Naturopathic approaches to weight loss are supported by evidence in specific therapeutic domains - nutrition, lifestyle medicine, metabolic regulation, gut health, and select botanicals and supplements. Optimal effectiveness is achieved when interventions are integrative, personalized, and multi-modal, rather than relying solely on a single therapeutic approach.
Dietary interventions used in Naturopathy may include low-glycemic, anti-inflammatory, and/or gut-focused nutrition, individualized for the patient. Certain supplements have scientific evidence to support use in weight loss management, such as:
Berberine – This meta-analysis found that berberine was associated with a significant reduction in body weight, body mass index (BMI)*, and waist circumference**.
Green tea catechins – This systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 studies found that administration of green tea catechins with caffeine is associated with statistically significant reductions in BMI, body weight, and waist circumference.
Fiber supplements (psyllium) – This systematic review and network meta-analysis of 111 randomized clinical trials found that psyllium was the most effective nutraceutical intervention for weight loss.
Strain-specific probiotics – This systematic review found that 23 of 27 analyzed clinical trials showed a positive effect on weight loss, concluding that probiotics and synbiotics have the potential to help with weight loss in overweight and obese populations.
Naturopathy provides evidence-supported interventions through nutrition therapy, lifestyle medicine, gut health optimization, stress regulation, and targeted botanical and nutraceutical support. Naturopathic medicine supports weight loss by helping the body to heal and rebalance naturally through nutrition, lifestyle changes, stress management, gut health, and targeted supplements. It can be used on its own or in combination with medications such as GLP-1 receptor agonists to improve outcomes, reduce side effects, and support long-term success. Instead of focusing only on the scale, this approach helps improve overall health, metabolism, and well-being for sustainable weight management.
Terminology:
* Body Mass Index - Obesity can be diagnosed by body mass index, abbreviated BMI. For most people, BMI is a reasonable estimate of body fat, calculated using height and weight. However, BMI may not be a good estimate for muscular athletes, in which the BMI is elevated in the obesity range but does not have excess body fat. There are many BMI calculators online that can calculate one's BMI. The basic calculation is multiplying one's weight in pounds by 703, then dividing by one's height in inches, and then dividing by it again.
General guidelines for BMI:
Obesity: 30 - 39.9
Severe obesity: 40 and higher
**Waist circumference - There are two types of fat distribution: subcutaneous and visceral. Subcutaneous fat lies just beneath the skin and is visible in the hips, thighs, buttocks, arms, and face. Visceral fat lies within the abdomen and pads the spaces between the organs. Visceral fat is the most concerning type of weight gain because high amounts of visceral fat are strongly associated with high blood pressure, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, heart disease, and stroke. Clinicians estimate patients' risk by measuring waist circumference. Weight-related health problems are more common in men with a waist circumference over 40 inches and in women with a waist circumference over 35 inches.
References:
Asbaghi O, Ghanbari N, Shekari M, Reiner Ž, Amirani E, Hallajzadeh J, Mirsafaei L, Asemi Z. The effect of berberine supplementation on obesity parameters, inflammation, and liver function enzymes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2020 Aug;38:43-49. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2020.04.010. Epub 2020 May 6. PMID: 32690176.
Olivia J Phung, William L Baker, Leslie J Matthews, Michael Lanosa, Alicia Thorne, Craig I Coleman, Effect of green tea catechins with or without caffeine on anthropometric measures: a systematic review and meta-analysis123, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 91, Issue 1, 2010, Pages 73-81,ISSN 0002-9165.
Hossein Shahinfar, Ahmad Jayedi, Kimia Torabynasab, Nastaran Payandeh, Fahimeh Martami, Hanieh Moosavi, Elham Bazshahi, Sakineh Shab-Bidar, Comparative effects of nutraceuticals on body weight in adults with overweight or obesity: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of 111 randomized clinical trials, Pharmacological Research, Volume 196, 2023, 106944, ISSN 1043-6618.
Álvarez-Arraño V, Martín-Peláez S. Effects of Probiotics and Synbiotics on Weight Loss in Subjects with Overweight or Obesity: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2021 Oct 17;13(10):3627. doi: 10.3390/nu13103627. PMID: 34684633; PMCID: PMC8540110.
