Written by Jordyn King BS, MS Nutrition

What is Phenofen?

Phenofen Plus is a weight loss pill that hasn't been on the market for long, but has recently picked up some notariety. Phenofen Plus is a powerful new dieting formula combining multiple weight loss benefits to help you get slim, so the website says... Phenofen is designed to burn stored fat, boost energy levels, suppress hunger levels and cut calories, block fat production to stop weight gain, improve your mood and increase metabolism and involve high quality formula produced in the USA targeted to both men and women. 

Pros and Cons

The advantages of this product (from the website) includes effective quick weight loss. Founders claim it can help you lose 15 to 25 pounds each month. A disadvantage is this product is manufactured in FDA-approved settings, but does specifically claim or indicate anywhere that this weight loss pill is FDA approved! FDA approval is important, because it validates the need for research on how drugs work on children and adults. It also allows us to properly determine the appropriate dosage, to determine the best route of administration, and test for any drug interactions. The FDA protects us from low-quality products that affects health and indicates this is pill is safe. Thus, there is also not enough research about its effectiveness or side effects. The other downside to this product is this is not a magic pill- this supplement is most effective when combined with a healthy diet and high intense physical activities, meaning you have to burn a lot of calories in order for it to properly work!

The Ingredients: 

The Phenofen Plus 37.5 formula comprises 150 mg of caffeine as well as a proprietary blend which contains 150 mg of 5 different ingredients. Proprietary blends are a collection of ingredients often unique to a particular product and sometimes given a special name on a product’s Supplement Facts panel. Proprietary blends can be a challenge to determine if this product is truly effective for weight loss since we can’t identify the amount of each ingredients have in Phenofen. Thus, we can’t know exact ingredient gets you the results. We know its proprietary blends mask the dosage and strength of each ingredient because we don't know truly how much ingredient shown above is in the product from the 5 ingredients, we just know there is 150 mg of the blend as follows:

Phenylethylamine HCL is derived from an amino acid called phenylalanine, which can suppress the appetite. Phen HCL works by encouraging the release of a hormone known as cholecystokinin, or CCK, which sends a message to our brain when the stomach is full.

Caffeine, we all know, is a stimulant which can increase energy levels. Thus, more calories are burned without any additional effort, which helps to accelerate weight loss.

Theobromine Anhydrous is a chemical which is naturally found in cacao, aka chocolate. This is a mild stimulant, which can boost energy levels and also act as an appetite suppressant. However, there has been limited studies when Theobromine Anhydrous interacts with caffeine and its side effects.

N-Methyl-Beta-Phenylethylamine HCL is derived from phenethylamine is not usually seen in weight loss supplements. Clinical studies have indicated this ingredient can improve mood and increase metabolic rate'; more studies need to be done for a confirmation and results of this product.

Synephrine HCL is a another strong stimulant which comes from the peel of bitter part of an orange has claimed to increase energy levels. This product is an alternative to the banned stimulating substance “ephedrine” to burn fat fast by increasing metabolism. Keep in mind, this is a strong ingredient that could cause unpleasant side effects. Again, we cannot confirm how much each ingredients are in this product. Thus, be cautious. 

Yohimbine Bark is an herbal supplement found in the bark of the yohimbe tree in Western Africa. Yohimbine has been used as an erectile dysfunction and has been claims for benefits of weight loss and exercise. Body building use this ingredient to help with fast fat loss. Some studies have found that taking yohimbine led to greater weight loss and decreases in body fat. However, other studies found no effect. More research is needed to evaluate if yohimbe is an effective weight loss supplement. Medical organizations are hesitant to recommend the supplement due to insufficient evidence and potential side effects. However, there are some risks with taking this supplement and products, including inaccurate product labeling and adverse effects.

Side effects: 

Phenofen is a strong stimulant weight loss supplement. If you do not do well with caffeinated products, then you will likely not be suited for this weight loss product. Not only does it include 150 mg of caffeine per capsule, it also combines other stronger stimulants such as Synephrine in the proprietary blend, and we cannot confirm how much there is based on the nutrition fact label. Some users have reported side effects to this product including headache, nausea, dizziness, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, and light headedness. 

Does it work for weight loss? 

This product claims to be a magic pill, but it will only work for gym-goers to burn calories off daily. Thus, Phenophen needs to be combined with exercise and a lot of calories to be burned off for weight loss results. This product appears to suggest that it includes the anti-obesity drug phentermine from their website, which in fact, it does not. My opinion as a nutritional professional is that turning to pharmaceutical drugs like Phenofen Plus 37.5 is not the key to successful long term weight loss. Unless, the individual is morbidly obese or unless prescribed by your doctor, phenofen or pharmaceutical drugs are not the answer to shedding off unwanted weight. After reviewing Phenofen and its findings, there was no indication that this product was “FDA approved”, the website said it was “Manufactured in Approved Settings of the FDA”. Strategies to improve your health and to help you lose weight is to change your eating habits and lifestyle habits into healthier ones. Additionally, seeking out to a Registered Dietitian to get the necessary dietary advice and dietary caloric recommended intake is key to staying in your normal weight range and achieving an individuals weight loss journey the correct way.

To start your healthy weight loss journey today, watch our calorie-tracking tutorial. This is the first step to our proven weight loss program for millennials, so get your sample here!