Fat-burning capsules, drainers, meal replacements, high-protein bars, appetite-suppressing drinks… In pharmacies, there is no shortage of “weight-loss products”. But behind their seductive image – and their promises of rapid and spectacular results – hides a very different reality. “Not only do they not help you lose weight sustainably, but they can even harm your health and disrupt your weight in the long term,” warns Julie Boët, dietitian-nutritionist. Here are six good reasons to never buy one again.
A misleading composition
“Slimming” cabbage soup, “anti-cravings” yogurt… Many slimming products sold in pharmacies are based on misleading compositions.
“The vast majority are ultra-processed, filled with additives, sweeteners, artificial flavors or texturizing agents intended to disguise their lack of nutrients. Some meal replacements contain more sugar than a bowl of cereal and many more additives than a homemade meal. Many “slimming” bars are high in calories, low in fiber, low in nutrients, and do not provide lasting satiety, which promotes cracks later in the day”, confirms Julie Boët.
Plants that lose water… not fat
Few consumers know the underside of “express” weight loss induced by products sold in pharmacies. However, the majority of fat-burning and draining capsules are based on diuretic or stimulating plants, which cause you to lose water… and not fat. In other words: the weight goes down on the scale but goes back up as soon as you hydrate properly.
“It is not a loss of fat mass, just an illusion. Some formulas even contain caffeine in large quantities, which can disrupt sleep, increase anxiety, accelerate the heart rate and disrupt the appetite. Others contain synthetic fibers called “appetite suppressants” which swell in the stomach, but which can cause bloating, constipation or even diarrhea,”
warns the expert.
An astronomical cost
Another element that we rarely talk about, but which weighs heavily in the annual budget: the price of these products. Generally sold at exorbitant prices, they have – as a bonus – minimal effectiveness.
“Several months of purchasing slimming supplements represent a considerable budget which, paradoxically, far exceeds that of professional support – especially since many mutual insurance companies partially or fully reimburse consultations.“, underlines the specialist.
And above all, the effect of professional follow-up is much more lasting: you learn to eat better, to understand your body and to adapt your food choices according to your pace of life.
Products that harm self-esteem
Another often ignored, but very real, effect is the psychological impact of these products. High-protein bars and appetite suppressant drinks maintain the idea that you have to “buy something” to lose weight, that the solution comes from outside… and never from yourself.
“These products reinforce guilt, haste and the conflicting relationship with weight. They make people believe that diet is a problem to be corrected, when it should be a means of taking care of oneself. Many people end up alternating between cures, express diets, frustration and weight gain, which tires the metabolism and undermines self-confidence,”
she regrets.
A weakened microbiota
Finally, the last fault of these ultra-processed products is their impact on the microbiota. Ultra-processed foods, full of artificial sweeteners and fibers, disrupt the intestinal flora, therefore slowing down metabolism… and promoting fat storage.
“Conversely, a diet rich in natural fibers, plants, raw foods and variety supports a balanced microbiota, better transit, better blood sugar management and therefore more harmonious weight loss”, relates the nutritionist.
Finally, returning to a “sensible” diet is recommended, where a fat burner would only mask the root of the problem…