Weight Loss Patch: Safe and Effective or Just Hype?

A weight loss patch seems like a great way to lose weight easily and conveniently. And there are a lot of types out there, along with a lot of claims and hype. So what is true, and what isn't? Are these a safe and effective way to lose weight?

What Are They?

Just like a nicotine patch, a weight loss patch is something you stick on your skin to help you lose weight.

One common weight loss patch contains an extract from a plant called Hoodia. This plant only grows in the Kalahari desert, and is known as an appetite suppressant. The story goes that the bushmen in the desert have been using this plant for over a thousand years to curb their hunger while on long hunting trips.

Other patches are made with an active ingredient from the plant Fucus Vesiculosus. This plant is an algae found on some coasts, and is also called bladder wrack.

There are a number of weight loss patches containing Fucus Vesiculosus. A few of the more famous ones are Dietrine, Adi-Patch, and Didri Patch. In addition to Fucus Vesiculosus, this type of weight loss patch usually contains other active ingredients such as Garcinia Cambogia, Chromium Picolinate, and Guarana extract.

What's the Hype?

The makers of these patches claim that the ingredients can lower your appetite, increase your energy, and speed up your metabolism. So, depending on the type of patch and the ingredients it contains, it will make you feel more full, with less desire to eat, or it will make you burn fat and/or carbohydrates more efficiently.

The idea behind using a patch is that when the chemicals are applied to the skin, they get absorbed right into the blood stream. This is called trans-dermal delivery. The chemicals can also be released slowly and over the course of a day or more, to keep the levels constant.

People like the idea of a weight loss patch because of the convenience of putting on a hard-to-notice little patch once a day and then forgetting about it. There's no need to remember to take pills or supplements.

Do They Really Work?

There is lots of anecdotal evidence that Hoodia has a very powerful effect on suppressing the appetite. There was a clinical study that found a significant difference between a group taking the active ingredient in Hoodia, and a control group. The Hoodia group actually consumed significantly fewer calories, and reduced their body fat.

From this and other related studies, scientists thing that Hoodia works by sending a glucose-like molecule to a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. After you eat a meal, glucose sends a signal to your brain that you are full. So, by mimicking this signal, the active molecule in Hoodia makes you feel that you are full even when you haven't eaten.

Fucus Vesiculosus contains iodine, which manipulates the thyroid gland. This gland is important for managing weight and metabolism. Iodine triggers the thyroid gland to make thyroid hormone, which increases metabolism. This means you burn fat faster.

While it's definitely true that iodine has effects on the thyroid gland, there aren't enough studies to show that there is enough iodine in a typical weight loss patch to have those effects.

The other ingredients in pills such as Dietrine are claimed to have appetite suppressant or energy boosting effects. Guarana is a popular substance from South America. It contains a lot of caffeine, and also has some appetite suppressant properties. Chromium Picolinate is claimed to increase fat burning by manipulating insulin and causing the body to break down glucose and fat more rapidly. Garcinia Cambogia is claimed to work by inhibiting an enzyme. This enzyme converts carbohydrates to fats, so by stopping it from doing its job, you burn more carbs and store less fat.

There is generally little, or mixed support for these claims, though. And the amounts contained in a single weight loss patch are not necessarily enough to have the effects that the manufacturers claim.

In general, the substances used in a weight loss patch aren't approved by the FDA. Some of them may have a few studies supporting the benefits that they are claimed to have, but there needs to be a much larger body of controlled scientific studies done before anyone can actually claim that these substances work.

Also, if you're taking these weight loss aids in patch form, it's important to note that most of the studies done have used pills. Despite all the claims, there's little real evidence that taking substances like Hoodia in the form of a patch is more effective—or even effective at all!

Are They Safe?

One general issue that many people experience when using a weight loss patch is itching, redness, or pain on their skin. Although not all people have these problems, if you do have a skin reaction to the chemicals in a patch, then you will need to stop using it immediately.

As for the active ingredients contained in these weight loss patches, let's start with Hoodia. Very few studies have been done on the side effects of Hoodia. It may cause dehydration, low blood pressure, and liver damage, but none of these things have been proven.

Also, since Hoodia is difficult and expensive to harvest, and the plant only grows in the Kalahari desert, it is generally expensive. You can find a cheap weight loss patch claiming to contain pure Hoodia extract—but be careful. Because of the hype and the profit potential for selling Hoodia, there are a lot of companies that are making false claims.

Hoodia hasn't been evaluated or approved by the FDA, so there is no regulation on it. In other words, you have no guarantee of what you're getting in a pull that claims to contain Hoodia. Check the reputablility of the product before you buy it.

With Fucus Vesiculosus, there is also a risk in stimulating the thyroid gland too much. This can cause hyperthyroidism, and can be dangerous for people with a family history of thyroid problems, diabetes, or other medical conditions.

Other substances commonly found in a weight loss patch, such as Garcinia Cambogia, Chromium Picolinate, and Guarana extract have not been evaluated by the FDA for safety or effective dose. There is not a lot of reliable information about their safety or potential side effects.

Should You Try Them?

There are many reports of short term results using weight loss patches. If you are interested in the convenience offered by this form of diet aid, then make sure you do your research to know that you are getting what is advertised, and have reasonable expectations about the results you can achieve. If you do try these patches, do so carefully, and only for a short-term boost to a healthy diet and lifestyle.

If you're looking for a natural way to lose weight, you could check out weight loss tea.  There are no dangers or side effects with drinking tea, and it can be helpful.  And for convenient on-the-go supplements, a weight loss shake can be a good option. 

Keep in mind, a weight loss patch certainly isn't a miracle diet product, and there are a lot of safer and more well-tested alternatives. The claims that they can curb your appetite and help you burn fat aren't scientifically proven. Also, it's not certain that taking the substances in the form of a weight loss patch is more effective than taking them in pill form. There is no FDA approved weight loss patch, so you can never be certain of what you are getting.