Types of Weight Loss Patches

Weight-loss patches are an emerging trend in diet and health care, but it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish what they are for and how they work. There are several different categories of patches and the one you choose may depend on what your weight-loss goals are as well as your sensitivity to certain ingredients. 

Patches That Are Part of a System

Some weight-loss patches such as the Thrive patch are part of a larger diet and healthy lifestyle system. These patches contain a proprietary mix of herbs, vitamins and minerals that are designed to give you a slow-release, day-long boost of ingredients that help with appetite suppression, metabolic support and mental clarity, for example. Patches that are part of a lifestyle program are designed to work in conjunction with other traditional supplements, energy-boosting powder and regular exercise. Just like bicep curls can be part of your weight-lifting routine, patches can be part of your overall nutrition approach.

Patches With a Single Ingredient

Other patches focus on a single ingredient or a very small number of ingredients that are designed to target a specific aspect of weight loss such as suppressing your appetite or stimulating your metabolism. How well these single ingredient patches work may vary from person to person.

Flaxseed Oil

Since flaxseed contains fiber, the idea behind this patch is that putting it on your skin will make you feel full so you won't eat as much. Since flaxseed oil contains no fiber, it's unclear whether absorbing the oil through your skill will have the same effect. 

Fucus Vesiculosus

This hard-to-pronounce product is actually just a fancy way to say brown seaweed. The seaweed's claim to fame is that it keeps your thyroid healthy. People with hypothyroidism can experience weight gain, so keeping your thyroid in good shape could, in theory, help you keep the weight off. 

Caffeine

Patches that list the main ingredient as guarana or yerba mate are really all about the caffeine. Caffeine can boost your metabolism and help you burn fat. It can also make you feel jittery if you have too much, so know your limits before you slap one of these patches on. 

L-carnitine

This amino acid is found naturally in red meat, chicken, beans and other high protein food. In your body, it helps burn fat. Adding more L-carnitine into your system could possibly help you burn more fat than you otherwise would. 

Bitter Orange 

The extract of orange from (surprise!) oranges purports to offer help with the trifecta of weight loss goals: appetite suppressant, fat burning and calorie burning. Its special ingredient is a stimulant called synephrine which may increase your metabolism. 

Patches That Target a Specific Area

The third type of weight-loss patches targets a specific area of your body such as jiggly thighs or a wobbly chin. These patches usually use a mix of ingredients designed to deal with the fat or loose skin in that particular region.

Abdomen Wraps

Abdomen wraps are large and stick to the entire abdominal region. They often use a blend of substances that are designed to remove the toxins from your skin as you sweat. These wraps are activated by the heat of your body and the use of capsaicin, a compound found in chili peppers. If you use a wrap like this while working out, you will literally be burning calories in two different ways. 

Thigh Patches

The adipose tissue on your thigh is the target of these patches because that's often where the fat is. Worn in conjunction with working out, thigh patches deliver a concentration of ingredients including herbs and caffeine directly to the fat stronghold. 

Chin-Lifting Patches

Although not technically a weight-loss patch, chin-lifting patches address saggy skin that can make the face look fuller and fatter. These chin slings lift and contour the flappy skin as well as marinating it with anti-aging products such as aloe vera and amino acids, for example. 

If you're interested in trying a weight-loss patch as part of your overall nutrition goals, first decide what aspect of weight loss you need the most help with. You may find the perfect patch to meet your needs.