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Fat Loss
•Last Updated: August 16, 2023
Fat loss occurs when more calories are expended than consumed.
Last Updated:August 16, 2023
There are three components of total daily energy expenditure: the thermic effect of food (i.e., the energy cost of the digestion, absorption, and storage of dietary macronutrients), basal metabolic rate, and physical activity, which can be subdivided into volitional exercise and nonexercise activity thermogenesis (i.e., the energy expended performing common daily activities such as standing, walking, and fidgeting). For fat loss to occur, energy intake must be less than energy expenditure.
There are no meaningful differences in fat loss between diets that vary in carbohydrate and fat content, as long as their protein and calorie content is equal.[1][2]
Nonetheless, certain dietary factors can influence fat loss via their effects on energy expenditure, hunger, and satiety, and thus energy intake. These include ultraprocessed foods, which have been shown to increase ad libitum energy intake;[3] protein, which has the highest thermic effect of food among the macronutrients, helps to preserve muscle during weight loss (and thus preserve basal metabolic rate), and may reduce hunger and prolong satiety;[4] and fiber, which may also reduce hunger and prolong satiety.[5]
Supplements of interest for fat loss typically either increase total daily energy expenditure, suppress appetite, or increase the rate at which fatty acids are released from fat cells. The following are some of the most popular supplements related to fat loss:
- Caffeine
- Ephedrine
- Green tea catechins
- Green coffee extract
- Yohimbine
- Capsaicin
- Garcinia cambogia
- Conjugated linoleic acid
Most supplements sold for fat loss are ineffective or there’s not enough evidence in humans to support their efficacy, and some can even be harmful. For example, yohimbine, ephedrine, and caffeine can all induce anxiety in some people.
Several drugs are currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat overweight and obesity. These include orlistat (trade names Xenical/Alli), phentermine-topiramate (trade name Qsymia), naltrexone-bupropion (trade name Contrave), liraglutide (trade name Saxenda), semaglutide (trade names Wegovy/Ozempic), and terzepatide (trade name Mounjaro).
Typically, weight-loss drugs are only prescribed to adults with obesity (BMI of 30 or greater) or who have a BMI of 27 or greater and other weight-related comorbidities like hypertension (high blood pressure) or type 2 diabetes.
A drug called setmelanotide (trade name Imcivree) is also approved for weight loss, but its use is limited to people with one of three rare genetic disorders.[30]
Supplement Guide
Click here to read the Fat Loss Supplement Guide2023-07-25 16:56:12
New FAQs about weight loss drugs
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We added a bunch of new FAQs related to weight loss drugs to this page.
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