Does any dietary supplement or medication improve body composition or reduce percent body fat in obese populations? If so, what is the evidence?
You will post an original submission to the discussion board and reply to at least 2 other student’s posts with a substantive response (50 to 100 words).
Person1 :The prevalence of obesity is constantly increasing within our society. Obesity can cause many health risk for anyone who is overweight. Due to the effects of obesity, many people are constantly searching for ways to reduce weight and body fat. Many obese people are successful with a change in diet and a more consistent exercise routine. However, there are many obese people who struggle with loosing weight and being disciplined. As a result many people resort to dietary supplement and medications to help them reduce weight. In the journal article “An Evidence-Based Review of Fat Modifying Supplemental Weight Loss Products” Amy Egras and others observed the effects of different dietary supplements. Egras and other contributors found that dietary supplements “4.5 grams/day of CLA-triacylglycerol showed a decrease in body weight” (Egras 2011). CLA-triacylglycerol was shown useful for the reduction of body fat mass (BFM). It showed more of an effect of body composition than actual body weight. Chia seeds contain high concentrations of omega-3-fatty acids, alpha-linoleic acid, and fiber which are supposed to help with weight loss. However, according to the article the dietary supplement chia seeds show “No differences in body mass or body composition” (Egras 2011). Some dietary supplements do help with weight loss and body composition, but not all do. Dietary supplements and medications are not always recommended as they have not all be proven to be safe.
Person 2: There are dietary supplements and medications that have been invented to improve body composition, as well as reducing percent body fat in obese populations. In the readings for this chapter, Orlistat (Xenical and Alli), as well as Phentermine and Diethylproprion are introduced as two forms of medications that are both drugs which have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for both long-term and short-term treatments of overweight individuals. In my own research, I found another drug, which is called Liraglutide, commonly called, Saxenda. According to Entringer (2021), “Saxenda is an injectable prescriiption medicine that may help some obese adults or overweight adults who also have weight-related medical problems… to lose weight and keep the weight off.” (paragraph 1). I furthered my research into this drug and although it is fairly new, there have been several studies that show the correlation between Liraglutide and improvements in body composition, as well as a reduction in precent body fat in obese individuals. In a research analysis of these measures, (Rondanelli, 2016) revealed consistent treatment of Liraglutide leads to the reduction of fat mass and appetite, while improving glucose control and overall body composition.
