Weight Management Solutions: Cookies vs. Supplements and Rx Drugs

December 02, 2020

Woman smiling eating a Bellycrush oatmeal hemp cookie

There are many different weight management solutions on the market. With so many options, how do you choose? We provide a snapshot of a few common weight management solutions in this article to help you make informed decisions.

Diet supplements have been around since the late 1800’s. Now, fast forward to the 21st century and the dietary supplement industry is valued at $122 billion and continues to grow. Though we’ve come a long way from the first dietary supplement, there are still many unknowns about their efficacy and long term side effects.

Today, we’d like to break down a few different categories of supplements and how they stack up in comparison to BellyCrush.

Dietary supplements are regulated by the FDA. However, because they are regulated as food, not drugs, manufacturers are not required to test these supplements in clinical trials prior to distribution. Essentially, supplements are safe until proven unsafe. This means that if a supplement is found to be unsafe, it is only after it has already caused harm to a consumer. Additionally, dietary supplements are usually self-prescribed, which means there is no controlled system for reporting bad reactions and side effects.

Since 1994, the FDA and independent researchers have found issues with some dietary supplements. Some herbal supplements, for example, have been found to be tainted with pesticides and toxic heavy metals. Others may not contain ingredients that are listed on the label, or contain more or less of the ingredient listed on the label, or worse, may contain ingredients not disclosed on the label.

Some “weight-loss” supplements have been found to contain prescription drugs or other compounds that were not listed on the label. Several contained the prescription weight loss drug sibutramine, which was banned in the united states because of the risk of heart attack and stroke.

“Slim” and “Detox” teas have also exploded in popularity in the last 5 years, in part achieving success through influencer marketing on social media. These companies claim the teas can help you rapidly lose weight, unclog arteries, stop migraines and even cure cancer. Of course, there is no scientific evidence to back up these claims. On the surface, this may seem ubiquitous and harmless, after all, humans have been drinking tea for thousands of years and the benefits of certain teas have been studied. But, it’s not the herbal blends in these teas that raise concern among experts, it’s the addition of laxatives. Drinking laxative laced teas regularly can lead to laxative dependency, essentially shutting down a person's colon. Other side effects include fatigue, rectal bleeding, dizziness (often from dehydration) and weakness.

There is a growing movement to have these types of supplements regulated more strictly. Actress Jameela Jamil founded i_weigh in March 2018, with the goal of creating an inclusive, body positive space online. They have successfully fought for policy changes at facebook and instagram around diet and detox products being shown to minors and are currently campaigning for two bills to reach the US senate.

Prescription weight loss drugs

There are currently 4 FDA approved prescription weight loss drugs available in the US, meaning they have been tested extensively through clinical trials and have been deemed safe for humans. These medications are typically prescribed to patients who have been unsuccessful in losing weight through diet and exercise and are experiencing important health risks due to being overweight or obese.

Weight loss drugs do not work for everyone. These drugs typically result in a 5% to 10% weight loss over a 12 month period. However, for most weight loss drugs, if you have not lost at least 5% of your initial body weight after 12 weeks, it is unlikely you will achieve and sustain meaningful weight loss with continued treatment.

Essentially, these drugs are meant to be used in severe circumstances and should only be taken if advised by your doctor. They are not a replacement for diet and exercise and are often not used long term.

Weight management cookies

So where does BellyCrush fit along the continuum of weight management solutions? BellyCrush is not a dietary supplement, nor is it a prescription weight loss drug. BellyCrush is a line of conventional food products (oatmeal hemp and ginger flax cookies) containing yellow pea fiber, a unique and natural ingredient that is backed by science.

A randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled study was conducted to examine the effects of yellow pea fiber on the human body. The participants of the study consumed 15 grams/day of yellow pea fiber in the form of cookies experienced the following:

Significant weight loss, with no other intentional changes to their everyday diet
Fat loss, while maintaining muscle mass. This is often a challenge in the weight loss process, as people tend to lose lean muscle along with fat when on a diet
Improved insulin sensitivity, an important consideration since insulin resistance can contribute to weight gain
An increased presence of Lachnospira bacteria. This is significant as it drops markedly with weight gain, but its abundance is linked to weight loss
An increased presence of short-chain fatty acid metabolites linked with a healthy weight, such as acetate, serine, and glutamate
A decreased presence of fatty acids those aligned with weight gain, such as isovalerate
Elevated ketone bodies that help to suppress appetite, such as acetoacetate, 2-hydoxybutyrate, and 3-hydroxybutyrate
Lowered triglycerides and LDL cholesterol

Learn more about the findings of this study in Clinical Nutrition and The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry

BellyCrush is a targeted lifestyle intervention, part of a holistic approach to weight management. It is not a weightloss ‘silver-bullet’, but it is a safe and economical approach for prevention and treatment of weight problems, and it offers multifaceted health and metabolic benefits (Unlike dietary supplements and prescription weight loss drugs). BellyCrush enables you to create healthy and sustainable eating habits that are effective in managing your weight.