Home › Weight management guide › Supplements
Supplements in weight programs: what they can do and what you may say
In the EU list of authorized health claims, only three entries concern weight: one for glucomannan and two for meal replacements – each with fixed conditions and only in the context of an energy-restricted diet. Promises such as burning fat, blocking calories or curbing appetite have no authorized claim. Personalized supplements play a different role in a program: they round out the nutrient supply, with personalized dosing and without weight promises.
Big promises, three authorized claims
Burn fat, block calories, curb hunger: in the market for weight products, the promises are big. A look at the EU list of authorized health claims brings things down to size. Of more than 200 entries, exactly three concern weight: one for glucomannan and two for meal replacements (Regulation (EU) No 432/2012, consolidated version).
The reason: health claims are prohibited unless they are authorized and included in this list (Art. 10(1) Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006). Claims referring to slimming or weight control, a reduced sense of hunger, an increased sense of satiety or a reduction of the available energy from the diet are expressly covered (Art. 13(1)(c)). The list works like a restaurant menu: if it is not on the menu, you cannot order it. For your program, that is good news – you know exactly what you may say, and you can advise credibly where others exaggerate.
Glucomannan: the claim and its conditions
For glucomannan (konjac mannan), the authorized claim reads verbatim: “Glucomannan in the context of an energy restricted diet contributes to weight loss.” It is based on a scientific opinion of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA Journal, 2010). The claim comes with clear conditions:
| Condition | Requirement under Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 |
|---|---|
| Amount per portion | 1 g of glucomannan per quantified portion |
| Consumer information | The beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 3 g of glucomannan in three doses of 1 g each, together with 1–2 glasses of water, before meals and in the context of an energy-restricted diet. |
| Warning | Warning of choking for people with swallowing difficulties or when ingesting with inadequate fluid intake; advice to take it with plenty of water. |
| Distinction | The second glucomannan claim concerns blood cholesterol (at 4 g a day) and is not a weight claim. |
Keep in mind: the claim applies only in the context of an energy-restricted diet. Glucomannan does not replace a nutrition plan – it can accompany one.
Meal replacements: two claims with a precise recipe
There are two claims for meal replacements for weight control. Their conditions were rewritten by Regulation (EU) 2016/1413 and have since been set out directly in the list:
| Authorized claim (verbatim) | Use |
|---|---|
| “Substituting two of the main daily meals of an energy restricted diet with meal replacements contributes to weight loss” | replace two main meals daily, each with one meal replacement |
| “Substituting one of the main daily meals of an energy restricted diet with a meal replacement contributes to the maintenance of weight after weight loss” | replace one main meal daily with a meal replacement |
Per meal, the product must meet these requirements, among others:
- Energy: at least 200 kcal and no more than 250 kcal.
- Fat: no more than 30% of total energy, at least 1 g of linoleic acid.
- Protein: 25 to 50% of total energy, with a defined protein quality.
- Vitamins and minerals: at least 30% of the nutrient reference values (with a few exceptions), at least 172.5 mg sodium and 500 mg potassium.
- Information: consumers are told about the importance of adequate daily fluid intake and that the products serve their purpose only as part of an energy-restricted diet that also includes other foods.
Interesting for your program: the second claim fits the stabilization phase. How to plan that phase as a whole is covered in Avoiding the yo-yo effect.
What is not a weight claim
Some substances turn up in weight products again and again. They have authorized claims – but none about weight:
| Substance | Authorized claim (verbatim) | What you may not turn it into |
|---|---|---|
| Chitosan | “Chitosan contributes to the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol levels” (with 3 g of chitosan a day) | a statement about binding fat or about weight |
| Chromium | “Chromium contributes to normal macronutrient metabolism” | a statement about cravings, fat loss or weight |
| Protein | “Protein contributes to the maintenance of muscle mass” (at least a source of protein) | a statement about weight loss; it does fit the topic of muscle preservation well |
The list contains no claim for white bean extract, for increased satiety or for burning fat. Names count, too: trade marks, brand names and fancy names that may be construed as a health claim may only be used if they are accompanied by a related authorized claim (Art. 1(3) Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006).
The real role: securing nutrients
If supplements are no shortcut to a target weight – what are they for? Their strength lies in nutrient supply. When people eat less, they have less room for vitamins and minerals, and needs differ from person to person.
Vitamin D is one example. In an analysis of 17,614 healthy adults, people with overweight and obesity had lower vitamin D blood levels on average than people with normal weight. The authors therefore recommend vitamin D supplementation two to three times higher for people with obesity and 1.5 times higher for people with overweight than for those with normal weight (Ekwaru et al., PLoS One, 2014).
The logical conclusion: body weight belongs in the dosing. At Novogenia, it is an input to the formula – a higher body weight moves the formula upward, especially for nutrients involved in energy metabolism, and a lower body weight moves it downward (Manufacturing personalized supplements). Important for your communication: Novogenia’s internal study on gene-based nutrition concerns a diet, not a food supplement. Never link the two.
Personalized daily sachets: how they work
Novogenia’s personalized supplements are made fresh for each person. The formula combines about 50 genes, a questionnaire and – where available – blood values; blood values take precedence. Doses range from one third to three times the reference intake and stay below the EFSA tolerable upper intake level. Everything is filled into daily sachets of Microtransporter pellets; one delivery lasts 90 days.
To put it honestly: a statement of the form “gene X gives nutrient Y at dose Z” would be incorrect. The formula results from the interplay of all values – how, is shown in How a personalized nutrient recipe is calculated. More on the path from genetic profile to formula in From genetic profile to personalized supplements.
How to talk about it
| Instead of | Better |
|---|---|
| “These sachets help you lose weight faster.” | “The daily sachets round out your nutrient supply while you change your diet.” |
| “Watch the pounds melt away in record time.” | No claims about the rate or amount of weight loss (Art. 12(b) Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006). |
| “Recommended by our physician.” | Claims referring to recommendations of individual doctors or health professionals are not allowed (Art. 12(c)) – explain instead how the formula is made. |
| “Chromium helps you lose weight.” | “Chromium contributes to normal macronutrient metabolism.” |
What else applies to advertising your program is explained in Advertising weight loss: what is allowed.
Switzerland: same line, its own route
Switzerland regulates health claims in its Food Information Ordinance (LIV). Claims listed in Annex 14 are permitted (Art. 31(2) LIV). The glucomannan claim and the two meal-replacement claims appear there with the same content as in the EU; for the composition of meal replacements, Annex 14 refers to Articles 3 and 35d of the Ordinance on Foods for Persons with Special Nutritional Needs (VLBE). The prohibitions match as well: health claims may not be combined with statements about the duration and extent of weight loss, nor be designed as recommendations of individual physicians or other health professionals (Art. 34(4)(b) and (c) LIV).
The difference: in Switzerland, a claim that is not listed in Annex 14 can be submitted for authorization to the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO, German: BLV) (Art. 31(3) LIV). In the EU, new claims only make it onto the list through the EU procedure (Art. 13(5) Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006).
Safety and boundaries
Food supplements are not medicines. Genuine deficiency or disease states belong in medical hands. So before any recommendation, ask about medications, pre-existing conditions and a possible pregnancy. Anyone under medical care – for example for obesity or taking weight-loss medication – should discuss supplements with their treating physician. More in Boundaries: when a physician is needed.
Checklist for supplements in your program
- Supplements are optional and explained as a way to round out the nutrient supply.
- Weight claims only for glucomannan (1 g per portion, with consumer information and warning) or for meal replacements with the prescribed composition.
- No claims about the rate or amount of weight loss.
- No references to recommendations of individual doctors or health professionals.
- Product names and slogans do not promise a weight effect without a related authorized claim.
- The internal study on gene-based nutrition is never linked to supplements.
- Medications, pre-existing conditions and pregnancy have been asked about.
- Switzerland: claims are checked against Annex 14 LIV.
Frequently asked questions
Are there food supplements with an authorized weight claim?
May a product name promise weight loss?
Do personalized supplements help with weight loss?
Why does body weight matter for dosing?
Does all this apply in Switzerland too?
Related: Health claims: what you may advertise · From genetic profile to personalized supplements · How a personalized nutrient recipe is calculated
A weight program with genetic analysis?
Tell us about your offer and your clients – we will show you how the genetic analysis complements your program.
Request a project →Lifestyle analysesNote: This guide is general information for businesses and professionals and does not replace medical or legal advice. The genetic traits determined in a genetic analysis are well documented (each gene included is backed by at least three independent studies); recommendations derived from them are logical conclusions, not scientifically proven. Regulations can change; errors and changes excepted.