Appetite suppressants are supplements designed to alleviate food cravings so that people trying to lose weight can achieve their goals.
The best appetite suppressants employ proven ingredients that modulate the activity of ‘hunger hormones’ or produce a feeling of being full so that the person does not overeat.
Our product specialists examined dozens of today’s most popular brands and determined that the following are the best appetite suppressants of 2020.
Rankings
1. LeanBean
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LeanBean is the supplement equivalent of a multi-sport athlete. Not only is it a top-of-the-line weight loss pill, but it is also a best-in-class appetite suppressant. It reduces food cravings, burns fat, and enhances your workouts, all without the aid of stimulants.
What we like: LeanBean provides everything a person needs to lay a solid foundation under their weight loss program. There’s glucomannan to produce a sense of satiety, garcinia cambogia to ignite thermogenesis, and cayenne pepper to facilitate metabolic activity.
Flaws: Some of the best things in life may be free, but this one is pretty expensive.
2. PhenQ
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PhenQ is a no-nonsense appetite suppressant and fat burner that takes a lot of the work and worry out of the weight loss process. It leverages the power of chromium picolinate, caffeine, and capsicum to reduce carb cravings and accelerate thermogenesis.
What we like: We like the simple effectiveness of PhenQ. It provides you energy, enhances mental focus, powers your workouts, and brings your food cravings to heel safely and effectively.
Flaws: Chromium picolinate does not always play nice with people who have sensitive stomachs.
3. Zotrim
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Zotrim may be one of the better-kept secrets when it comes to appetite suppressants. It’s been around for quite a while but somehow manages to keep a low profile, which is surprising considering how effective it is.
What we like: Zotrim is available in tablet and powder form so you can choose to take this weight loss supplement whichever way makes you most comfortable. Zotrim employs inulin to produce a sense of satiety, damiana to burn fat and caffeine to reduce appetite.
Flaws: For centuries damiana has been used as an aphrodisiac. Make of that what you will.
4. NOW Supplements, 5-HTP
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5-HTP is often used as an alternative to SSRIs in the treatment of depression. But it has also shown an ability to suppress appetite. This supplement from Now makes the most of that appetite suppressing ability. It may also improve your mood along the way.
What we like: The same thing that makes 5-HTP effective at enhancing mood also makes it a great appetite suppressant. That ‘thing’ is its ability to release serotonin in the brain. This has the effect of improving mood and shutting down food cravings.
Flaws: Don’t let the antidepressant aspect scare you off.
5. Sports Research CLA 1250
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Sports Research takes a slightly different approach to appetite suppression with their CLA 1250 supplement. CLA stands for conjugated linoleic acid, and it long ago proved its worth as an appetite suppressant extraordinaire.
What we like: CLA itself works by mitigating the activity of the hormones ghrelin and leptin. CLA 1250 the supplement does not load you up with caffeine or slip any questionable ingredients past you. It’s just pure CLA from sunflower oil. That’s it.
Flaws: CLA can occasionally produce gas and bloating in some people.
6. PrimaForce Cissus Supplement
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PrimaForce Cissus Supplement is not marketed as an appetite suppressant. But scores of people have discovered it is actually one of the best when it comes to quashing food cravings. It also does a good job stimulating metabolic activity and thermogenesis.
What we like: Cissus quadrangularis has demonstrated an ability to suppress appetite in numerous clinical studies. Also, in spite of the fact that ketosterones are thought by many to be steroids, they’re not. So you can take this supplement with confidence.
Flaws: The capsules are pretty big.
7. Nutricost Glucomannan
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Nutricost Glucomannan does not stimulate or stunt hormonal activity. Nor does it burn fat while you sleep. Instead, it’s a type of soluble fiber that reduces appetite the old fashion way: by making you feel like you are full most of the time.
What we like: This is another straightforward appetite suppressant that does not play games with your expectations and does not saddle you with lots of artificial ingredients. You get 600 mg of appetite-suppressing glucomannan in each capsule and nothing more.
Flaws: Remember to drink plenty of water with this supplement.
8. MuscleTech Hydroxycut
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MuscleTech Hydroxycut is many things to many people. It’s a first-rate weight loss pill, a top-rated workout enhancer, and it also happens to do a great job suppressing appetite. Hydrocut is intended for those who want to lose fat and gain muscle.
What we like: This is an excellent all-around weight loss supplement that refuses to wear just one label. Suffice to say it will suppress your food cravings while at the same time helping out with fat burning and muscle building.
Flaws: We recommend you not take it right before going to bed.
9. Nature’s Bounty Garcinia Cambogia
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Nature’s Bounty Garcinia Cambogia keeps those hunger pangs firmly in check. But the benefits of this appetite suppressant don’t stop there. It also provides a generous helping of medium-chain triglycerides that promote thermogenesis, and HCA to mitigate fatty metabolism.
What we like: This is an impressive appetite suppressant that touches all the weight loss bases. It boasts one of the more unique formulations out there, but everything makes perfect sense from a weight loss point of view.
Flaws: Garcinia cambogia is believed to interact poorly in some cases with SSRI antidepressants. If you take SSRIs, consult your doctor before taking garcinia cambogia.
10. Envy Nutrition Night Time Fat Burner
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The last of our appetite suppressants is this fine all-around weight loss product from Envy Nutrition. It is called Night Time Fat Burner, but it’s also an outstanding daytime appetite suppressant.
What we like: The combination of white kidney bean extract, green coffee bean extract, and vitamin D3 enhances metabolic activity and brings an end to those vexing food cravings. When it’s time to turn in the tryptophan and melatonin make sure you sleep well.
Flaws: It would be higher on our list if not for the ‘proprietary blend’ label.
Who Needs Appetite Suppressants?
Trying to lose weight can be one of the most difficult things a person can do. It’s not surprising, since we use food for everything from nourishment to emotional comfort. It is also intimately entwined in our family and social lives with no significant holiday or family event passing without food being involved in some fashion.
As a result, reducing the amount of food one eats and shifting away from carb-heavy comfort foods to low calorie, high nutrient foods can be quite a challenge. Appetite suppressants can make that transition a lot easier by reducing the frequency and intensity of food cravings and reducing the amount one eats when mealtime finally comes.
Anyone interested in losing weight to attain a higher level of overall health should consider the myriad benefits appetite suppressants bring to the table as they formulate their weight loss program. Chances are they will be very glad they did.
How We Ranked
There are so many appetite suppressants on the market today it can be difficult to know where to start. We began by drawing a firm line in the sand, excluding prescription appetite suppressants that often include downright dangerous and addictive substances like methamphetamine. By throwing our hat into the over-the-counter ring, we eliminated dozens of appetite suppressants right out of the gate and were able to start with a more manageable number.
Next, we excluded any appetite suppressants that were not produced in Good Manufacturing Practices-certified facilities. This eliminated another large portion of the appetite suppressant market.
Next, we put the ingredient lists under the microscope and eliminated any supplements being marketed as appetite suppressants that were actually just glorified caffeine pills. Caffeine has a role to play in appetite suppression, but it should not be the only ingredient.
We gave preference to products that contain known appetite suppressants, including garcinia cambogia, CLA, glucomannan, 5-HTP, cayenne pepper, and the like. Supplements that leaned on ineffective or unproven ingredients were shown the door.
Having winnowed the list of potentials down further, we then looked for ingredients known to cause nasty side effects. Any supplements that contained these ingredients were banished from the list.
Finally, we considered the reputation of the manufacturer, feedback from actual users, and price. However, price was not necessarily a deal-breaker because weight loss is serious business, and anything that facilitates it in a safe and effective manner is worth a bit of a financial stretch.
Benefits
Appetite suppressants are safe and effective. Appetite suppressants have been tested and retested under rigorous scientific conditions and demonstrated their safety time and again. OTC appetite suppressants like those on our list do not include any controlled substances and are not addictive. They simply use ingredients that are well-known to science for their ability to reduce appetite in a natural, safe, and effective manner.
Appetite suppressants make weight loss easier. Sure, you can try and go it alone. You can try and impose your will on the weight loss process. But the fact is, willpower will likely only get you so far (1). A smarter way to do things is to use whatever tools are available that increase your chances of success. That includes appetite suppressants. Trying to lose weight without them will just make the whole process more difficult.
Appetite suppressants enhance physical and mental performance. People often feel sluggish during the day, particularly after eating. The biggest reason for this is that digestion requires a lot of blood (2). Blood that is not available to power muscles or deliver oxygen to your brain while it is involved in metabolic activity. Appetite suppressants help you eat less, which makes more blood available for other things, like physical activity and thinking.
Appetite suppressants improve overall health. Achieving a higher degree of health is why people want to lose weight. And appetite suppressants can help them achieve that goal. The health benefits of getting down to a healthy weight are too numerous to list here. But the cumulative effect of all those benefits is better all-around health and a more responsive immune system (3) that is better able to fight off problems that do arise.
Appetite suppressants help you break your emotional dependence on food. Many of us turn to food when the chips are down. It’s not at all unusual. But the habit of using food as an emotional crutch can be a major obstacle when it comes time to lose weight (4). Appetite suppressants can help fend off the impulse to reach into the refrigerator when things get tough. By helping you break the emotional dependence on food, they increase your chance of reaching your target weight and, more importantly, staying there.
Appetite suppressants can prevent binge-eating. Binging often plays a central role in the development of obesity (5). Being unable to control binge-eating is one reason so many people fail to achieve their weight loss goals. Appetite suppressants can help prevent binge-eating episodes and thereby increase the chances a person will reach their target weight.
Appetite suppressants may also burn body fat. Not all of them, mind you. But many appetite suppressants also promote thermogenesis (6). Either that or their formulas include a thermogenic ingredient that burns fat while other ingredients work to suppress appetite. Many people are convinced that the best type of appetite suppressant is one that does both. And it’s hard to argue against that idea.
Appetite suppressants provide a person greater control over what they eat. When people are not hungry all the time they tend to make better choices when it finally does come time to eat. They are more selective, choose healthier foods, and do not cook or order as much as they would if they were overwhelmed by hunger pangs. This is one of the most important benefits of appetite suppressants.
Appetite suppressants are non-addictive. The type of over the counter appetite suppressants we are featuring in this guide contain no potentially addictive ingredients and no controlled substances of any kind. Most prescription appetite suppressants do include potentially dangerous and addictive substances, and often take a heavy toll in adverse side effects. But again, the supplements featured here do not.
Appetite suppressants can help you gain control of your blood sugars. Eating too much and too often has a range of adverse effects on the body, including a lack of energy and out of control blood sugars. The more people eat and the larger they become, the more resistance they build to insulin, and the more likely they are to suffer roller coaster blood sugars and, eventually, diabetes (7). Appetite suppressants can reduce the odds of that happening.
Appetite suppressants let you to avoid fad diets. People often embrace fad diets because they do not see any other way forward. But fad diets can sometimes do more harm than good and should be avoided if at all possible. Appetite suppressants can provide the missing piece to the weight loss puzzle that enables people to finally say ‘no’ to the latest fad diet and stick to tried and true principles of less food, healthier food, and exercise.
Appetite suppressants help you break bad food habits. Do something long enough and it will be very difficult to change. If you are used to eating foods that are high in carbs, fat, sugar, and salt, or used to eating at all hours of the day and night, it will be difficult to start eating moderately-sized, healthy meals. But it can be done. And appetite suppressants can provide the underlying support you need while you transition to that healthier diet.
Appetite suppressants can help you avoid diabetes. Above we alluded to the link between obesity and diabetes. But it deserves a closer look. If you look at any list of risk factors for type 2 diabetes, obesity is usually right at the top (8). It is no coincidence that, as the number of obese people is skyrocketing worldwide, so too is the number of type 2 diabetes cases. Appetite suppressants can help you lose weight and step back from the diabetic edge.
Appetite suppressants may help add years to your life. Obesity can reduce life expectancy by as much as eight years (9). It can also ensure that the life a person does have is an endless parade of obesity-related health problems. Anything a seriously overweight person can do to reduce their weight is going to extend their life expectancy. And the closer they get to a healthy body weight, the greater those gains will be.
Appetite suppressants bolster confidence. Being overweight affects different people differently. But one thing most overweight people have in common is the sense that others are watching and judging them based solely on their weight. Unfortunately, it is often true. Appetite suppressants can take the spotlight off your girth and put it on your abilities where it belongs.
Appetite suppressants enhance your workouts. Many appetite suppressants contain caffeine. Caffeine is often used by gym rats and bodybuilders to get more from their workouts. If you desire to lose weight and get in better physical shape, you should consider trying an appetite suppressant that includes caffeine.
Appetite suppressants can help keep you regular. Obese individuals tend to experience more frequent bouts of constipation than people with a healthy BMI (10). But if constipation is an issue for you, there is an appetite suppressant that can help. Many appetite suppressants use fiber to create a sense of satiety. An added benefit of all that fiber is greater regularity and fewer episodes of constipation.
Appetite suppressants help you meet your goals. Losing weight is one of the most difficult things a person can do. Many compare it to quitting smoking. We have such a complex relationship with food that deliberately denying ourselves the joys of the kitchen can often seem like denying life itself. You need every tool in the toolbox at your disposal if you are to successfully reach your weight loss goals. That includes appetite suppressants.
Appetite suppressants are affordable. Last, but not least, we come to the bottom line: cost. When you weigh all they can do for you against what they cost, appetite suppressants are a true healthcare value. Not convinced? Consider that gastric bypass surgery can cost as much as $35,000 (11). That’s compared to the pennies per day appetite suppressants will cost, with the net result – eating less – being essentially the same.
FAQs
Q: What is an appetite suppressant?
A: An appetite suppressant is a dietary supplement formulated to reduce hunger cravings. Since weight loss only occurs when calories burned exceed calories consumed, the appetite suppressant’s job is to help you reduce the amount you consume. But appetites suppressants alone may not lead to weight loss. The person taking the supplement needs to cooperate by eating healthier food and exercising.
Q: Do appetite suppressants work?
A: Yes, appetite suppressants work. They have a good track record when used as directed. The operative phrase there being ‘when used as directed’. Taking more than the recommended amount may lead to unpleasant side effects. While taking less may leave a person feeling the product does not work. Also, if you are under a doctor’s care for any reason, make sure you talk to them before taking appetite suppressants or any other supplement.
Q: How do appetite suppressants work?
A: Different appetite suppressants work in different ways. Some use soluble fiber that expands in the stomach and makes a person feel full. Others use caffeine that mitigates appetite. And others employ ingredients such as CLA or garcinia cambogia that modulate the activity of the hunger hormones ghrelin and leptin (12). Not all appetite suppressants work for all people. So you may have to try a couple before finding the one that is right for you.
Q: Are appetite suppressant safe?
A: Unlike prescription appetite suppressants such as benzphetamine and Liraglutide that can cause vomiting, painful urination, or even addiction, OTC appetite suppressants are both safe and effective. The FDA has enacted no restrictions on their sale, they do not contain controlled substances, and there is no history of appetite suppressants causing serious harm when taken as directed.
Q: Will appetite suppressants let me eat anything I want?
A: No, appetite suppressants are not a green light for a person to eat anything they want. They are intended to help a person lose weight by reducing food cravings. Ideally, they should be just one component of a comprehensive weight loss program that includes healthy food, reduced portions, and regular exercise. Remember, weight loss only happens when you burn more calories than you consume. Appetite suppressants help you reduce caloric intake.
Q: How long do I have to take appetite suppressants?
A: How long you wind up taking appetite suppressants will depend on several factors. Chief among them is how much weight you wish to lose. Some people continue to take them (although at lower doses), after they reach their goal, in an effort to ensure they do not slip back into bad eating habits and undo all the progress they have made. But if you have built good eating and exercise habits, you should not need them once you meet your target weight.
Q: Will I lose weight if I use an appetite suppressant?
A: If you take them for the right reasons and use them as directed, appetite suppressants should help you lose weight. Remember, appetite suppressants are one of the least aggressive forms of weight loss supplement. They are designed to fend off food cravings. The rest of the weight loss program (smaller, healthier meals, exercise, etc.) will be up to you.
Q: How many appetite suppressant pills do I have to take every day?
A: Most appetite suppressants recommend you take one before each meal. Although there is bound to be some variance depending on the product. So be sure to read the label carefully. If you are not getting the results you want, do not try and compensate by taking more and more of a given product. Simply discontinue and try something else. The problem may also lie with other things like eating the wrong things at the wrong time (13).
Q: When is the best time to take appetite suppressants?
A: The best time to take an appetite suppressant is usually about an hour before eating. The reason for that is because it takes the supplement time to be digested and its effects felt. If you take it five minutes before eating, it will still be digesting when you sit down to eat, and it will not produce the desired result.
Q: Why do so many appetite suppressants use fiber?
A: So many appetite suppressants use fiber because soluble fiber expands when it comes in contact with liquids. When the fiber expands in your stomach, it produces a sense of being full. It also leaves less room for a person to pack in other food, so they eat less. The fiber will provide the added benefit of promoting regularity, and you will eventually expel almost all of it.
Q: Is caffeine really an appetite suppressant?
A: Caffeine is one of the most effective natural appetite suppressants there is. Have you ever tried sitting down to eat after having a double espresso? It’s not easy. The exact mechanism by which coffee suppresses the appetite is not fully understood (14). It may affect appetite hormones, or the often bitter aftertaste may negatively affect a person’s desire for food. But however it works, it works.
Q: Do appetite suppressants have any side effects?
A: Most OTC appetite suppressants are considered safe as long as the person taking them is basically healthy and not under a doctor’s care for any particular reason. That said, people being treated for depression with SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), should talk to their doctor before taking garcinia cambogia (15). And people who are sensitive to caffeine may want to avoid certain appetite suppressants.
Q: Is there a better way to lose weight then appetite suppressants?
A: The best way to lose weight will vary from person to person. Some people respond best to appetite suppressants, others to weight loss pills, and still others find that things like the keto diet work best for them. There is no guarantee that any of these methods will work for anyone. The best way to find out is to try them. Fortunately, appetite suppressants are very reasonably priced. So even if it does not work you will not have spent a lot of money.
Q: Will appetite suppressants permanently ‘fix’ my appetite?
A: Appetite suppressants are not medicine. They are not formulated to ‘fix’ anything. Their entire reason for being is to help people who want to lose weight eat less. If a person has a history of overeating, it is likely there are psychological issues involved (16). And an appetite suppressant will not be able to address them. It is possible, however, that appetite suppressants can help them eat less while they address the underlying causes in other ways.
Q: What is 5-HTP?
A: 5-HTP is a common ingredient in many appetite suppressants today. It is a naturally-occurring chemical that serves as a precursor to serotonin and has long been thought to have antidepressant capabilities. But while its value in treating depression is now hotly debated, there is little argument about its ability to suppress appetite (17), particularly if the desire to eat is a byproduct of stress, as it often is.
Q: What is cissus quadrangularis?
A: Cissus quadrangularis is a plant that has been used for centuries for its ability to control appetite and produce weight loss (18). One of the primary byproducts of cissus quadrangularis is something called ‘ketosterones’. Many people hear that name and conclude it’s a type of steroid. It’s not (19). A cynical person may suspect that marketers play up the possible steroid connection to attract bodybuilders. But regardless, there are no steroids in Cissus.
Q: Is there anything else I can do to suppress my appetite?
A: Drinking more water is a good way to help you feel full. Making sure the food you eat is nutrient-dense will also help alleviate hunger pangs. Taking your time when you eat is also an excellent way to ensure you eat less. Enjoy every bite. Savor the taste. Chew well. You can also try placing smaller portions on a smaller plate. This can help trick the mind into thinking you are eating more than you are.
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Recap
Appetite suppressants fill a crucial gap in the weight loss equation. They help people avoid eating between meals and ensure that when they do eat, they eat less.
Over the counter appetite suppressants are safe, effective, and perfectly legal. They do not contain any controlled substances and do not pose any risk of addiction. Most do not produce any significant side effects, either.
The appetite suppressants that made our list did so by demonstrating their ability to curb food cravings and help people achieve their weight loss goals. Use the information in this guide to determine which appetite suppressant is right for you.
For cpoe.org’s #1 recommended appetite suppressant, click here.