The information
provided here is for consumer information only and does not represent or
substitute medical advice or imply any endorsements of the products listed.
Fat binders are also known as fat magnets. They claim to be able to lower
cholesterol and contribute to weight loss. These products usually contain
chitosan, which comes from chitin. You are, in really, swallowing ground up
shells of shrimp, lobster, and crabs. Chitosan is supposed to cause weight
loss by binding fats in the stomach and preventing them from being digested
and absorbed. Although chitosan can decrease fat absorption, the amount in
fat binders is too small to have much effect on cholesterol levels. Your
doctor can prescribe a number of drugs which can actually lower cholesterol.
Both the British Advertising Standards Authority and the FDA have won suits
against advertisers of chitosan. As a result, advertisers must make clear in
future that the product had not been proven to aid slimming or prevent
weight gain. Most fat binders carry the following warning. Let the buyer
beware.
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The products and
the claims made about specific vitamins, supplements or other items or
procedures on or through this website have not been evaluated by the United
States Food and Drug Administration and are not approved to diagnose, treat,
cure or prevent disease. The information provided on this site is for
informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice
from your physician or doctor or any information contained on or in any
product label or packaging. As always, please consult with a licensed doctor
or physician before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program,
before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a
problem.
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Here’s the scoop
on four popular fat binders.
Absorbital Fat Binder has 900mg of chitosan. The product safety information
warns not to take the product if you are allergic to shellfish. Only one
consumer recommendation is given, dated August 2006. Kisa, from the USA,
reports that she loves it.
LipoSan Ultra’s claim to fame is that its chitosan formula is better than
other chitosan formulas. Swansom Health Products endorses the product
“because we believe it is the most effective ephedra-free weight-loss
supplement anywhere.” Each pill contains 500g of chitosan. Pills must be
taken before meals.
Proactol, like many products, has its own website offering positive
recommendations for using the product and losing weight. WeightlossHD.com
even provides testimony from a former obese person on why it worked for him.
If you scan down the page, however, you’ll find that the website is just a
shill selling Proactol. The unidentified man offers no any scientific
evidence to back up his claim, but he does urge you to stock up because
supplies are going fast.
RX-ed.Com offers advice on Xenical. Unfortunately, the list of warnings is
longer than the text on what Xenical does. There is an “Ask the Doctor”
section on the website, but most information relates to shipping costs,
refunds, bonuses if you order more than once, and replacement orders if
customs seizes your order when it enters the country.
Perhaps the best site to review regarding fat binders is Fatbinders.com.
They dispute claims about fat binder products. More importantly, they give
useful advice like eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, drink a lot of
water, and exercise. Of course, if you follow that common sense piece of
advice, you probably won’t need the fat binder.
The problems of using diet pills to lose
weight
Different types of Diet Pills
Available
References
Barrett, Stephen. 2001. Is Chitosan a Fat Magnet? URL:
http://www.chasefreedom.com/chitosan.html
EVitamins.Com. 2007. Absorbital Fat Binder by Natrol. URL:
http://www.evitamins.com/product.asp?pid=597
Swanson Health Products. 2007. LipoSan Ultra.
http://www.swansonvitamins.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10051&SourceCode=INTL071&partner=51&WT.srch=1&NG_urlID=2303693
