Update 3/10/23. What is skinny fiber and does it work? To me, the name skinny fiber is ironic because I thought all fiber was supposed to help people lose weight. I did some digging into Skinny Fiber and discovered that there is some research on some of its ingredients. That will be the focus of this unbiased review. Does it have a secret ingredient? People may have heard about the enzymes in Skinny Fiber. Do they help with weight loss? That will also be addressed in this review. This review will help you decide if Skinny Fiber is right for you. See the Skinny Body Max review too.
What Is Skinny Fiber?
Skinny Fiber is exactly what the name says: a fiber pill supplement that is touted to help with weight loss. There is research on some of its ingredients, and those clinical studies will be summarized below.
Skinny Fiber Research
Is there any clinical evidence showing Skinny Fiber really helps people lose weight? Searching the product website reveals no research studies on the product.
Likewise, searching the National Library of Medicine (Pubmed.gov) for “skinny fiber” and “skinny fiber weight loss” reveal no studies either.
Fortunately, for this review, there are weight loss studies on some of the ingredients in this supplement.
Skinny Fiber Ingredients
According to the label I've seen, each bottle has 120 capsules, and the serving size is 2 capsules. In 2 Skinny Fiber Pills, there are the following ingredients:
| % Daily Value | |
| Calories 0 | |
| Total Fat 0 grams | <1% |
| Total Carbohydrate 1 gram | <1% |
| Protein 0 grams | <1% |
| Sodium 5 grams | <1% |
| Proprietary Blend 1160 mg | N/A |
| Glucomannan (tuber) powder | |
| Caralluma Fimbriata (whole plant) powder | |
| Cha de Bugre (leaf) powder | |
| Proprietary Enzyme Blend 260 mg | N/A |
| Amylase powder | |
| Protease powder | |
| Lipase powder | |
| Glucoamylase powder | |
| Papain powder | |
| Cellulase powder | |
| Bromelain powder |
N/A = no daily value established
Other Ingredients
The product also contains these other ingredients:
- Gelatin capsule
- microcrystalline cellulose
- magnesium stearate
These additional ingredients likely play no role in the effects or benefits of Skinny Fiber. Because gelatin is the first ingredient listed, it makes up most of these ingredients.
Let's look at each active ingredient in Skinny Fiber separately.
Glucomannan
Glucomannan (also called Konjac root) is a fiber that helps people feel full. It's in many weight loss products I've previously investigated, including:
This fiber is added to weight loss supplements because there is indeed some research that shows glucomannan can help weight loss. Studies usually use about 1 to 3 grams per day. Two skinny fiber pills have a 1.15 grams total of its proprietary blend of ingredients.
Since glucomannan is listed first in the blend's ingredients, I take that to mean it is mostly glucomannan fiber.
For those who want to compare prices, here is glucomannan capsules and glucomann powder on Amazon.
Caralluma Fimbriata
This is a cactus-like plant, rumored to have appetite-suppressing effects that grow in India. The idea behind how it works is that chemicals in the plant are said to reduce chemicals in the brain that cause us to want to eat. That is the theory anyway.
The plant is sometimes called a “famine food” likely because it's used during times of famine when there is not much food to eat. Given that it might reduce appetite, some suspect it may also help weight loss. Does it?
Here's what the research says:
In one study involving 43 people, researchers noted that 1000 mg Caralluma fimbriata per day, given for 12 weeks, caused a 2.2-inch reduction in waist circumference relative to placebo and a decrease in the waist-to-hip ratio. Those taking Caralluma Fimbriata also appeared to have a decrease in the smell, taste, and look of food. That of course could lead people to eat less.
The people in this study also followed a lower calorie eating plan. People ate 500 fewer calories than normal. It's also interesting to note that both groups lost similar amounts of weight. Also, those taking Caralluma Fimbriata did not lose more weight than the placebo group.
In another study involving 50 men and women, those who received 1000 mg of Caralluma Fimbriata per day were noted to significantly reduce waist circumference and hunger levels compared to those who received a placebo. There was no clinical difference in body weight.
In this investigation, researchers saw that rats given Caralluma Fimbriata experienced less food intake and reduced body weight gain than rats that did not receive Caralluma Fimbriata.
In a small study conducted on 15 kids with a rare genetic disorder called Prader-Willi syndrome that causes excessive appetite, 1000 mg of Caralluma seemed to reduce appetite when given over a 10-week period. Even though this study lasted 10 weeks, the study does not mention if body weight was reduced.
On the flip side, a study published in 2015 that noted Caralluma fimbriata did not work. This study involved 89 overweight people who were randomly given either a placebo or 1000 mg of Caralluma per day for 12 weeks. Those taking Caralluma did not have any improvements in weight loss or reduction in appetite.
Caralluma Fimbriata Video Review
Watch on my youtube channel too
Summary of Caralluma Fimbriata Research
Studies can be complicated so here is a quick rundown on the Caralluma Fimbriata research to help you
| Study Year / Type Of Study | Amount Used | Study Results |
|---|---|---|
| (2017) Rat study | 100mg/kg (see above for human dosage) | Weight reduction |
| (2015) 15 kids with Prader-Willi syndrome). Lasted 10 weeks | 1000 mg/day | Reduced appetite. Weight loss data not mentioned. |
| (2015) Human study (89 people). Lasted 12 weeks | 1000 mg/day | No reduction in body weight. No reduction in appetite. |
| (2013) Human study (43 people). Lasted 12 weeks | 1000 mg/day | Reduced waist circumference, reduced smell and taste for food. compared to placebo. No change in body weight |
| (2010) Rat study | various amounts | Rats weighed less and ate less food |
| (2007) Human study (5 men /women). Lasted 60 days | 1000 mg/day | Reduced waste circumference and hunger compared to placebo. No significant changes in body weight. |
Here is Caralluma fimbriata on Amazon.
Chá de Bugre
Also called Cordia ecalyculata and Cordia salicifolia. The Skinny Fiber website says that Chá de Bugre can “support a healthy metabolism” and is an “appetite suppressant.” Is there any proof it does this?
No human evidence on Chá de Bugre and weight loss could be located. A mouse study published in 2017 noted that Cha de Bugre, both alone and when combined with Spirulina, reduced appetite in mice.
Another mouse study noted that acha de bugre did not reduce body weight or food consumption.
The Enzyme Blend
When Skinny Fiber first came out, its website said this about the enzymes:
“The biggest CHALLENGE to losing weight is that most of us are NOT getting enough enzymes from our food to properly DIGEST what we eat.“
That working has changed and they now say that:
“When we don’t get enough enzymes from our food, our bodies can’t properly digest what we eat, causing use to often have a weaker immune system and gain weight.”
But it's important to know that our bodies make enzymes. While there are enzymes in food, they are quickly digested in the stomach when we eat them. Might enzymes help someone with digestion issues? Maybe. But for healthy people, evidence that they help weight loss is lacking.
The label says that 2 Skinny Fiber pills contain 260 mg of the following enzymes:
- Amylase (carbohydrate digesting enzyme)
- Protease (protein-digesting enzyme)
- Lipase (fat-digesting enzyme
- Glucoamylase (sugar-digesting enzyme)
- Papain (protein-digesting enzyme)
- Cellulase (carbohydrate digesting enzyme)
- Bromelain (protein-digesting enzyme)
One thing to remember is that enzymes that are eaten are quickly destroyed by the stomach's acidity soon after they are consumed. Because of that, those enzymes don't get into the blood to do anything.
Enzymes are safe and won't hurt anyone. They might add a little bit of protein but as for helping with weight loss, it would take human studies to know for sure.
How Much Sodium?
If you looked closely at the label above, you saw that 2 capsules contained “5 grams” (5000 mg) of sodium, which the label also indicates is less than 1% of the Daily Value for sodium. But 5 grams is not 1% of the Daily Value for sodium. In fact, 5 grams is far
more than most people should be consuming. Most medical experts advise people to keep sodium to 1500 mg to 2300 mg (1.5 to 2.3 grams). If Skinny Fiber really has 5g, this would put people way over what they should be getting.
Could this be a typo and that the product really has only 5 mg of sodium rather than 5 grams?
If I am wrong, and Skinny Fiber really has 5 grams of sodium (in only 2 capsules), then people watching their sodium intake should be aware of this.
Skinny Fiber Active Ingredients
Looking at the research on each of the ingredients in Skinny Fiber, I see two ingredients that might help people lose weight:
And of those two ingredients, I feel glucomannan has the most evidence.
Ingredients With Limited Evidence
No human weight loss evidence could be located or the following ingredients in Skinny Fiber:
- Enzymes
- Chá de Bugre
This review will be updated as it becomes available if the evidence is found. If anyone is aware of the evidence for any of these ingredients, please share in the comments below.
Skinny Fiber On TV
On January 22, 2014, Skinny Fiber was featured on The Balancing Act, a TV show on the LifeTime Network. The interview featured the CEO of Skinny Fiber and a woman named Kayla, who lost 40 pounds while taking the product. Kayla has a Facebook page where she lists she is a Skinny Fiber distributor. Nothing is wrong with this, but it was not mentioned in the Balancing Act segment.
In the Balancing Act interview, when speaking about why Kayla was able to 40 pounds, the company CEO said:
“The reason that this product was able to work is because the enzymes were able to get her body in a condition where losing weight was possible.”
But, as already mentioned above, there is a lack of evidence that enzymes help weight loss. In fact, the very name – “Skinny Fiber” – tells you that it's the fiber -not the enzymes- promoting weight loss.
Think about it, they don’t call it “Skinny Enzymes” do they? The simple answer is that Skinny Fiber is a fiber supplement.
Segments seen in the Balancing Act are called “Branded Entertainment Segments.” In other words, the segments feature different brands (products) in a way that is meant to both inform and entertain people.
When I called The Balancing Act, I was told that while the Skinny Fiber segments are not “infomercials,” the companies featured on the show do pay a “pre-production fee” prior to being on the show.
I was told that companies that do not pay this pre-production fee would probably not be featured on The Balancing Act.
So how is this not an infomercial?
There is nothing inherently wrong with this partnership between companies and broadcast media. I bring this up for those who didn’t know what they were watching.
Protandim has also been featured on The Balancing Act, so see that review for more information.
Skinny Fiber 90-Day Challenge
There is a Skinny Fiber 90-Day Challenge. To quote Ben Glinsky, in the Balancing Act interview, the reason for the 90-day challenge is that:
“the enzymes that we have in this product have to build in your body and until your body gets healthy enough with those enzymes to be able to let go of that extra fat, losing weight is almost impossible.”
What enzymes is he talking about? He doesn’t tell us.
In my opinion, the reason for the Skinny Fiber 90-Day Challenge is to get people to do something on a regular basis. If they do something regularly, it becomes a habit.
If people spend 90 days trying to lose weight, many of those people will be successful to some extent. There is nothing wrong with it. It gives people goals to aim for, and that is a good thing.
Many weight loss companies offer a “challenge” that lasts about 90 days or so. In my opinion, this can all be traced back to the book Body For Life by Bill Philips, which got people to exercise, eat well, and take supplements made by EAS (Bill Philips was the owner of EAS).
It was a win for people because many lost weight, and it was a win for EAS because they made a lot of money from people who purchased their supplements. For those who are curious, the supplement company, EAS, was later purchased by Abbot Labs, a pharmaceutical company.
How Much Does The 90-Day Challenge Cost?
Let's do the math for those who are thinking about doing the Skinny Fiber 90-day Challenge:
1 Bottle of skinny fiber costs $59.95. 1 Bottle has 120 capsules which is a 2-month supply (if taking only 2 pills per day). If you take 4 pills per day, a bottle of 120 pills will last a month (120 ÷ 4 = 30 days).
If taking 4 capsules per day the 90-day challenge would cost:
59.95 X 3 months = $179.95 (shipping and handling might be extra).
I believe glucomannan is the active ingredient in Skinny Fiber. And Glucomannan is a lot less expensive.
How Many Pills Per Day?
Some distributors advocate taking 2 capsules daily Skinny Fiber at least 30 minutes before eating. This should be done with the biggest meals of the day. For some, this might be 4 pills per day. Take pills with 1 -2 glasses of water.
As with any new supplement, it's best to start with less than is recommended. For example, starting with only 1 pill per day for the first week, followed by 2 pills the following week, and so on until reaching what the company recommends.
How Much Water?
People need to take Skinny Fiber with enough water to swallow the capsules completely. This is to ensure they don't get stuck in the throat. Drinking water during weight loss programs is also advocated because it can also help curb appetite.
Water is good, although it should be remembered that drinking so much water drinking too much is not always the best. There is a medical condition called hyponatremia (high-poe-nay-tree-me-ah). Also called “water intoxication.” This condition results when too much water is consumed.
Basically, the water consumed dilutes the electrolytes in the blood. This can cause headaches, fatigue, confusion and even loss of consciousness. In rare cases, people have died from hyponatremia. This very rare condition is mentioned not to scare anyone, but to rather give people something to think about if they encounter advice that places an unusually high emphasis on drinking water while taking weight loss supplements.
As a rough estimate, aim to drink half your body weight in water per day. So, for someone who is 180 pounds, this would be 90 oz per day. Looking at the color of your urine can also give an indication too. Yellow urine might mean you are becoming dehydrated.
While the urine test is popular, it should be remembered that the vitamin riboflavin can also make urine look yellow too. Those who are taking multivitamins should check how much riboflavin is present if using the urine test for hydration. Skinny Fiber does not have riboflavin.
Does It Contain Caffeine?
Skinny fiber has no caffeine or other stimulants. It is basically a fiber pill supplement.
Does It Contain Gluten?
Skinny Fiber appears to be gluten-free.
Is It Organic?
There is no mention of whether or not Skinny Fiber is organic.
Does Skinny Fiber Contain HCG?S
Skinny Fiber does not contain the HCG hormone or any other hormones. Here is the review of HCG diet research for those who want to know more about this.
Skinny Fiber vs. Metamucil
As stated above, it is believed that glucomannan (konjac root extract) is the main active ingredient in Skinny Fiber. Metamucil is another fiber supplement that is marketed to help people lose weight. Metamucil contains a fiber called psyllium. As mentioned in the Metamucil review, there are studies that psyllium fiber can help with weight loss too.
So what's better: Skinny Fiber or Metamucil? At this time, there are no head-to-head- clinical studies comparing these products to each other. There are also no studies comparing glucomannan fiber to psyllium fiber either for weight loss.
Could the other ingredients in Skinny Fiber make it better? Of course, it's possible. But that would take clinical studies to prove.
Skinny Fiber Customer Complaints
When looking at online complaints about any product, ask yourself if what you are reading is reasonable or not. For example, someone might complain that they did not receive a product on time. Try to put yourself in the shoes of the person complaining and ask yourself if what they are saying would be a problem for you.
The Skinny Fiber Lawsuit
In the comments section below, I was made aware of a lawsuit involving Skinny Fiber. It appears to involve another company called Master Strategies LLC which it said, owns the trademark to Skinny Fiber. Instead of going into detail here, I'll just refer you to the bloggers website to read more about this. Update. It appears the judge has dismissed this lawsuit.
Skinny Fiber Side Effects
Skinny Fiber is likely very safe for most healthy people. That said, here are a few things to consider if you are not healthy. This list is not complete.
- Stop taking Skinny Fiber at least 2 weeks before having surgery.
- Speak to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Drink sufficient water to completely swallow the pills. This is to reduce the chance of choking if the capsules get stuck in the throat. This is a remote chance but it should be kept in mind. Remember, glucomannan expands when it comes in contact with liquids.
- One mouse study noted that at very high levels, Chá de Bugre might break chromosomes. That would be bad if it did because it might lead to conditions like cancer. However, another mouse study noted that Cha de Bugre – both alone and when combined with Spirulina – did not have any effect on chromosomes. Better research should be done to resolve this issue.
Skinny Fiber And Breast Feeding?
Women who are breastfeeding to speak to their doctor about the supplements they take. This is because of the possibility that some supplements may pass from the mom to the baby in the breast milk. It's probably wise to not use this product while they are breastfeeding.
Who Makes Skinny Fiber?
The company is called Skinny Body Care and its website is SkinnyBodyCare.com. This website now redirects to another site called Valentus which has its own dietary supplement line. Update. The Skinny Body Care website no longer appears to be working.
The company address was 341 W 6100 S Murray, UT 84107. MS #1420.
423 Bussen Underground Rd St. Louis, MO 63129.
It's not known if these addresses are still valid.
How to Return Skinny Fiber?
The contact page of the product website does not list a phone number. They do, however, list this US address: 423 Bussen Underground Rd St. Louis, MO 63129. This address corresponds to a company called United Fulfillment Center. This company may take orders and ship Skinny Fiber to customers. The phone number to the fulfillment center is 314.894.3200.
This address is different than the original address found for this product: MS #1420 341 W 6100 S Murray, UT 84107. For those who purchased Skinny Fiber from a distributor, it's best to get return information from the distributor rather than just send the product back for a refund. There may be extra steps needed to return the product.
Does Skinny Fiber Work?
Skinny Fiber is a fiber supplement. Because it uses a type of fiber that has been shown to help weight loss, I would not be surprised if some people said it worked. The main active ingredient in Skinny Fiber is likely glucomannan (konjac fiber). Depending on cost, that might be the lesser expensive way to go.
Heres glucomannan/konjac on Amazon
I have been hesitating for over a month now on purchasing skinny fiber. I am glad that I have not. I too think it costs way TOO much money. I found your article interesting. Facebook is covered with many distributors for skinny fiber. Yes, I have seen them promote helping hot flashes and medical conditions.
Oddly, one always has the issue the person asking has. I think most of the pictures are phoney, myself. I find a few that might be real. I have a made a friend through it though. She is taking sf. She has lost lbs and inches. I think I might just try glucomannan, it is a lot cheaper. Do you think taking only glucomannan will aid in weight loss or should I take Caralluma Fimbriata too? I did see where you said, powder and not pills also.
Melinda, Those are some really interesting observations! I know there is some spamming going on with this product because if you scroll up the comments you see one from “skinny fiber” who basically say they agree with everything I wrote LOL. I’m pretty sure whoever posted it didn’t read my review. I left it up because I thought it was funny.
Given at how many wt loss products I see that have glucomannan, I think that’s the stuff that might work more than the others. I think its best to start with only 1 thing at a time, so if your going to do this, I’d start with just glucomannan first and see how that works. Yes I think power is better than pills. I think its a long shot but Ive heard of people who get the pills stuck in their throat
The important thing I think is that you made a friend and I think that’s great 🙂
I purchased glucomannan capsules today at a local health food store. They did not have a powder. Should I break open the capsules and mix with water. If so, how many and how much water? Thanks.
Melinda, you can do that if you like. Studies have used between 1 to 3 grams per day. I suggest starting at the lower end of this for the first week to see how your body reacts. Here is the powdered form on Amazon if you want to check it out.
I use the glucomannon powder that Joe linked to above. I usually mix a teaspoon with yogurt or something but it starts bulking up quickly so it changes the texture and flavor a little bit then you are truly full for hours. I have no gas issues with this, like I get from traditional fiber supplements. No side effects at all for me. Worth the ten bucks!
Patti, thats great!!
Joe, out of all of the research that you have done on weight loss supplements, what product would you say is most effective?
Hi Valerie, I feel that a real part of the success of a lot of weight loss products is the discipline that comes them. Discipline is at the heart of all the “challenges” you see when it comes to wt loss supplements. The challenges get people into a pattern of exercise and eating healthy/fewer calories. While I really try not to advocate supplements (I rather people make their own decisions) I have written some thoughghts about them and other things too on my personal site. Here is the link http://www.joe-cannon.com/what-weight-loss-supplements-work/
These reviews are priceless, in my humble opinion. I sell a health/wellness/weight loss drink, and I refer people to your review or if multiple times daily. I read all the warnings and cautions and facts and figures, and made the personal decision that the investment was worth it, for me – and I encourage all my potential customers and distributors to do the same. I don’t make outrageous claims, I simply SHARE the information, and let people decide for themselves. You make that decision largely possible, so thank you 🙂
Thanks Tina 🙂
This is my first time on your site. As with other comments, this product is the basis of a number of FB pages masquerading as weight loss pages so that the owner of the page can sell the product. It is quite expensive given the relative cost of its components.
I’m so glad your page popped up first in my Google search of “Skinny Fiber reviews” as this saves me a lot of time and $$. It is informative such that I can now try one or both of the components and see for myself at a much reduced cost. Thanks too for the tip regarding the pills possibly expanding.
I now need to see if you’ve ever reviewed black cohosh as a treatment for hot flashes. There’s a specific product called Flash Relief by a company called Derma that has black cohosh as its main ingredient (it is in cream form).
My doctor said that the reason it is believed to help is b/c the body converts it to estrogen and decreasing estrogen is one of the reasons for hot flashes. But, I digress.
It Is What It Is, happy my review came up so fast! I was not aware of all the skinny fiber facebook pages so thanks for the heads up on this.
About black cohosh, there is some research on it helping hot flashes. I did a quick check and studies showing it might help have used 80-160 mg per day. I have not heard of the product you mentioned. most of the research I saw in the past used a product called Remifemin. Here is Remifemin on Amazon The research is mixed with some saying it will help and others showing no effect. If you have a history of breast cancer or liver problems, it might be a problem for those things. Id think that if a product is going to work it should kick in an a month or so.
Hope that helps and BTW I like your website 🙂
Thanks for the quick reply. Now I have a shopping list.
Great site you have here and great service (IMO). Most folks prefer testimonials to facts/research but I prefer the latter supported by the former.
It Is What It Is, thanks, that is kind of you to say. Its more fun for me because like everybody else I’m curious also about these things. 🙂
I have to say that black cohosh supplements were helpful to me. I took it in capsule form, and it greatly alleviated hot flashes.
Thanks for this review of Skinny Fiber. I had to do some digging to find fair reviews, and yours has been the most thorough.
Patty PV, thanks I’m glad you found me and feel free to share me with your friends 🙂
I used Black Cohosh for hot flashes, and it worked great for me.
Jody, Enjoyed your description of your time with Taumee. She was a beautiful dog. I am sure she is greatly missed.
Thank you for making this so easy to understand. I’m not buying it. Thanks for saving me a few bucks.
Deena, I’m glad you were able to find me! 🙂
Hi Joe,
If I were to buy the Glucomannan and Caralluma fimbriata from another supplement company, what is the recommended dosage for each? I am 5’1″ and weigh approximately 175 lbs . . . I need something that will really help me.
Thanks for your help!
Pam, for glucomannan research has used 2-3 g per day (I prefer powered supplements rather than pills. Some people have had problems with the pills expanding in the throat. Its rare but I like to be safe when it comes to this). For Caralluma fimbriata. about 1 gram per day based on one study I’ve seen. Like all supplements, Id say to start with less for the first week to see how you respond. I think this is better than jumping all in with these amounts. This is a good idea for any supplement you take.
Did you mean powdered and not powered? And thanks for this review, very informative and seems unbiased.
Peri, yes I meant powdered. good eye 🙂
Just curious if the writer ever tried this product or any other that he has written about? To be fair to the product (no matter what it is), the writer should personally speak with the maker of the product, the people who sell the product, customers who have had good results with the product and customers who have had bad results with the product then the article could be deemed fair and unbiased.
Zac, I have on occasion tried products Ive reviewed. For example see my experiment with Tribulus as evidence of this. That said, as a rule I don’t try many products because its not possible to try them all (I’m not trying any menopause supplements lol) but more than that, whether something worked for me or not is useless information for you because you don’t know me. In other words, how do you know I am telling the truth if I said “it worked for me” or “it didn’t work for me.”
My personal words are just another testimonial. The web is full of testimonials. I don’t want to add to that. I want to give you an unbiased assessment, free of testimonials so you can decide for yourself.
Hope that clears things up 🙂
And this is EXACTLY what I prefer when I look Into a product. There is no way to know what else a person does along with their supplements that may contribute to weight loss and each body is different. I prefer the type of info you provided, and then if I am still interested, I may look into testimonials.
Thank you very much for the information and I most appreciate the way you talk to the debaters, I highly respect and admire someone that can reply w respect to others
Janet, thanks much and I really do appreciate your words. Respect is what its all about 🙂
I agree with you completely, Janet. If we want testimonials, we can go to the distributors. By reading your site, Joe, we can see studies done on the ingredients without bias. (By the way, people, a bias is a lopsided review that pushes us one way or the other; Joe is simply giving us the facts and allowing us to think for ourselves.)
I, for one, appreciate the respect you treat your readers, by allowing us to think for ourselves, and also the respect with which you respond to your negative commenters. Thank you, Joe. Keep up the good work!
Tina, thanks. You are who I write for 🙂
JOE, Do you accept payment for any of your reviews? I just want to know, not that I am offering any…….I just want to make sure you are giving a fair review………some reviewers have admitted to accepting some form of payment for their review, in which case, I believe that that review needs to be taken with a grain of salt
Sharon, As I mention in my About Page, nobody pays me to write my reviews. No supplement company pays me and no pharmaceutical company pays me either.
Sharon, I take many online reviews with a grain of salt also and that is why, where possible, I link to published peer reviewed studies to substantiate things.
No Sharon, he has affiliate links for Amazon on this Blog (Hence the reference to buy Skinny Fiber on Amazon) if you look at the link it’s an affiliate (referrer link). Also when you have a Blog you can put other ads on it too. If you take a look at this Blog you can see them.
Because of all the traffic and searches that people are doing now because of Skinny Fiber, he is using this review to get traffic to his blog (hence his affiliate links).
I normally never even respond, but saw your question and wanted you to know that in fact, he does receive some form of payment just not from anyone person in particular.
Wendy, I as Ive said previously and on many occasions, I have no problem with capitalism and I have never discreted any who sell SF. so its ironic you would attack me on this front. Yes its true there are some amazon affiliate links here because it does take time to write my reviews and since I take no donations, this helps me maintain this website. I work hard on these reviews and give away the content for free and nobody is under any obligation to buy anything.
But since bring it up, I pointed people to cheaper alternatives – and those ingredients which SF is actually based on. I also linked to SF on amazon to give people an alternative and because I still have no conclusive proof that the product listed there is not the actual SF – and because the BBB gives SF a rating of F.
Wendy, I know you are associated with SF because I checked your FB page. your attempt to discredit me does not take away from my conclusions.
And while we are on the topic of my review, I find interesting is that nobody -including you – has mentioned anything about the mouse study I referenced linking Chá de Bugre to chromosome damage. Yes its a mouse study but doesn’t it bother anybody? Chromosome damage is no joke. Also nobody has shown me any proof that Cha de Burge suppresses appetite. So, why is it even in the product?
My decision to review SF was based on emails from a LOT of people who contacted me privately. I believe SF has been around for at least 2 years before I wrote this review. Until I was asked, I had no idea what SF was, so your thoughts about my reasons are not valid.
But if you think I have anterior motives (ie money) – as your FB comment mentions (I read it)- well then. I will chalk that up to the fact that you just don’t know me and leave it at that.
Wendy, if you want to talk science, I welcome that, but if you want to take pot shots at me with internet road rage, well then, that’s not too nice.
Joe I am not taking a shot at you as a person. I was simply stating a fact. I am all for Internet Marketing because I have a background in it for the last 7 years.
We have thousands and thousands of testimonials with this product. What bothers me, in all honesty, is that the company/product has been around for the last 3 years. But you didn’t write a review about it when it first launched. And right now, there are thousands of people searching for reviews on our product now and are finding yours. In all honesty if you personally took our product yourself and then gave a review I would agree, then in fact it, would be unbiased.
Your review is based on your scientific research of each ingredient individually not on our product as a whole.
I would welcome your review with 100% backing if you took our product as directed and then came back with an unbiased review.
As far as the BBB you can look to see there is 2 or 3 claims back from 3 years ago when we first launched as a new company, that were unresolved. Anything new is resolved by the Home Office in a timely manner. The company offers a 30 day empty bottle back guarantee, if people choose not to get their refund by following the directions given to them (how many people really do that in today’s society) then how can the company as a whole be bad?
It was not my intention to make comments and get into a debate with you. I am the Top Leader in our company and pride myself on the training I offer to new people who come into our company. I also, take very dearly to heart, the emails/letters I receive on a daily basis how this company and product has ‘literally’ changed people’s lives. There is no PLACEBO on this planet that can do that.
Hi Wendy,
I saw from the BBB file that the SF company went into business in 2009 but as I said previously, I was not aware of SF until I was emailed by many people asking me about it. As you say, I did not try SF but that is because even if I did try it and said “it works” or “it doesn’t work” that would just be a testimonial. The web is full of those websites. I like to focus on science and rational thought.
As for the BBB file on the product, I checked today and there are now 7 complaints, 5 of which occurred within the last 12 months according to the BBB. All complaints are resolved now according to the BBB. Here is the file http://www.bbb.org/utah/business-reviews/health-and-medical-products/skinny-body-care-in-salt-lake-city-ut-22303096/complaints#breakdown
All that said, I never said the company was bad and as I’ve said before, I actually complimented the company in my review because they did not compete for sales with SF distributors.
You mentioned my review was based on my research. I am very willing to discuss that research – and I prefer to do that also – so let’s talk about it. I don’t want to debate either. Let’s discuss the science of skinny fiber. If you have any studies you’d like to share, I would welcome those. I’ve even said that I am willing to amend my review if credible information I missed is brought to light.
Joe,
While there isn’t scientific research on our product as a whole doesn’t mean there won’t be any in the future. I saw in previous comments above where Angie pointed out some research on our ingredients individually.
But I also wanted to make one last comment about your last statement. Yes the company does NOT compete with us which I absolutely love! The owner is an awesome guy and really does care about us distributors in the field. He really does want this to be the last company that anyone ever has to be involved with and I really respect him for that.
But your Blog actually is competing with us, and because you are using your Amazon referrer link (the one where you are getting paid a referrer fee) it is actually harming us for several reasons:
First off, let me point out that as an active distributor of Skinny Body Care, we are NOT allowed to sell the Skinny Fiber product on eBay or Amazon for less than our cost. So anyone who is actually a distributor and is selling (under cover or with a fake name) if they are found out will be terminated from the company. I promise you it is not our company or any distributor who has ethics.
And secondly, we actually had photos submitted to us and I have a video proving that there is counterfeit Skinny Fiber being sold on Amazon and eBay. We have no idea what people are buying and have been contacted by people who wanted to know why they got sick. This is the part that really scares me and truly the whole reason I made my comment to begin with because of your referrer links. If you would like a copy of this video you can send me a message privately and I will provide it to you.
And lastly because you are getting paid based on people ordering from Amazon it takes money away from our Distributors who have worked hard to spread the word about Skinny Fiber and when someone comes across your Blog they are ordering from Amazon to save $20.
Personally just to save $20 I wouldn’t buy anything off of an Auction website that I would digest into my body especially if I don’t know what I am buying. Also, the company offers a 30 day empty bottle back guarantee and when you buy from Amazon or eBay you do not get a guarantee. Most of the distributors of Skinny Body Care offer support and encouragement to everyone who wishes a life style change even if they don’t buy Skinny Fiber, so to me that alone is worth the $20 you’d save.
In closing, the whole point of my original comment was not to get into a debate with you but instead to educate you on the company, the product and truly about the policies and procedures of our company and selling on Amazon.
You can choose to not approve this comment if you wish and contact me privately to respond.
Wendy, I am very happy to add any research that is published on SF in the future so if you ever become aware of any, by all means please do let me know and I will be happy to add it to my review. I am also happy to discuss research on the ingredients in SF as well.
Yes, there is research on some of the ingredients in SF and I linked to some of that research in my review.
My goal with this site is to review supplements according to science so that people can make a more informed decision. I do not compete with anyone. If you have a phone # where I could call Amazon to verify who is selling the product they list, I will be glad to look into this for you and see if its a SF distributor or possibly a counterfeit product.
Joe, good for you if you are getting paid to link to amazon, its a free world out there. Maybe SF should lower their prices then more people would be suckered into trying the product. Or maybe, we should just be smart and watch what we put into our mouths? That would be cheaper and healthier, but then…. we wouldn’t be having these worries about what supplements are bad for you, right?
Hey Gina, Thanks for that! I don’t make anything unless somebody buys the product, which is unlikely given my review. I put it there mostly for people who wanted an alternative. My main goal really is to help people and because of that, I thank for you for your words even more 🙂
Gina, $1 to $2 a DAY is hardly expensive. There are plenty of other programs out there that are FAR more than $59.95 a month in USD. I have used many alternatives and tried many other programs, some with success, some without. Even at the full $59.95 a month, Skinny Fiber is STILL a bargain compared to other programs being marketed today
Joe, I sent you a private email with links to show you the inaccuracies in your review. You thanked me for providing the info and stated you would update your review however, to date, you have not done so. Why is that?
Hi Angie, I looked at the email you sent me and a lot of it seemed like it was just a press release for how great the ingredients in SF was. Also you did not identify yourself in the private email as a SF distributor but I can see from the email that accompanies this comment (which is different than the email address you sent me privately) that you may some association with the product. Either way, below are some thoughts on the info you sent me privately:
1. the 4 studies on glucomannan you sent me were of glucomannan and not skinny fiber. I already listed research on the weight loss effects of glucomannan and the 4 studies you sent just further proved my point about glucomannan being likely the main active ingredient.
2. The 2 studies you listed on Caralluma fimbriata are already in my review. if you read it you will see they are there and have been there from day one.
3. the study you listed on Cordia salicifolia (Cha de Burge) is on its potential anti viral activity against herpes simplex 1 and is not relative to weight loss. Also its a test tube study. Regardless it has nothing to do with weight loss and, since SF is marketed as a weight loss product, the study isn’t relevant.
If you would like I would be happy to post your entire private email to me here including all the information you sent me so that people can see what you wrote.
I see you also have also submitted another email comments today also. I will address them separately.
Wendy,
I was a distributor of pampered chef. I have ethics. I also sold a ton of products on eBay. Why? Because the company offered mega incentives to people who sold more products. I have bills to pay. And I wanted to help people out that couldn’t afford such high priced items. If you can buy the exact same product at a fraction of the cost, why wouldn’t you? I sometimes sold things at cost. EBay most certainly offers buyer protection on anything you purchase.
I personally don’t think anyone should ingest anything that isn’t factory sealed. If it is factory sealed I have no problem buying from a reputable seller. If sf doesn’t like it they should lower their prices. This comment section is full of people who can’t afford it. I’m going to be an educated buyer and purchase the main ingredients separately.
Dyan, did I read that right – that bottles of skinny fiber do not have a safety seal?
When ordered from the company they certainly do have a safety seal!
EF, thanks for that! In this day/age I’d be surprised at anything that didn’t have a safety seal.
EF, I was referring to the mention of counterfeits on eBay and Amazon-not sf from a distributor. Sorry for the confusion.
I’m referring to the people that are afraid that they may be buying counterfeits. If I were to buy from a reputable seller, and it’s factory seeled, I’d be comfortable. After reading your article tho, I’m going to save myself 50% and buy the separate ingredients. Thanks again!
Wendy, in Joe’s defense, if you fell so strongly about the SF product, then you would have no reason to attack his research. His research is based on facts not hearsay, so why the rude and aggressive attacks? If you have that much faith in the products and have THOUSANDS of happy customers, well why do you care when and if he has done extensive research and exposed the ingredients? He has done or said anything wrong. I think deep down you know he is telling the truth and the truth hurts.
Skinny Fiber is not allowed to be sold on AMAZON for less than the retail price,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,whoever wrote this article is an idiot! We have results all over the place……take a look!
Sharon, I wrote the article. I did not say Skinny Fiber was less expensive on Amazon. But I do appreciate you telling me that the Amazon price is the same price that Skinny Fiber is sold for by distributors.
Joe the problem with buying Skinny Fiber on amazon or ebay is that it is probably not the REAL product. I am a distributor for Skinny Fiber, there is a website that anyone who is interested in can go and look at what our company is all about. skinnybodycare.com.
You really should have done more research before writing this article. Skinny Fiber is changing lives everyday. If you have never been on it, you should not try and discredit it’s reputation just to have your own agenda buy selling your booksupplementclarity.com/my-book/. Sounds a lot like the pot calling the kettle black if you ask me.
Jennifer, If you noticed, I actually mentioned the SF website several times in my review. With all respect, my goal was to review the product and answer peoples questions. My goal is not to discredit anything. If you care to share with me how you feel I discredited the product, lets talk about it.
You say I should have done more research. Please show me the research I missed and lets talk about it. If it makes sense, Im even willing to update my review too! When I say research I mean “research” not testimonials from people who said it worked for them.
I don’t think mentioning my book deprecates in anyway what I wrote here. Go get it on Amazon if you like. I make about $1 from a book sold on amazon so it won’t effect me in any way.
Joe, I must say you approach all your comments in an extremely professional (and patient) way. That’s admirable.
I think it’s clear to any casual observer why a few commentators on this article are so defensive.
I found your review honest and impartial, with even more in-depth information about its ingredients than even the skinnybodycare web site, and I hope more people interested in this product read your review first.
Keep up the great work.
Dallas79, Thanks much! I really appreciate that 🙂
I must also say as a Mary Kay consultant I am not “allowed” to sell my products on ebay or in store fronts at ALL but if you do a search for Mary Kay on ebay you will find a bunch of it at much lower than retail price. The company can make a distributor sign a contract but once the product is in the distributors hands the distributor has all the power until the company has the means AND desire to sue.
I talked to a Skinny Fiber distributor and was given a completely fictional “The Math Done For You” meme. In all fairness I do not know where the meme came from but I know she was willing to share it with me. Does this mean all distributors would be so dishonest? No, but it does mean at least one is and one can have an amazon store.
P.S. If you buy your Mary Kay products on ebay you miss out on everything having a consultant has to offer. 😉
I have been on SF for 27 days. And it’s done nothing but make me gain weight! Approximately 5 lbs to be exact, plus I’m always bloated and feel even MORE hungrier than before taking this product.
I didn’t take it to lose weight, but took it to decrease my hot flashes and night sweats ugh! So, thus far…no relief of hot flashes or night sweats, just unwanted weight gain! And, I have not experienced any of the other so called benefits SF claims.
I still have my insomnia, my food cravings, and LOVE my sweets lol. I’ve almost completed the first bottle and have 2 more bottles to go. I am VERY hesitant about continuing the product because my luck, it will cause me to gain another 5 lbs per bottle.
So, if you ask me this is a SCAM which I suckered myself into…ugh!
Tropical Paradise, did a distributor say skinny fiber would help hot flashes? I dont remember seeing that as a claim when I looked at the website. what else do they say skinny fiber will help?
Yes, my distributor stated it would help with hot flashes and night sweats. And that it would help with acid reflux, high blood pressure, diabetes, digestive issues, fibromyalgia and much more.
TropicalParadise, thanks. If Skinny Fiber helps people lose weight then in a round about way it might help blood pressure and diabetes (type II diabetes) but that’s more because the person lost weight rather than skinny fiber specifically helping those conditions. For what its worth, I saw no claims on the Skinny Fiber website that it helped any of those conditions.
Black cohosh extract works great for hot flashes and night sweats. And it is very inexpensive!
I have been on skinny fiber for a month, it worked well for me. I just recently became a distributor because I felt like it worked well and I wanted others to reap the same benefits. I have before/after pictures of myself and several of my friends/distributors. It’s worked for me. I lost 10lbs 6.5in and 1 pants size this far.
Jennifer, happy that skinny fiber has helped you.
I just started using it and I can already see a difference. It definitely has changed my appetite. The ingredients may be available elsewhere, but who knows what combinations make it work. I don’t think it’s expensive ($2.00 per day), but my health IS expensive and if $60.00 a month can change that, then I’m all for it. Good article.
As for returns, you would return the product through your distributor who makes herself readily available in many ways.
Roberta, I agree health is important! Im glad SF is helping you 🙂
Jennifer, good for you and I agree, my health is the most important thing to me (although looking better never hurt anyone!) as I am pre-diabetic and need to lose the weight to try and get that better under control. I’ve tried several other things and my weight didn’t budge. I’m almost finished with week # 3 and I’m already seeing a difference in how my clothes fit and I’m down 9 lbs!
If you’ve tried other diets, and they haven’t done anything for you, what have you got to lose? I’m sure you’ve shelled out plenty of money you never got back! I don’t know about the warranty because I’m so pleased with this product that I have no reason to use it! Good luck to you! Vicki
Joe, I sure wish I would have read your reviews before I purchased this so called weight loss pill. Can’t believe I got suckered into buying this product.
I did buy this product to help with minimal weight loss and to help decrease my hot flashes and night sweats. I am NOT overweight. At 5ft 2in a 10 pound weight gain is definitely noticeable! I went from 110 to 120. Five of those extra pounds came on after I started SF. Only took it for a month then STOPPED.
So this question is for the DISTRIBUTORS—-Does this product only help with OVERWIEGHT or OBESE customers? And, YES…I drank my water. I questioned my distributor on the weight gain and she stated I should drink more water. Well, there’s ONLY so much water a person can drink. And TOO MUCH water isn’t good for you either. At least my kidney’s got a good flushing. Nonetheless, this pill did nothing but cause me to gain weight and make me bloated….ugh. I feel SO MUCH better since I haven’t been on it! Thank God!
Joe, I do agree with you that the DISTRIBUTORS are making self proclaiming health benefits on the basis of what one would experience when a person loses weight. I know everyone experiences weight loss differently. Age, genetics, sex, medications, and your overall health etc., all of these play apart in our metabolism thus affecing how we lose weight. So naturally, when one loses weight a person is going to decrease their cholesterol, thus reducing their risk of heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s etc. The list goes on.
From what I’ve been reading continuously off my FB newsfeed from DISTRIBUTORS is that taking SF will help with all these health benefits from which I’ve mentioned. When in all actuality it’s the actual weight loss and improvement in a persons physical well being that’s going to cause these health benefits. DUH!!!
So to the DISTRIBUTORS…YES, weight loss will create many HEALTH BENEFITS. But I highly doubt it’s from SF alone. Just sayin’
OH BOY…I feel the back lash a comin’
And Joe, I TRULY respect how you keep your cool when responding to angry distributors. You’re AWESOME! Keep Up The Good Work!
tropicalparadise2013, Thanks for your words and that’s interesting about the weight gain with SF. I think you’re the first to say that.
I am a distributor and I agree with you. The only thing Skinny Fiber is marketed for is weight loss. Clinical studies on the ingredients show other health benefits, however the only thing a distributor can claim is that it can help with weight loss.
Nothing more. Some people can change their diet for weight loss. Some need to add exercise. For those who have done both diet changes AND exercise and not achieved what they hoped, supplements can help and that is what Skinny Fiber is for, to help those who need a boost.
And it does it without added caffeine which is so commonly added to many weight loss supplements. There is no one way to lose fat that will work for every body. Thankfully there are options out there, be it surgery, supplements or whatever so each person can do what works for them to lose the excess fat and get healthier over all!
I have heard of people gaining initially when starting SF. It is attributed to a variety of factors such as detox or even hormone fluctuations. I find, even after using it for an extended period of time, that when “that time” of the month rolls around, I show anywhere from a 3 to 7 pound weight gain.
I know I am not gaining fat, it is simply water weight and the hormones associated with that. It always comes “off” at the end of my cycle so I ditched the scale and go by how my clothing feels. And that seems a MUCH better measure of my progress than a scale. My scale hasn’t moved much in 8 months but the inches have come off. You can see inches lost, but not necessarily pounds, if that makes sense.
This was very interesting to read. I agree that it I overly priced and reading this makes me wonder even more if I really want to purchase it. I believe that any fiber product will work with the 2 main ingredients you have listed here so I will search for those. I have been speaking with a distributor on Facebook that pushes the product and she too said you shouldn’t order with anyone but a distributor because you aren’t buying the same product through Amazon. I think I will pass on purchasing this.
Mary, thats interesting. Thanks for the heads up. I didnt know skinny fiber distributors were saying that.
I also have friended someone selling Skinny Fiber and she says that the product on Amazon is NOT the same.
Lisa, the products look the same on Amazon and the “seller” of the product on Amazon is listed as “Skinny Fiber”
Awesome information! Thank you for making it easy to read and understand!
Shelly, you are very welcome 🙂
Thanks soooooo much for this info! I keep seeing the hype on FB and junk email I receive, luckily I saw this info before getting suckered in!
You Rock!
Tiff
Tiffany, thanks I appreciate that. You Rock too! 🙂
Thank you for the review and posting this in your newsletter. I constantly seeing posts on facebook of before and after pictures of all of these people on Skinny Fiber and the posts come from the Skinny Fiber Rep AKA: (The Pyramid leader) I don’t believe these people are real , I put it to the test and I asked the person selling it some fitness and nutrition questions being that she was so outspoken on facebook on her product. She did not answer me , I asked her again and she said she was tired and had to go to sleep.
Just like all of the other products nothing to back it up it’s just a SALE!!!! I just don’t believe that these very overweight people lost so much weight in 3 to 4 months but just taking this fiber pill. thanks for letting me vent and thank you for your review.
Tracy, glad to help and no worries venting. I do it myself sometimes 🙂
The before an after pics are of real people, they all have facebook pages and none of them have a problem with stepping up to prove it! Numerous people have had great success with the product so unless you have tried it, your “research” holds no ground.
Robin, thanks for the feedback. I can say that I do think there is some “funny business” going on with SF because if you scroll up in the comments, take a look at what the commenter called “Skinny Fiber” said about my review. They had a skinny fiber website attached to the comment – which I removed – but the person was obviously someone affiliated with Skinny Fiber in some way.
Yes, and they obviously missed the English class when the correct use of ‘your’ and ‘you’re’ were taught!
I’ve only been on it for a little over 2 weeks but I’ve already lost 8 lbs in 2 weeks. I had been stuck for 4 months and couldn’t budge…We’ll see if I can get the other 25 off that i need to but so far, I’m a believer!
Vicki, great! I am glad SF is helping you 🙂
Just for the record, I have also tried Full diet that contains the Glucomannan and did not lose any weight. While it made me feel full, it also constipated me to no end. I think, and I’m no expert nor do I sell SF, that maybe the enzymes help with that part of the process. The SF makes me sleep like a rock, has stopped my snacking between meals and late at night and I’m eating about half of what I used to. I don’t even have sweet cravings anymore. I have no scientific proof but after trying many things, I like the results I’m seeing from Skinny fiber!
Vicki, thanks for that and Id guess its possible what you said about the enzymes. I don’t have any proof either way. Regardless, as long as its helping you, then I’m happy 🙂
Yes exactly your correct about it. And thanks for sharing this true information..
Hey Skinny Fiber, Thanks for agreeing with me 🙂
Out of these sorts of weight loss ingredients which would you say has the best results? Glucomannan and Garcinia Cambogia seem to be the two favourites, there is a lot more research about these two than others. If Glucomannan expands in your stomach like the clip on the Dr Oz show, Wouldn’t that be harder for your body to break down and digest giving you more problems than what its worth?
Jen, skinny fiber doesn’t have garcinia cambogia. it does have glucomannan and I do think that is one of the ingredients in skinny fiber that might be the active ingredients (see the final section to see the other ingredient). If you search my site for glucomannan you will see all the other products that have this ingredient.
The idea about glucomannan causing problems is a possibility esp for those who have digestion problems. Anybody who has problems with digestion or issues with the intestines really should talk to their doctor first.
Thanks for your efforts! I appreciate articles that allow me to check out the reference. Thanks again, What can you tell me about BodyKey by Nutrilite?
Jerry, glad to help! Ive never heard of BodyKey. I looked and it appears to be several different products. I could not see the ingredients which makes it hard to see how it might work.
I have heard good things about skinny fiber but I truly think its overpriced fiber. Plain ole gluccomannon will work just the same. It just doesn’t come in a pretty pink bottle! I love your reviews.
Patti, thanks I appreciate your feedback 🙂
Thanks for this post!! I get asked about this product at work….I’ll have to favorite this post.
Candid RD, you’re very welcome!