Weight Loss Supplements: Do They Really Work?
Weight loss with Ozempic or Wegovy can be effective, but expensive. Enter so-called GLP-1 supplements that have taken on the nickname “nature’s Ozempic.”
What are GLP-1 Supplements?
They’re much cheaper than the injectable prescription drugs, and include berberine, gummies, and drink mixes infused with oatmeal and tea.
Lemme GLP-1 Daily: A New Product on the Market
One of the latest products on the market — Lemme GLP-1 Daily, from Kourtney Kardashian Barker’s wellness brand — is advertised as helping to reduce hunger, decrease weight, and increase levels of GLP-1. It’s a hormone the body produces when people eat food to signal fullness to the brain.
Do These Products Really Work?
But do these products really work? Doctors are skeptical.
Ozempic and Wegovy: The Prescription Drugs
Ozempic, a Type 2 diabetes medication, and its sister drug Wegovy, which is specifically approved for weight loss, both contain semaglutide, which mimics GLP-1. This active ingredient has gone through a rigorous approval process by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and has been shown to suppress appetite, leading people to lose weight, said Dr. Roshini Raj, a New York gastroenterologist.
The Cheaper Alternatives
It’s a different story with the cheaper alternatives. “What’s very misleading, in my opinion, is a lot of these supplements have the term GLP-1 on the bottle, but they do not contain GLP-1. They do not contain an agonist or a mimicking hormone,” Raj said in a TODAY segment that aired on Thursday, Sept. 19.
What You Need to Know About Semaglutide
So if you pick up a bottle of supplements that says GLP-1 on the label, you’re not getting GLP-1 and you don’t know exactly what’s inside, Raj warned. Companies can get away with that because the supplement industry is not well regulated, and the FDA doesn’t approve the supplements, so little is known about the safety or efficacy of the products, she added, calling it “a bit of a Wild West.”
Doctors’ Concerns
The emerging supplements claim to promote natural production of the GLP-1 hormone, but they undergo far less testing than drugs, said Dr. Hans Schmidt, a bariatric surgeon in New Jersey. They’re not vetted by the FDA and there’s no evidence they work, he added.
The Price Difference
The price difference between the prescription drugs and the supplements has some people eager to try the alternative products. Ozempic and Wegovy can cost $1,000 a month without insurance, while some of the supplements cost about $70 a month or less.
Doctors’ Advice
Doctors advised consumers to be careful. Berberine, for example, is unlikely to reduce appetite and potentially leads to very little, if any, weight loss, Dr. Pieter Cohen, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School who leads the Supplement Research Program at the Cambridge Health Alliance in Massachusetts, previously told TODAY.com.
Conclusion
Raj said there are too many unknowns about the alternative products. “I’m not saying these are actually bad supplements — we just don’t know. We don’t know what they actually do. … There could be a downside,” she said. “Because I don’t really know if they work, I certainly, as a doctor, wouldn’t recommend them.”
FAQs
Q: Are GLP-1 supplements effective for weight loss?
A: Doctors are skeptical about the effectiveness of GLP-1 supplements for weight loss.
Q: What are the risks associated with taking GLP-1 supplements?
A: There are too many unknowns about the alternative products, and it’s crucial to prioritize your health and safety.
Q: Should I talk to my doctor before taking any dietary supplements?
A: Yes, the FDA advises talking to your physician before taking any dietary supplements.
Q: What is the best way to lose weight?
A: The classic advice still holds: eat a healthy diet, get plenty of exercise, get enough sleep, and manage stress. A high-fiber diet, which also stimulates GLP-1 production, would likely be more effective than the supplements.
Q: What are the prescription GLP-1 medications that actually have been proven to work?
A: Ozempic and Wegovy are prescription GLP-1 medications that have been shown to suppress appetite and lead to weight loss.
