Diet Patch Ingredients

Diet patches have a combination of several similar active ingredients, bound on an adhesive square similar to a bandage. Depending on the manufacturer, the active ingredients to speed metabolism can include guarana, L-Carnitine, and fucus vesiculosus; to curb appetite and balance weight loss, 5-HTP, DHEA and yerba mate. There are several varieties of patches on the market, and it's important to understand their functions and side effects before you buy.

Ingredients in Diet Patches

• Patches can contain ingredients touted on television and online as a "miracle" or "secret" ingredient. Supplements like acai berry extract, apple cider vinegar and green tea extract have found their way into the diet patch market, though the patches that list these ingredients generally contain only small amounts. These patches generally contain a larger combination of the standard metabolism boosters and appetite suppressants as well. Remember that some ingredients should not be taken by people with high blood pressure or heart problems. If you suffer from a major medical condition, you need to consult with a doctor before you use any diet aid.

  Guarana, L-Carnitine, and fucus vesiculousis are three of the most common metabolism boosters used in the making of diet patches. While these ingredients are "all natural" and, in sufficient quantities do aid in speeding up your metabolic rate, they are also known to cause high heart rate, dizziness and/or diarrhea (See References 3). Proper research must be used by people with sensitivity to these supplements.

  Appetite suppressants and balancing ingredients 5-HTP, DHEA and yerba mate don't come with the same large potential of immediate side effects, though yerba mate has been shown in clinical studies with the International Agency for Research on Cancer to be a carcinogen in large amounts when used as a tea (See references 1). Researching these ingredients is key, as DHEA is a hormone stabilizer and 5-HTP is a mood balancing compound. People with mood disorders or on hormone therapy are strongly encouraged to research these ingredients prior to use.

Do Diet Patches Actually Work?

• Diet patches are rely on a laced adhesive placed on the skin. Since the ingredients cannot absorb quickly into the body, the patches must be potent. Consumers have reported that diet patches do not provide any long-lasting effect in losing weight, indicating that the active ingredients many patches do not come in sufficient potency to aid in weight loss, or that the ingredients in the patches are not absorbed through the skin.

  In 2004, the Federal Trade Commission required the makers of one diet patch, marketed under the name Peel Away the Pounds, to pay over $1 million in a class-action settlement after finding that the patch did not aid in weight loss. In a press release, Howard Beales, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection said "Claims that patches, creams, and wraps can cause substantial weight loss are a red flag' for falsity. Marketers should not make those claims; the media should not run them; and consumers should not buy them."

  Diet patches continue to claim market share in the weight loss industry, however, and new patches are being released. The effectiveness of the patches may vary, but it is always in the interest of the consumer to completely research the potential side effects and validity of diet patch claims prior to purchasing the product.