Menu
Dr. Weil Logo Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
  • Health & Wellness
    Health & Wellness
    Body, Mind & Spirit
    • Addiction
    • Allergy & Asthma
    • Autoimmune Disorders
    • Back Pain
    • Bone & Joint
    • Cancer
    • Colds & Flu
    • Dental & Oral
    • Diabetes
    • Disease & Disorders
    • Ears, Nose, & Throat
    • Feet
    • Gastrointestinal
    • Hair, Skin, & Nails
    • Headache
    • Heart
    • Insects & Parasites
    • Liver & Kidney
    • Mental Health
    • Pregnancy & Fertility
    • Respiratory
    • Sexual Health
    • Sleep Issues
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Vision
    Balanced Living
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Gardening
    • Healthy Home
    • Healthy Living
    • Meditation & Inspiration
    • Meet Dr. Weil
    • Pets & Pet Care
    • Technology
    • Wellness Therapies
    Health Centers
    • Aging Gracefully
    • Children
    • Condition Care Guide
    • Men
    • Women
  • Diet & Nutrition
    Diet & Nutrition
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet Pyramid
    Cooking & Cookware
    Healthy Cooking & Cookware
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Food Safety
    Diets & Nutrition - Food Safety
    Nutrition
    healthy nutrition
    Recipes
    healthy recipes
    Featured Articles
    • Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
      Foods You Don’t Have To Buy Organic: The Clean 15
    • Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
      Foods You Should Always Buy Organic: The Dirty Dozen
    • Food Safety
      What Is Allulose?
    • Cooking & Cookware
      Buckwheat Basics?
    • Videos
      Video: Top 12 Anti-Inflammatory Foods To Add To Your Shopping List
  • Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Herbs
    herbal remedies - herbs
    Supplements & Remedies
    suppliments & remedies
    Vitamins
    ask-dr-weil_vitamins-supplements-herbs_vitamins-topnav
  • Ask Dr. Weil
  • Blogs
    Blogs
    Bulletins
    The Legacy Of Living Yes | Spontaneous Happiness | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Health Tips
    Healthy Drinks To Start Sipping | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Spontaneous Happiness
    blog_spontaneous-happiness_topnav
  • COVID-19
  • Dr. Andrew Weil For Origins
  • Shop
  • Healthy Aging
  • Podcasts
  • Meet Dr. Weil
  • Subscribe
Should You Try Thermogenic Supplements For Weight Loss?
Subscribe
Press "Enter" to search
  1. Home
  2. Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
  3. Supplements & Remedies

Should You Try Thermogenic Supplements For Weight Loss?

I’m seeing information and advice on the use of thermogenics. Any thoughts on these products?

Andrew Weil, M.D. | January 22, 2002

Running on treadmill
2 min

Reviewed on 3/24/2009

I can sum up my thoughts on thermogenics in two words: stay away! Manufacturers claim that thermogenic supplements are designed to increase your metabolism (the rate at which you burn calories), suppress your appetite, and promote weight loss. The term “thermogenics” refers to an increased production of heat in the body, yet the safest and most effective way to generate more heat and boost your metabolism is not through a supplement or drug, but with regular physical activity. That said, thermogenic supplements include a variety of stimulants – mostly herbal – alone or in combination. These stimulants, such as caffeine (typically in the form of guaraná, kola, or yerba maté) or ephedrine (in the form of the herb ephedra), purportedly help increase energy levels, suppress appetite, and burn fat.

The FDA has banned ephedra, saying “dietary supplements containing ephedra present an unreasonable risk of illness or injury, and should not be consumed.” I have often warned against ephedra (ma huang) and ephedrine, which can be dangerous especially when combined in weight-loss products with other stimulants such as caffeine. In addition to a risk of addiction, ephedra can cause such side effects as irregular heartbeat, insomnia, and elevated blood pressure. As far as weight loss is concerned, don’t be surprised if you regain every pound you lose once you stop taking supplements containing ephedra or other stimulants.

Here are some other ingredients commonly used in thermogenic formulas and my objections to them:

  • Garcinia cambogia: The active ingredient here is hydroxycitric acid (HCA). Some data from animal studies suggest it may suppress appetite as well as the formation of fats and cholesterol in the liver, but there’s no evidence that it’s effective for weight loss in humans.
  • Bitter orange (Citrus aurantium): Here, the main active ingredient is synephrine, a stimulant analogous in action to the nasal-spray drug Neo-Synephrine and similar to ephedrine. I don’t think there’s enough good scientific research to say that bitter orange promotes weight loss in humans. In fact, a group of Italian researchers recently found that lab rats given bitter orange ate less and lost weight but also developed heart abnormalities and died as the dose increased. The researchers cautioned that bitter orange may be dangerous especially when used by the elderly, the obese, and those with heart problems.
  • Pyruvate: This naturally occurring enzyme is the main ingredient in the weight loss product “Exercise in a Bottle.” Promoters claim that pyruvate forces every cell in the body to work harder whether or not you’re exercising. The Federal Trade Commission has filed multiple complaints against the makers of “Exercise in a Bottle” for false claims made on a now-banned television infomercial.

Although you may seem to lose weight in the short-term with thermogenic supplements, you won’t maintain this weight loss without eating less and exercising more. Since several of the ingredients are potentially dangerous and the evidence of their effectiveness is weak, I would avoid thermogenics and instead concentrate on cutting back on calories and portion sizes, and increasing physical activity.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging

Start Your 14-Day Free Trial

Free Newsletters

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Follow Dr. Weil’s Food Pyramid

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox

Trending Now

Businessman hand typing on keyboard and working in office in vintage color filter
Supplements & Remedies

A New Kind of Calcium?

Hands Of Woman Deformed From Rheumatoid Arthritis holding pills
Supplements & Remedies

A Supplement to Prevent Alzheimer's

iodine deficient non dairy milk
Supplements & Remedies

Am I Iodine Deficient?

Glass of light beer on the glass bar counter.
Supplements & Remedies

An Antioxidant In Beer?

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox

Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
Information
  • About Us
  • Press Information
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage Email Subscription
Trending Articles
Businessman hand typing on keyboard and working in office in vintage color filter
Supplements & Remedies

A New Kind of Calcium?

Hands Of Woman Deformed From Rheumatoid Arthritis holding pills
Supplements & Remedies

A Supplement to Prevent Alzheimer's

Daily Tips
Natural Supplements for stress
Health Tips

6 Natural Supplements For Reducing Unhealthy Stress

Minimize Overeating
Health Tips

7 Ways To Minimize Stress-Based Overeating

  • Flickr
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. or Healthy Lifestyle Brands.

©Copyright 2021 Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. www.drweil.com