Weight Loss and Wellness

In a study of 40 overweight but healthy people, a popular diet supplement was proven to actually help people burn off fat, especially in the belly area. It even worked during the holiday season when people eat more and exercise less.

The supplement is conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and is available in most drug stores. CLA is naturally found in dairy products and meat. It is a type of polyunsaturated fat that may burn existing fat and prevent new fat cells from forming.

In this study published in the International Journal of Obesity, half of the test subjects were given 3.2 grams of CLA on a daily basis for six months while the others received inactive placebo pills.

Although the CLA and the placebo group ate the same number of calories and did the same amount of physical activity for six months, the CLA group lost weight prior to the holiday season and didn’t gain any of it back during the holidays. Those in the placebo group gained 1.5 pounds (0.55 kilograms) during the holidays.

Overall, the CLA group lost a total of 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) of fat in 6 months. Although that is not a lot of weight, a lot of it came from the belly. Fat in this area is especially bad because it actually releases hormones which can cause diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol all which can lead to strokes and heart attacks.

Unfortunately, there have been previous studies which show that CLA may increase blood glucose levels in people with diabetes. In some studies it has also been shown to increase cholesterol levels.

The bottom line is that while CLA may help to decrease fat and build muscle in some people, we still don’t fully understand the side effects of this supplement.

For now, I do not recommending rushing out and buying CLA, especially when you can get the same effects from working out and eating better.

If you do decide to try CLA, make sure to discuss it with your personal physician.