By clicking on the product links in this article, we may receive a commission fee at no cost to you, the reader. Sponsorships and affiliate commissions help support our research so we can help you find the best products. Read our full affiliate disclosure here.
There’s no doubt that weight loss can be challenging. Whether you want to lose a significant amount of weight or just a few pounds, you’ll have to commit to a diet, and workout plan, and stay the course when the going gets tough. Results don’t happen overnight, but is there anything you can do to speed up the process?
Perhaps. While a nutritious diet filled with cleansing foods and regular exercise will have the most impact on weight loss, the best supplements could help you reach your goals faster. They often contain ingredients that work to boost your metabolism, which may result in more calories burned.
Because weight loss supplements can be a tricky category to navigate, you'll want to fully vet your options to ensure the ingredients are safe and effective. To help you with your search, the ACTIVE Reviews Team has created a list of the best supplements and diet pills for weight loss.
The Best Supplements & Diet Pills for Weight Loss - Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: PhenQ
-
Best for Women: Phen24
- Best for Men: Transparent Labs Fat Burner
- Best for a Keto Diet: Jacked Factory Burn XT + Lean PM Stack
- Best for Gut Health: Gainful Fiber
- Best for Menopause: Estroven Weight Management for Menopause Relief
- Best for PCOS: THERALOGIX Ovasitol Inositol Powder
- Best Natural: Nutramode Premium Green Tea Extract Supplement
- Best for Energy: Kaged Clean Burn Amped
Why Trust Us?
The health and safety of ACTIVE’s readers is of the utmost importance to us. To ensure your well-being when consuming nutritional supplements, the ACTIVE.com editorial team prioritizes products that are independently tested by a third-party. We’ve also consulted with a team of nutritionists and dieticians to ensure the products we feature are of the highest standard. This helps us create the most accurate, authentic review content for our readers.
Disclaimer: Exercise caution when ingesting supplements. Always make sure to consult with your doctor before ingesting a new supplement or pill. Weight loss supplements are not a substitute for a balanced diet and regular exercise. Any supplements taken should be used in accordance with a healthy lifestyle. Any weight loss of more than a pound each week over a long period of time is unusual and should be monitored by a doctor.
Best Overall - PhenQ
SPECS
- Ingredients: capsimax powder (red chili pepper extract), caffeine, L-carnitine fumarate, alpha lipoic acid, chromium picolinate, nopal cactus, magnesium stearate
- Dosage: 2 capsules daily
- Form: capsules
- Price: $$
To lose weight, you must burn more calories than you consume. Many struggle to maintain a steady calorie deficit, so PhenQ uses a five-pronged approach aimed at increasing the amount of calories you burn and reducing food cravings.
The product includes caffeine, Capsimax (red chili pepper extract), L-carnitine fumarate, and alpha lipoic acid, all of which have been shown to promote thermogenesis, or fat burn. In addition, it includes chromium picolinate, a natural mineral that may reduce cravings for high-carbohydrate foods.
What We Like
- Contains several ingredients that might increase fat burn
- Provides 60-day money-back guarantee
- Transparent labeling
What We Don't Like
- Not suitable for those who are sensitive to caffeine
- Cost can add up at over $1/serving
Best for Women - Phen24
SPECS
- Ingredients: caffeine, guarana extract, L-phenylalanine, Cayenne PowdeSulphate, potassium iodide, stearate, rice flour. Capsule shell: hydroxypropylmethylcellulose.
- Dosage: 3 capsules (one capsule during the day and two at night)
- Form: capsules
- Price: $$$
Our top pick for women, Phen24, has a day and night formula for 24-hour weight-loss optimization. The daytime formula aims to boost metabolism, increase energy levels, and reduce food cravings. It has ingredients like caffeine, guarana, and cayenne powder to aid thermogenesis. It also includes L-phenylalanine, which has been shown to suppress appetite in animal models.
The nighttime formula uses ingredients like calcium D-pantothenate, vitamin C, glucomannan, choline, green tea extract, and hops extract. This combination is designed to enhance fat loss and reduce hunger while sleeping, though data remains limited for most of them.
What We Like
- Uses a 24-hour approach to boost metabolism and reduce food cravings
- Contains clean, all-natural ingredients
- 60-day money-back guarantee
What We Don't Like
- Several of the ingredients lack reliable data in human trials
- Green tea extract in the night formula contains caffeine, which may impact sleep
Best for Men - Transparent Labs Fat Burner
SPECS
- Ingredients: forslean, caffeine, L-theanine, L-tyrosine, green tea extract, 5-HTP, cayenne pepper extract, salicin (white willow bark extract), synephrine HCL, rice flour, olive oil
- Dosage: 2 capsules
- Form: capsules
- Price: $
Fat Burner from Transparent Labs helps increase your basal metabolic rate, prevent your hunger cravings, and suppress appetite. It also aims to promote healthy long-term weight management. Its main active ingredient is Forslean, a patented version of coleus forskohli, an herb that’s been shown to increase testosterone levels and induce fat loss in men.
It also includes green tea extract, caffeine, L-theanine, L-tyrosine, and 5-HTP, a compound that’s been shown to increase happiness hormones and reduce stress levels. These ingredients are known as nootropics, which can help improve your mood and cognitive performance.
There is no magic pill when it comes to sustainable long-term weight loss, but a supplement like this one combined with a nutritious diet and exercise may help you jumpstart your weight-loss journey.
What We Like
- All-natural formula
- May help you lose body fat and increase muscle mass
- Provides jitter-free energy
- Contains nootropics for improved mood and cognitive performance
- Affordable
What We Don't Like
- Contains caffeine, so might not be best for those who are sensitive to stimulants
BUY: Transparent Labs Fat Burner
Best for a Keto Diet - Jacked Factory Burn XT + Lean PM Stack
SPECS
- Ingredients: acetyl L-carnitine HCI, cayenne pepper extract, green tea extract, bioperine, caffeine, vitamin B6, magnesium, 5-HTP, L-theanine, melatonin
- Dose: 4 capsules
- Form: capsules
- Price: $
The keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet often followed for its weight loss benefits. When in ketosis, your body uses fat instead of carbs for its main energy source. It typically takes two to four days to get into ketosis, but by including like this one, you might be able to help your body stay in fat-burning mode during the day and night.
Burn XT + Lean PM helps maximize weight loss and fat burn while helping suppress your appetite and toning your body. Lean PM is stimulant-free and can be used with any thermogenic fat burner to further maximize its effects. Potent ingredients like acetyl L-carnitine HCI, capsimax, cayenne pepper extract, and green tea extract help burn fat while preserving lean muscle mass and may get you into ketosis faster.
Lean PM also contains melatonin and 5-HTP to help reduce your stress levels and take your body from “fight or flight” to “rest and digest.”
What We Like
- Lean PM is a stimulant-free formula
- 3-stage formula for maximum fat loss
- All-natural ingredients
What We Don't Like
- Some claims lack substantive research
- Burn XT contains caffeine
BUY: Jacked Factory Burn XT + Lean PM Stack
Best for Gut Health - Gainful Fiber
SPECS
- Ingredients: non-GMO oats grown in Sweden
- Dose: 1 scoop mixed with 8 oz. of water
- Form: prebiotic powder
- Price: $$
When following a weight-loss regimen, it can be easy for the quality of your diet to suffer. To address potential dietary gaps, some people use a greens supplement for vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that are essential to gut health. Our top pick for gut health support, Gainful Fiber, offers a simple ingredient list that can help keep you regular.
Gainful Fiber contains a scientist-recommended dose of beta-glucan, a soluble fiber derived from oats, to support nutrient absorption, improve satiation, and regular bowel movements. This supplement can be used alongside Gainful Creatine and Gainful Collagen if you would like to improve muscle strength and skin and tissue elasticity. Ideally, fiber supplements are best taken after exercise.
What We Like
- Contains all-natural ingredients (Gainful Fiber only contains one ingredient: oats)
- Can be paired with Gainful Creatine and Gainful Collagen
- No artificial ingredients, gluten, or sugar
- Easy to digest and mix
What We Don't Like
- Doesn’t directly target weight loss or fat burn
- Might quickly become expensive if the results of their quiz recommend more supplements
BUY: Gainful Fiber
Best for Menopause - Estroven Weight Management for Menopause Relief
SPECS
- Ingredients: black cohosh root extract, soy isoflavones, cissus quadrangularis stem, and leaf extract, gelatin, microcrystalline cellulose, dicalcium phosphate, croscarmellose sodium, stearic acid, silicon dioxide, natural vanilla powder, magnesium stearate, titanium dioxide (color)
- Dose: 1 capsule
- Form: capsule
- Price: $
During menopause, when estrogen and progesterone naturally drop, some women may notice an increase in weight and excess stomach fat. The best way to address this excess fat is through a nutritious diet and exercise, though some supplements may provide additional benefits.
Estroven Weight Management for Menopause Relief contains three proven ingredients to help counteract symptoms of menopause. These include black cohosh and soy isoflavones, which some studies have shown to reduce night sweats and hot flashes, as well as cissus quadrangularis extract, a type of vine that might help promote fat loss.
What We Like
- Provides black cohosh and soy isoflavones to reduce hot flashes
- Includes cissus quadrangularis to help regulate metabolism
- All-natural ingredients
What We Don't Like
- Long-term human data is limited on ingredients
- Contains some filler ingredients like microcrystalline cellulose
BUY: Estroven Weight Management for Menopause Relief
Best for PCOS - THERALOGIX Ovositol Inositol Powder
SPECS
- Ingredients: myo-inositol, D-chiro-inositol
- Dose: 1 leveled scoop (2.4g)
- Form: powder
- Price: $
PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) is a condition that causes the production of an abnormal amount of male sex hormones in the ovaries, which can cause small cysts to form. This hormonal imbalance often leads to insulin resistance, which can cause weight gain.
Certain supplements, however, may help counteract this insulin resistance. One, in particular, THERALOGIX Ovasitol, supplies two types of inositol, a small molecule that has been shown to help treat weight gain and insulin resistance associated with PCOS.
What We Like
- Provides science-backed doses of inositol to address PCOS-associated insulin resistance
- Produced in a GMP (good manufacturing practice) facility
- Third-party tested
- Also available in single-serve packets
What We Don't Like
- Unflavored taste may be unpalatable for some
- Requires 2 daily doses
BUY: THERALOGIX Ovositol Inositol Powder
Best Natural - Nutramode Premium Green Tea Extract Supplement
SPECS
- Ingredients: green tea extract, polyphenols 98%, catechins 75%, EGCG 45%, caffeine 6%, green coffee bean extract, garcinia cambogia, raspberry ketone, caffeine anhydrous
- Dose: 2 capsules
- Form: capsules
- Price: $
Many of the weight loss supplements on the market contain a long list of ingredients, some of which come from artificial sources. While these may not necessarily be harmful, some people prefer to avoid regularly consuming artificial ingredients.
For those looking to avoid artificial ingredients, Nutramode's Green Tea Extract formula provides a blend of naturally derived ingredients to help boost your metabolism by facilitating thermogenesis.
The main ingredients include green tea extract to help control hunger, garcinia cambogia to improve satiety at meals, and a blend of green coffee bean extract and caffeine to help boost calorie burning. As an added bonus, green tea extract is rich in antioxidants that can help fight free radicals and reduce inflammation.
What We Like
- Contains natural ingredients to boost metabolism and control hunger
- Vegan-friendly
- Third-party tested
What We Don't Like
- Uses a proprietary blend that hides specific amounts of ingredients
- May contain too much caffeine for those who are sensitive to stimulants
BUY: Nutramode Premium Green Tea Extract Supplement
Best for Energy - Kaged Clean Burn Amped
SPECS
- Ingredients: caffeine, green coffee bean extract, green tea extract, grains of paradise seed extract, asparagus stem extract, juniper fruit extract, parsley leaf powder, uva ursi leaf extract, rice extract blend, gum arabic
- Dose: 2 capsules
- Form: capsules
- Price: $
Kaged Clean Burn Amped contains 248 milligrams of caffeine per serving to help maintain energy levels and boost calorie burn. Other active ingredients include green coffee bean extract, green tea extract, and grains of paradise extract, all of which have been shown to help promote fat loss. This formula also contains a few interesting ingredients like asparagus stem extract, juniper fruit extract, parsley leaf powder, and uva ursi leaf extract to prevent dehydration.
The Kaged team suggests starting slow if you are sensitive to caffeine. They recommend taking one capsule with breakfast and one capsule with lunch for the first 3–4 days to see how your body will react. Then, if your body responds well, you can increase your dose to two capsules with breakfast and two capsules with lunch.
What We Like
- Contains 248 mg of caffeine per serving to boost energy levels
- All-natural ingredients
- Third-party tested
- Affordable
What We Don't Like
- May contain too much caffeine for those who are sensitive
How to Choose the Best Weight Loss Supplements for You
When shopping for a weight loss supplement, there are several factors to consider to ensure you select a product that aligns with your goals. Here are the top ones to keep in mind:
Active Ingredients
Of course, the most important factor when looking for a weight loss supplement is the active ingredients. We recommend analyzing all of the ingredients to get an idea of how the product can support your weight loss goals. Some products use stimulants to boost energy expenditure, while others suppress appetite to reduce calorie consumption. Think about the type of supplement that best aligns with your needs.
Cost
Some supplements are quite pricey and the cost can add up quickly.
Serving size
Some weight loss supplements require users to take multiple pills at a time. If you struggle with swallowing pills, a powdered supplement that can be dissolved into water may be a better fit for you.
Sweeteners
While the majority of weight loss supplements come in unsweetened pill form, some powders use calorie-free sweeteners, which may come from artificial sources. If you prefer to avoid artificial sweeteners, you'll want to check the label.
Stimulants
Many weight loss supplements include stimulants like caffeine to help boost your metabolism and increase energy levels. This may be problematic for people who are sensitive to caffeine, though. Consider the dose of caffeine, your current tolerance, and whether you'd prefer a stimulant-free supplement when shopping around.
Types of Supplements for Weight Loss
When it comes to supplements designed for weight loss and healthy body composition, there are three categories worth mentioning.
Fat Burners
Fat burners usually come to mind first when talking about weight loss supplements. They work by increasing your body’s temperature to support thermogenesis, or your body’s ability to burn fat for fuel. Some of them contain stimulants like caffeine and guarana while others don’t.
Appetite Suppressants
Supplements that help suppress your appetite make you consume less food than you normally would, helping you stay in a caloric deficit to lose weight and burn fat. These can be especially helpful for people who struggle with food cravings.
Fiber Supplements
Fiber is an important nutrient that passes through the digestive tract and helps push stool to its exit point. It also feeds the probiotic bacteria in your microbiome, improving your gut health and helping reduce inflammation.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
FAQs About Weight Loss Supplements
What is the best supplement for weight loss?
The most common supplements for weight loss are stimulants. These work to boost thermogenesis, or the process through which calories are burned in the body.
Do weight loss supplements actually work?
While it will largely depend on the specific weight loss supplement you choose, some of them might help assist with weight loss to a certain extent. That said, there are a number of other more important factors that impact your success like whether you’re following a balanced, nutritious diet (and eating in a caloric deficit), as well as exercising regularly.
Are supplements good for losing weight?
In general, supplements can enhance your weight loss progress alongside diet and exercise. While they certainly aren't necessary to lose weight, they might help in some situations by increasing your energy expenditure or suppressing your appetite.
How can I speed up my weight loss?
You'll first want to ensure you’re following an appropriate diet and exercise program. These will provide the most substantive weight-loss benefits. From there, you may want to use a meal-tracking app to ensure you’re in an appropriate calorie deficit. It's usually only after you've nailed down a diet and exercise regimen that you should consider weight loss supplements.
How to Lose Weight Fast | Workouts to Lose Weight | How to Lose Weight Without Exercise | How to Eat to Lose Weight | How to Burn Belly Fat | Best Weight Loss Apps | Fat-Burning Foods | Best Fat Burners | Best Weight-Loss Supplements
References
- Galgani, J., & Ravussin, E. (2008). Energy metabolism, fuel selection, and body weight regulation. International journal of obesity, 32(7), S109-S119.
- Tabrizi, R., Saneei, P., Lankarani, K. B., Akbari, M., Kolahdooz, F., Esmaillzadeh, A., ... & Asemi, Z. (2019). The effects of caffeine intake on weight loss: a systematic review and dos-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 59(16), 2688-2696.
- Rogers, J., Urbina, S. L., Taylor, L. W., Wilborn, C. D., Purpura, M., Jäger, R., & Juturu, V. (2018). Capsaicinoids supplementation decreases percent body fat and fat mass: Adjustment using covariates in a post hoc analysis. BMC obesity, 5(1), 1-10.
- Talenezhad, N., Mohammadi, M., Ramezani-Jolfaie, N., Mozaffari-Khosravi, H., & Salehi-Abargouei, A. (2020). Effects of l-carnitine supplementation on weight loss and body composition: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 37 randomized controlled clinical trials with dose-response analysis. Clinical nutrition ESPEN, 37, 9-23.
- Namazi, N., Larijani, B., & Azadbakht, L. (2018). Alpha-lipoic acid supplement in obesity treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Clinical Nutrition, 37(2), 419-428.
- Anton, S. D., Morrison, C. D., Cefalu, W. T., Martin, C. K., Coulon, S., Geiselman, P., ... & Williamson, D. A. (2008). Effects of chromium picolinate on food intake and satiety. Diabetes technology & therapeutics, 10(5), 405-412.
- Zacur, H. A. (2006). Hormonal changes throughout life in women. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 46, S50-S55.
- Torres, E. A., Pinaffi-Langley, A. C. D. C., Figueira, M. D. S., Cordeiro, K. S., Negrão, L. D., Soares, M. J., ... & de Camargo, A. C. (2022). Effects of the consumption of guarana on human health: A narrative review. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, 21(1), 272-295.
- Keithley, J. K., & Swanson, B. (2005). Glucomannan and obesity: a critical review. Alternative therapies in health and medicine, 11(6), 30-35.
- Stokes, T., Hector, A. J., Morton, R. W., McGlory, C., & Phillips, S. M. (2018). Recent perspectives regarding the role of dietary protein for the promotion of muscle hypertrophy with resistance exercise training. Nutrients, 10(2), 180.
- McNab, B. K. (2019). What determines the basal rate of metabolism?. Journal of Experimental Biology, 222(15), jeb205591.
- Godard, M. P., Johnson, B. A., & Richmond, S. R. (2005). Body composition and hormonal adaptations associated with forskolin consumption in overweight and obese men. Obesity Research, 13(8), 1335-1343.
- Birdsall, T. C. (1998). 5-Hydroxytryptophan: a clinically-effective serotonin precursor. Alternative medicine review: a journal of clinical therapeutic, 3(4), 271-280.
- Masood, W., Annamaraju, P., & Uppaluri, K. R. (2021). Ketogenic diet. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.
- Stubbs, B. J., Cox, P. J., Evans, R. D., Santer, P., Miller, J. J., Faull, O. K., ... & Clarke, K. (2017). On the metabolism of exogenous ketones in humans. Frontiers in physiology, 8, 848.
- Savage, R. A., Zafar, N., Yohannan, S., & Miller, J. M. M. (2018). Melatonin.
- Hall, M., & Trojian, T. H. (2013). Creatine supplementation. Current sports medicine reports, 12(4), 240-244.
- Choi, F. D., Sung, C. T., Juhasz, M. L., & Mesinkovsk, N. A. (2019). Oral collagen supplementation: a systematic review of dermatological applications. Journal of drugs in dermatology: JDD, 18(1), 9-16.
- El Khoury, D., Cuda, C., Luhovyy, B. L., & Anderson, G. H. (2012). Beta glucan: health benefits in obesity and metabolic syndrome. Journal of nutrition and metabolism, 2012.
- Antonio, J., & Ciccone, V. (2013). The effects of pre versus post workout supplementation of creatine monohydrate on body composition and strength. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 10(1), 36.
- Santoro, N., & Randolph, J. F. (2011). Reproductive hormones and the menopause transition. Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics, 38(3), 455-466.
- Mehrpooya, M., Rabiee, S., Larki-Harchegani, A., Fallahian, A. M., Moradi, A., Ataei, S., & Javad, M. T. (2018). A comparative study on the effect of “black cohosh” and “evening primrose oil” on menopausal hot flashes. Journal of education and health promotion, 7.
- Dastjerdi, M. V., Eslami, B., Sharifi, M. A., Moini, A., Bayani, L., Khani, H. M., & Alipour, S. (2018). Effect of soy isoflavone on hot flushes, endometrial thickness, and breast clinical as well as sonographic features. Iranian journal of public health, 47(3), 382.
- Nash, R., Azantsa, B., Kuate, D., Singh, H., & Oben, J. (2019). The use of a stem and leaf aqueous extract of Cissus quadrangularis (CQR-300) to reduce body fat and other components of metabolic syndrome in overweight participants. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 25(1), 98-106.
- Azziz, R. (2018). Polycystic ovary syndrome. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 132(2), 321-336.
- Zarezadeh, M., Dehghani, A., Faghfouri, A. H., Radkhah, N., Naemi Kermanshahi, M., Hamedi Kalajahi, F., ... & Ebrahimi Mamaghani, M. (2022). Inositol supplementation and body mass index: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Obesity Science & Practice.
- Kamenov, Z., & Gateva, A. (2020). Inositols in PCOS. Molecules, 25(23), 5566.
- Huang, L. H., Liu, C. Y., Wang, L. Y., Huang, C. J., & Hsu, C. H. (2018). Effects of green tea extract on overweight and obese women with high levels of low density-lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C): a randomised, double-blind, and cross-over placebo-controlled clinical trial. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 18(1), 1-11.
- Onakpoya, I., Hung, S. K., Perry, R., Wider, B., & Ernst, E. (2011). The use of Garcinia extract (hydroxycitric acid) as a weight loss supplement: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials. Journal of obesity, 2011.
- Tabrizi, R., Saneei, P., Lankarani, K. B., Akbari, M., Kolahdooz, F., Esmaillzadeh, A., ... & Asemi, Z. (2019). The effects of caffeine intake on weight loss: a systematic review and dos-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 59(16), 2688-2696.
- Cabrera, C., Artacho, R., & Giménez, R. (2006). Beneficial effects of green tea—a review. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 25(2), 79-99.
- Sugita, J., Yoneshiro, T., Sugishima, Y., IkEMOTO, T., Uchiwa, H., SUZUkI, I., & Saito, M. (2014). Daily ingestion of grains of paradise (Aframomum melegueta) extract increases whole-body energy expenditure and decreases visceral fat in humans. Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology, 60(1), 22-27.
- Gorji, Z., Varkaneh, H. K., Nazary-Vannani, A., Clark, C. C., Fatahi, S., Rahmani, J., ... & Zhang, Y. (2019). The effect of green-coffee extract supplementation on obesity: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Phytomedicine, 63, 153018.
- Ho, K. T., Homma, K., Takanari, J., Bai, H., Kawahara, M., Nguyen, K. T. K., & Takahashi, M. (2021). A standardized extract of Asparagus officinalis stem improves HSP70-mediated redox balance and cell functions in bovine cumulus-granulosa cells. Scientific reports, 11(1), 1-17.
- Sharma, A., Amarnath, S., Thulasimani, M., & Ramaswamy, S. (2016). Artificial sweeteners as a sugar substitute: Are they really safe?. Indian journal of pharmacology, 48(3), 237.
- Sciencedirect.com, Thermogenesis
- Silverstone, T. (1992). Appetite suppressants. Drugs, 43(6), 820-836
- Anderson, J. W., Baird, P., Davis, R. H., Ferreri, S., Knudtson, M., Koraym, A., ... & Williams, C. L. (2009). Health benefits of dietary fiber. Nutrition reviews, 67(4), 188-205.