headache, vomiting, dizziness, and insomnia. It might also increase heart rate and blood pressure (

Two GLP-1 agonists have been approved for weight loss, including liraglutide (Saxenda) and semaglutide (Wegovy). Both are available as a self-administered injection, but liraglutide is administered once daily while semaglutide is only injected once per week (11, 12).

Though not approved specifically for weight loss, some other GLP-1 agonists intended to treat type 2 diabetes are also sometimes prescribed off-label for weight management, including (

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GLP-1 agonists are only available through a prescription from a doctor. Several telehealth services and weight loss programs can also provide a prescription if you meet the eligibility criteria, including Ro Body Program and Calibrate.

How it works: GLP-1 agonists work by slowing the emptying of the stomach, increasing feelings of fullness, and reducing the secretion of glucagon, a hormone involved in regulating appetite (

For instance, one study in 1, 961 adults found that taking 2.4 milligrams (mg) of semaglutide per week combined with lifestyle changes resulted in a nearly 15% reduction in body weight after 68 weeks (

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Though uncommon, severe side effects have also been reported, which may require medical attention, including kidney problems, thyroid C-cell tumors, gallbladder disease, low blood sugar, and suicidal ideation (11, 12).

More research is also needed on the long-term effects of these medications, as there is concern about potential weight regain over time.

Setmelanotide, sold as Imcivree, is in a class of medications known as melanocortin 4 (MC4) receptor agonists. It’s an injectable medication approved for treating obesity caused by certain genetic mutations and is available only via prescription (

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How it works: People with specific genetic mutations may experience insufficient activation of the MC4 receptor in the brain, which could contribute to obesity.

Setmelanotide works by increasing the activation of this receptor, leading to reduced hunger, decreased calorie intake, and increased metabolism, all of which could promote weight loss (18).

Effectiveness: One study in 21 people taking setmelanotide found that around 62% of participants achieved at least 10% weight loss after 1 year. Participants also experienced a significant reduction in hunger with no serious treatment-related adverse events reported (

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Another small study in children, adolescents, and adults found that setmelanotide significantly improved quality of life as early as 5 weeks after starting treatment, which could be related to reduced hunger and body weight (

Side effects: Some of the most common side effects of setmelanotide include injection site reactions, hyperpigmentation, nausea, headache, diarrhea, and stomach or back pain. Fatigue, vomiting, and depression have also been reported (18).

There are several anorectics, or appetite suppressants, available, including phentermine (Adipex-P or Lomaira), benzphetamine (Regimex or Didrex), diethylpropion (Tepanil or Tenuate), and phendimetrazine (Bontril).

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How it works: These medications reduce appetite by altering levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, which can lead to weight loss (

Effectiveness: One study in 3, 411 people compared the effectiveness of several medications for obesity and found that people taking phentermine lost the highest percentage of body weight over 12 weeks. Those taking phentermine lost an average of 8.3 lb (3.75 kg) throughout the study (

Another 2015 study in 156 people with obesity showed that people taking diethylpropion lost an average of 10.8 lb (4.9 kg) after 3 months and 17 lb (7.7 kg) after 6 months (

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However, keep in mind that these medications are only recommended for short-term use, as you can build up a tolerance after several weeks, resulting in decreased effectiveness (24, 25, 26, 27).

Other severe side effects have also been reported and require immediate medical attention, including shortness of breath, chest pain, and swelling of the lower extremities (24, 25, 26, 27).

It’s a small, green fruit shaped like a pumpkin. The fruit’s skin contains hydroxycitric acid, the active ingredient in garcinia cambogia extract, which is marketed as a diet pill.

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How it works: Animal studies show that it can hinder a fat-producing enzyme in the body and increase serotonin levels, potentially helping to reduce cravings (28,

Effectiveness: According to one meta-analysis of 54 studies, researchers found that garcinia cambogia had no significant effect on body weight or body fat percentage compared to a placebo (

On the other hand, a 2020 review that looked at eight trials on garcinia cambogia found that, on average, it caused weight loss of about 3 lb (1.34 kg) (

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Side effects: While it’s widely agreed that garcinia cambogia is safe to take in recommended amounts, studies within the last several years have pointed to some serious side effects.

A 2018 study documented four cases of women who experienced acute liver failure after taking weight loss supplements containing garcinia cambogia (

Hydroxycut has been around for more than a decade and is one of the most popular weight loss supplements in the world. The brand makes several products, but Hydroxycut is the most common.

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How it works: It contains several ingredients claiming to help with weight loss, including caffeine and a few plant extracts such as green coffee extract.

, or green coffee extract, one of the key ingredients in Hydroxycut, led to about a 5.5-lb (2.47-kg) weight loss compared to the placebo (

Hydroxycut products containing ephedra, a stimulant herb, were

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