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Channel 4
Prof Karpe helped presenter Dr Xand van Tulleken to understand the impact of so called weight loss pills on the body. First in the firing line were ‘Carb blockers’, which claim to limit calorie ‘absorption’ from carbohydrates. With a helping hand from volunteers from the Oxford Biobank, Prof Karpe illustrated that these pills have no impact on blood sugar; if the ‘carb blockers’ worked they would reduce blood sugar. The team then went onto investigate fat burners. While these pills sped up fat metabolism a little, the effect was not enough to help weight loss.
You can catch up on the show online here.