Weight Loss Article

The incidence of excess body weight in Canada has been at pandemic levels for years – a fact supported by a recent release by Statistics Canada.  It seems that over the past 30 years we have had a collective increase in body mass and waist circumference, two factors that bring additional risk for heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

While we all know that diet and exercise are the keys to losing weight, they frequently present practical challenges: busy schedules, food cravings, and uncertainty about which foods/exercises are most effective.  As such, many people turn to “natural” weight loss products, like green tea extract and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).  While these so-called “metabolism boosters” do have evidence backing up weight loss claims, the actual effects on body mass are modest.  Typical weight loss over a trial period of several weeks is one to three pounds.  Furthermore, the research does not address whether long-term use will facilitate continued weight loss or if the loss will be long-lasting.

Fortunately, there is a more comprehensive natural approach that can be pursued.  Given that diet plays a crucial role in weight loss, one can focus on supplements which make dietary modification substantially easier.  5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is a precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin.  Decreased levels of serotonin are associated with impaired blood sugar regulation and food cravings.  In one study of obese women, 5-HTP supplementation resulted in a vast reduction in overall caloric intake, carbohydrate intake, and food cravings versus control subjects.  The women taking 5-HTP lost approximately ten pounds over the 12-week trial, while the control group actually gained weight.   

The trace mineral chromium has shown similar effects.  Chromium also improves blood sugar levels, and reduces cravings and overall appetite.  Although studies on chromium show more modest effects than 5-HTP, the doses used were much lower than what is typically prescribed in clinical practice.  As such, a higher therapeutic dose might show similar effects to 5-HTP if investigated in the future.  

Given the effects of these treatments on dietary habits in general, there is clearly significant opportunity for additional weight loss in the future.  It should be noted that given the effects of 5-HTP and chromium on serotonin and blood sugar levels, their use should be monitored by a healthcare professional.  By utilizing a sustainable approach to weight loss rather than searching for a “magic bullet”, weight loss goals are much more likely to be attained.