Detox teas? Expert warns against quick-fix weight-loss products

MANILA, Philippines — A health expert urged Filipinos seeking to lose weight to be cautious about products marketed as quick fixes and instead pay greater attention to their sleep, stress, and sustainable lifestyle changes.

Dr. Nemencio Nicodemus Jr., an endocrinologist and professor at the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Medicine and attending consultant at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), also warned the public against purchasing counterfeit versions of popular prescription weight-loss drugs.

According to Nicodemus, weight loss associated with slimming and “detox” teas may largely reflect water loss and altered bowel movements rather than meaningful reductions in body fat.

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“Rapid water-weight loss from teas or extreme diets is not equivalent to durable fat loss, and short-term results are unlikely to persist without lasting changes in behavior and lifestyle,” he said.

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Nicodemus said diet teas were found to rely on mechanisms such as metabolic stimulation, appetite suppression, or laxative and diuretic effects rather than validated fat-loss pathways.

He cited a 2026 content analysis that found that 91.7 percent of sampled diet teas contained senna leaf, a laxative used to treat occasional constipation, despite being marketed with “natural” slimming imagery.

Laxatives promote bowel movements, while diuretics increase the amount of salt and water excreted through urine. Both can cause a temporary drop in weight without necessarily reducing body fat.

There were also reported cases of supposedly natural weight-loss products linked to adverse effects, including acute hepatitis in a teenager associated with Chinese green tea consumption.

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The safety of prescription weight-loss drugs is another concern, according to Nicodemus, particularly amid the circulation of counterfeit and falsified medicines.

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GLP-1 receptor agonist medications, such as semaglutide, and dual agonists, such as tirzepatide, have become increasingly associated with weight loss.

Both semaglutide and tirzepatide are prescribed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes but have been used off-label as weight-loss medications.

Based on data from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there are only three registered brands of semaglutide: Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, which are all manufactured by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk.

Meanwhile, there is only one brand of tirzepatide registered with the FDA: Mounjaro, which is manufactured by Italy-based BSP Pharmaceuticals.

Nicodemus cited gastrointestinal effects as among the most common concerns, found in 20 percent to 40 percent of patients using higher-dose formulations of semaglutide.

A systematic review of 10 randomized controlled trials involving 14,550 participants, including 7,830 who received semaglutide, found that patients experienced nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Semaglutide was also associated with an increased risk of gallbladder-related disorders, including gallstones.

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The World Health Organization issued a medical product alert in June 2024 over falsified Ozempic products circulating globally, including in the Philippines.

Consumers who obtain semaglutide through informal online channels may face additional risks, including counterfeit products, incorrect active ingredients, contamination, and improper storage.

Nicodemus said weight management cannot be reduced to calorie counting.

Hormones, muscle mass, genetics, metabolism, sleep, stress, and lifestyle can interact to affect how a person gains, loses, and maintains weight, he said.

Nicodemus recommends a regular sleep cycle and stress management.

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“Unregulated stress and lack of sleep increase cortisol levels. This makes the body less responsive to insulin, making it difficult to control blood sugar,” he said. /mcm