Joe Cannon MS CSCS

It was revealed in February 2010 that Jillian Michaels, one of the personal trainers on the TV show The Biggest Looser is being sued over of her endorsement of a weight loss supplement designed to curb appetite,. Because of this, I thought it would be helpful if I looked at this product.


According to the website that makes the weight loss products she markets, there are the 11 ingredients in Jillian Michaels Maximum Strength Calories Control weight loss supplement:

1. Yerba Mate (leaf) Extract
2. Guarana (seed) Extract -standardized to 10% caffeine
3. Damiana (leaf) Extract:
4. Coffee (bean) Extract -standardized to 70% natural caffeine
5. Ginger (root) Powder
6. Kola Nut (seed) Extract -standardized to 12% caffeine
7. White Willow (bark) Powder
8. Cocoa (seed) Extract -standardized to 4% theobromine
9. Jujube (seed) Extract
10. Shisandra (fruit) Extract
11. Chinese Skullcap (root) Extract -standardized to 30% flavones as baicalin

Let's look at each ingredient separately.

Yerba Mate extract. This is a caffeine containing herb although it contains more than caffeine. One study published in 2001 did note that yerba mate helped weight loss when it was combined with damiana and guarana (which the calorie control supplement also has). This is interesting but it is just one study that to my knowledge has not been replicated. Another problem with this particular study was that it only included 7 people. That’s not very many people for a study. Other research studies have also noted weight loss when Yerba mate was combined with other products. The unknown is what ingredient seemed to help weight loss; in other words, was it yerba mate or other ingredients, or a combination of yerba mate with other products? Yerba mate is controversial because other studies find that it appears to increase the risk of various cancers ranging from mouth cancer to lung cancer. That's not to say that this product causes cancer. This is probably most likely when used in a purified state, in amounts far greater than that found in Jillian Michaels Maximum Strength Calorie Control supplement.


Guarana. I’ve discussed this before in other blogs concerning weight loss supplements. Guarana contains caffeine and is a stimulant.


Damiana. This herb sometimes shows up in supplements designed to boost sex drive. As mentioned above, one small study did not some weight loss when damiana was combed with yerba mate and guarana.


Coffee bean extract. Caffeine containing compound.

Ginger root. Ginger is often used to treat an upset stomach and even occasionally GI issues associated with chemotherapy. I could find no peer-reviewed evidence that ginger suppresses appetite. Ginger may have some anti-inflammatory properties and I will guess this may be why it (and other anti-inflammatory agents) are found in weight loss supplements. In the past, I have been asked if inflammation causes people to be overweight. If this were the case, people wonder, then might an anti-inflammatory (like ginger or aspirin etc.) help people lose weight? Honesty, I have not seen any proof that inflammation causes people to gain weight however it does appear to be true that increased inflammation occurs when people are overweight. Other than this speculation, I can’t find any reason for the addition of ginger to a weight loss or appetite suppressant supplement. If anyone has any idea on this matter, I’d enjoy reading your thoughts.

Kola nut. Another caffeine containing compound

White Willow Bark. I’ve discussed this also in other blogs because this aspirin-like ingredient shows up frequently in weight loss supplements. Like ginger, it has anti-inflammation effects but how does this help weight loss? One study from 2004 did note some weight loss however white willow bark was combined with cola nut (which this product has) and ephedra (which this product DOES NOT have). The exclusion of ephedra likely reduces the weight loss effect of a weight loss product. Like with ginger, those taking blood thinner medications should use caution with supplements containing white willow bark.


Cocoa seed extract. This also contains caffeine. Coca also contains theobromine (so does yerba mate discussed above), which is a mild stimulant. I have seen websites saying that theobromine has shown “great promise” in helping weight loss but if that is the case why can’t I find any evidence? It’s very ironic that coca extract (and theobromine) are found in weight loss supplements because that they are also found in chocolate. Last time I checked, even the Mars Corporation (which does a lot of dark chocolate research and markets chocolate as a health food) isn’t saying chocolate helps weight loss.


Jujube extract. I can’t find any peer reviewed evidence that jujube extract curbs appetite or helps weight loss. Some websites claim that soaking the leaves in water and drinking the potion will help weight loss but until I see some published peer reviewed proof, I don’t believe it. Also, the product marketed by Jilllian Michaels is using an “extract’ of jujube. What is that extract? I’d like to know. Not knowing the extract makes it difficult to draw conclusions about whether Jujube works or doesn't.


Shisandra extract. This Chinese plant may have antioxidant properties but that might depend on the extract the supplement is using. This plant is said to be an “adaptogen” , a claim often associated with ginseng. The words adaptogen is fancy talk for something that is supposed to adapt the way it works in the body. For example, some say shisandra helps exercise, reduces stress, lengthens life, and even helps PMS. Most of the claims for shisandra have no peer-reviewed proof. I was not able to locate any peer-reviewed proof that shisandra curbs appetite or helps weight loss. This product may interfere with various medications such as those used by people who receive organ transplants.


Chinese Skullcap extract. This ingredient may have an anti-anxiety effect in light of older research that hints that extracts may act somewhat like the prescription drug, valium. It may also have a mild anti-inflammatory effect and as such this ingredient may also be found in supplements touted to improve arthritis (specifically osteoarthritis). I could find no peer-reviewed research that this ingredient curbs appetite or helps weight loss.

Maximum Strength Calorie Control vs. Maximum Strength Fat Burner.

As I wrote in a previous two blogs on Jillian, many of the ingredients Jillian Michaels Maximum Calorie Control supplement are similar to those found in Jillian Michaels Maximum Strength Fat Burner supplement.

Maximum Strength Calorie Control Maximum Strength Fat Burner
Guarana (standardized to 12% caffeine) Guarana (standardized to 10% caffeine)
Coco bean (70% caffeine) Coco bean (70% caffeine)
Kola nut (12% caffeine) Kola nut (12% caffeine)
White willow bark White willow bark
Coca seed extract Coca seed extract

There is a significant similarity between these two supplements. One is supposed to burn fat while the other is supposed to curb appetite.


So where does this leave us?

I don’t see any significant peer-reviewed proof that the calorie control supplement being endorsed by Jillian Michaels does what she eludes to. From what I can gather the product is little more than a lot of caffeine and caffeine containing ingredients. Those ingredients that might have some proof of weight loss are based on extremely little evidence.


Joe Cannon, MS, CSCS, NSCA-CPT holds an MS degree in exercise science and a BS in biology and chemistry. As a writer and educator, he is a consumer advocate who tries to educate the public about the myths and misunderstanding that permeate the health, nutrition and wellness industry. He is also a self employed personal trainer who educates and certifies personal trainers. He has authored books on personal training, dietary supplements and sports nutrition and has written for several publications.
For more helpful information visit his website http://www.Joe-Cannon.com