Fat Burners and Weight Loss Supplements in the UAE: What the Evidence Shows

What fat burners and weight loss supplements contain

Fat burners and weight loss supplements are sold in the UAE through pharmacies, nutrition shops and online retailers. Ingredients listed by UAE retailers include caffeine, green tea extract, L-carnitine, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and chromium. Other ingredients used in weight loss products include Garcinia cambogia, glucomannan, bitter orange and raspberry ketone.

Supplements are regulated differently from medications. They do not go through the same testing for effectiveness, and their ingredients are not checked as strictly.

What the evidence shows for common ingredients

The Office of Dietary Supplements at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) has reviewed the research on the ingredients used in weight loss supplements. Its fact sheet was last updated in March 2021. The table below summarises its findings.

For the ingredients that might help, the NIH describes the effect on weight as small or very small. It also notes that some weight loss supplements can interact or interfere with other medications or supplements.

Hidden medicines found in weight loss supplements

A study published in 2021 tested 137 herbal weight loss supplements offered for sale in the UAE. The products came from healthcare shops, nutrition shops, para-pharmacies and pharmacies in every emirate. The study, by Jairoun and colleagues, was published in the journal Molecules.

Of the 137 products, 24 contained significant concentrations of at least one medicine that was not declared on the label. Sibutramine was found in 21 products, phenolphthalein in 19 and fluoxetine, a prescription antidepressant, in 7. Some products contained two or three of these medications.

Sibutramine is a former weight loss medication. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notes that it was taken off the US market in October 2010 because of safety concerns. The FDA states that sibutramine can substantially increase blood pressure or pulse rate in some patients. It may also present a significant risk for people with a history of coronary artery disease.

The NIH also warns that weight loss products are sometimes adulterated with prescription drugs or controlled substances that could cause harm.

How supplements differ from prescription weight loss medication

Prescription weight loss medications go through clinical trials that test both their effectiveness and their safety before regulators approve them. A doctor prescribes them after reviewing your medical history, and monitors your response to treatment.

In SURMOUNT-1, a Phase 3 clinical trial in adults with obesity or overweight, patients taking tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro, at the highest dose lost an average of around 20% of their total body weight over 72 weeks.

The GLP-1 medications available at Endocare include Mounjaro, Wegovy and Foundayo, a once-daily tablet. Our page on prescription weight loss pills explains the tablet options. Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes, and Wegovy is the semaglutide medication approved for weight management. At Endocare, Ozempic is considered for weight management only in patients with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. Ozempic is not approved for weight management or for prediabetes, so using it for weight management outside the treatment of type 2 diabetes, including in prediabetes, is off-label.

Weight loss medication is generally considered for patients with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above when weight-related health conditions are present. Your endocrinologist will assess whether medication is appropriate based on your individual health and weight profile.

Patients should not decide by themselves to start a GLP-1 medication. A doctor’s review is critical to ensure the treatment is safe and appropriate for the individual.

When to speak to your doctor about a supplement

We recommend sharing a full list of the supplements you take with your doctor before you start any prescription medication. At your consultation, your endocrinologist can review any supplement you take and whether it could interact with your treatment.

This is particularly important if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure. Some ingredients, such as bitter orange and high doses of caffeine, can increase heart rate or blood pressure.

If you notice new symptoms after starting a supplement, such as a racing heart, we recommend stopping it and seeking medical advice. Chest pain after taking a supplement requires urgent assessment. Call an ambulance on 998.

Frequently asked questions

Do fat burners work?

The evidence that fat burners lead to weight loss is weak. In the NIH’s review, no ingredient helped with more than a small amount of weight loss, and some had little to no effect. Prescription weight loss injections have been tested for effectiveness in large clinical trials.

Are fat burners safe?

Safety depends on the ingredients and on the product. The NIH lists possible side effects for most ingredients, including nausea, a faster heart rate and, with green tea extract, liver damage in some people. Some products sold in the UAE have also been found to contain undeclared medicines, including sibutramine.

Which fat burner ingredients have the most evidence?

In the NIH’s assessment, caffeine, green tea, L-carnitine, CLA and chromium are the ingredients that might help. The effect it describes ranges from a little to a very small amount of weight loss. Bitter orange and raspberry ketone have not been studied enough to show an effect on weight.

Can I take a fat burner while on a weight loss injection?

We recommend speaking to your endocrinologist before combining any supplement with a weight loss injection. Some supplements can interact with other medications. Stimulant ingredients can also increase heart rate. Weight loss injections such as Mounjaro and Wegovy need a prescription, as our article on buying weight loss injections over the counter in the UAE explains.