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This page features 152 references. All factual claims are followed by specifically-applicable references.
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If you are looking for a list of supplements to take to help with fat loss, we recommend you look at our fat loss supplements.
The goal of any fat-burning compound is to increase the rate of fat loss. This can be achieved by either increasing the overall metabolic rate, the amount of calories that come from fat relative to other sources, or to raise limits placed on fat cells in regards to releasing fatty acids. Some newer fat burning compounds can also work via uncoupling, which is the process of creating heat inside of a cell.
Other compounds that augment the above reactions can be classified as fat burners.
Fat burners typically act directly on the fat cell, as is the case with yohimbine, or vicariously through some hormones like adrenaline (as is the case with caffeine).
If you are looking for a list of supplements to take to help with fat loss, we recommend you look at our fat loss supplement stack
Although not applicable to all, many fat burners increase levels of adrenaline in the body and should be approached with caution for those suffering from cardiac ailments or high blood pressure.
Many fat-burners are also neurologically active, and caution should be taken when one also uses neurologically active compounds like anti-depressants, be they prescription medication or supplemental.
A: Garcinia Cambogia does not appear to help with weight loss in humans despite its popularity, and this is due to a profound difference in how it affects rats and humans.
A: Yes, a less active thyroid will reduce metabolic rate and can cause some weight gain. It is not a lot of weight gain though, and a subactive thyroid is not an excuse for obesity (if hypothyroidic, please see a doctor for medication; it burns fat)
A: Marasmus is a disease of caloric restriction, but you most likely don't have it. Your metabolic rate can definitely slow down during weight loss, but it will never slow to the point where it causes you to gain weight; in this sense, starvation mode is a myth.
Q: Does eating at night make it more likely to gain weight?
A: While the evidence is mixed, depending on who was studied and what the diets were, there does not seem to be a major inherent weight-gain effect when eating late at night. Individual results may vary, and other factors such as circadian rhythms should be considered as well.
A: It does not inhibit fat loss at all, and may actually suppress appetite that could help fat loss (although it does not induce fat loss per se either). Diet soda, in regards to body fat, is a carbonated inert beverage
A: They can if you eat more calories than you should be eating, which is definitely a concern as carbohydrates are disconnected from the sensation of fullness in some people (preceding overeating). Inherently though, carbs do not cause more fat gain than the caloric load suggests
A: You eat less food to reduce body fat. There will be abdominal muscles under the fat, and adding some muscle to this area (resistance training) can make them appear more aesthetic; fat loss is the main predictor, however
A: When it comes to weight loss, the most important factor is eating less. When you consume less calories than you spend you will lose weight and the diet that helps you lose weight best will be the one that allows you to consume less calories without causing much distress or lethargy.
A: Sleep is incredibly important, and can be considered crucial alongside diet and exercise. Proper sleep habits help sustain many biological processes, and bad sleep can cause these processes to be suboptimal or even malfunction.
A: Holiday season is when most people gain weight (and then struggle to take it off). Overfeeding on protein could be your solution in helping minimize the fat gain.
A: While regular overeating leads to fat gain, a lot of the weight you gain from just one binge will simply be water, especially if your starting glycogen stores are low and your food rich in carbs.
