Fat Loss

Last Updated: October 13, 2023

Fat loss occurs when more calories are expended than consumed.

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How does fat loss work?

Fat loss occurs when energy intake is less than energy expenditure (which consists of the thermic effect of food, basal metabolic rate, and physical activity). Physical activity can be further divided into volitional exercise and nonexercise activity thermogenesis.

How could diet affect fat loss?

Different diets do not significantly affect fat loss if their protein and calorie contents are equal, regardless of carbohydrate or fat levels. However, factors like ultraprocessed foods, protein, and fiber can influence energy intake, hunger, and satiety, which can affect fat loss.

Which supplements are of most interest for fat loss?

Supplements for fat loss generally work by increasing energy expenditure, suppressing appetite, or enhancing fatty acid release from fat cells; popular options include caffeine, ephedrine, and green tea catechins. However, many fat loss supplements lack sufficient evidence for effectiveness and can potentially be harmful, as observed with yohimbine, ephedrine, and caffeine, which may induce anxiety in some individuals.

What different types of prescription weight-loss drugs are available?

Several FDA-approved prescription weight-loss drugs include orlistat, phentermine-topiramate, naltrexone-bupropion, liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide; they are typically prescribed to adults with obesity or those with a BMI of 27 or greater along with related health issues. Additionally, setmelanotide is approved for weight loss but is restricted to individuals with specific rare genetic disorders.

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Update History
2023-10-12 00:30:02

Small corrections about body composition

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A reader pointed out a few issues with how we discussed the effect of weight loss drugs on body composition, so we fixed it.

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2023-08-14 13:28:00

Medical review complete

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One of our physician reviewers reviewed this page.

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2023-07-25 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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