This can’t be said enough: No one gender identity needs (or should use) fat burners more than another. And that being said, even the best fat burners aren’t a necessary supplement for weight loss — they don’t have a ton of research, and some even include some sketchy ingredients. “A sustainable approach to fat loss necessitates a blend of nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle adjustments,” says Dr. Christopher Mohr, PhD, RD.
But, we know that some athletes are still going to give fat burner supplements a try. So, our team of personal trainers and athletes wanted to offer the safest products possible. After looking at a number of supplements, with the help of an RD and our expert-developed supplement testing methodology, we’ve gathered the best fat burners for women (or any athlete, for that matter). We analyzed each fat burner based on a number of criteria, including:
- Dosage: Does the fat burner contain clinically effective dosages of its ingredients?
- Ingredients: Is the ingredients label transparent in what it contains? Are there proprietary blends that may obscure contents?
- Third-Party Testing: Is the fat burner third-party tested by an independent lab? Does the supplement have any relevant certifications that increase our trust in the product?
Over the years, the BarBend team has helped over 1.6 million athletes find the best supplement for their health journeys. After careful consultations with a registered dietitian and our team of experts, these are the best fat burner supplements for women.
The Best Fat Burners for Women
- Best Fat Burner for Women Overall: Transparent Labs Recomp
- Best Thermogenic Fat Burner for Women: Jacked Factory Burn-XT
- Best Non-Stim Fat Burner for Women: Legion Phoenix Stim-Free
- Best L-Carnitine for Women: 1st Phorm L-Carnitine
- Best Berberine: BulkSupplements Berberine HCL Powder
- Best Green Tea Extract: Thorne Green Tea Extract
Medical Disclaimer: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine.
The Best Fat Burner for Women Overall: Transparent Labs Recomp
Read our full Transparent Labs Fat Burner Review.
Best Thermogenic Fat Burner for Women: Jacked Factory Burn-XT
Best Non-Stim Fat Burner for Women: Legion Phoenix Stim-Free
Read our full Legion Phoenix Fat Burner Review.
Best L-Carnitine for Women: 1st Phorm L-Carnitine
Best Berberine for Women: BulkSupplements Berberine HCL Powder
Best Green Tea Extract: Thorne Green Tea Extract
How We Chose the Best Fat Burners for Women
Although they’re not quite as popular as, say, the best pre-workout supplements, fat burners for weight loss are still pretty prevalent on supermarket supplement shelves. Using our supplement testing methodology, our team of experts combed through dozens of products to make sure you’re getting the best fat burner for active women.
- Dosage: Our team (including our expert dietitian) took a close look at the dosage of each ingredient in our recommended fat burners to ensure you’re getting clinically-effective doses. We also prioritized products that don’t involve multiple doses per day.
- Ingredients: Fat burners don’t always have the cleanest ingredients, so we chose products with transparent labels and clinically-tested ingredients.
- Proprietary Blends: We’re not huge fans of proprietary blends, as it can be difficult to decipher how much of each ingredient you’re getting. Our team picked fat burners with no proprietary blends, opting for transparent labels instead.
- Third-Party Testing: Supplements can get sketchy, especially considering they’re not regulated like other products out there. So, we prioritized products that are tested by a third party to guarantee the label on your products is accurate.
- Price: Supplements can get pretty pricey. Our team selected a range of price points to offer something for every budget.
Benefits of Fat Burners for Women
As we’ve said, even the best women’s fat burners aren’t a must-have supplement. “Lifestyle factors like getting enough sleep, managing stress, and staying hydrated are important in managing body fat over time,” says Dr. Christopher Mohr, PhD, RD. However, along with a consistent exercise routine and calorie deficit, they may be able to help push you over the finish line towards your fat-loss goal.
Here are a few benefits that these supplements may offer:
- Increasing Fat Oxidation: Your body can use both carbohydrates and fat as a fuel source. Several factors affect fat burning or fat oxidation, such as the intensity and duration of your exercise, as well as your diet. (7) Certain ingredients in fat burner supplements are theorized to increase fat oxidation.
- Increasing Metabolic Rate: If you’re balancing your energy intake and expenditure, , taking a fat burner may help to slightly increase your metabolic rate. For example, capsaicin is one ingredient that may have a thermogenic effect, helping you burn more calories throughout the day.
- Increasing Energy: Many fat burners contain caffeine, which can help increase your energy levels. “Caffeine is a stimulant that can boost alertness, lower fatigue, improve mood, and improve focus and concentration,” says Dr. Raj Dasgupta, MD. This may help you exercise longer or harder, increasing your overall calorie burn. (1)
- Appetite Suppressant: Certain ingredients are theorized to suppress appetite, such as capsaicin. (9) Though we’re generally not a fan of ingredients that alter your hunger and satiety cues, this is one of the mechanisms of these ingredients.
How Fat Burners Work
First, you should know this: Fat burners aren’t a silver bullet for fat loss. Instead, they’re most effective as part of a holistic well-being regimen that includes regular exercise, a balanced diet, and restorative sleep. In general, fat burners work via three main methods: thermogenesis, increasing fat oxidation, and providing energy for workouts.
Thermogenesis
Thermogenesis is the process of raising your body temperature or increasing your calories burned while at rest. Ingredients like caffeine, green tea extract, or capsaicin may help the body burn more daily calories, especially when paired with workouts.
Increased Fat Oxidation
Another common way your body burns fat is by using it for energy during workouts or daily activities. Ingredients like L-carnitine help move fatty acids into the mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell) for energy production. That way, your body is more likely to use the stored fat during exercise.
Providing Energy for Workouts
We’ll say it again: Fat burners don’t work in a vacuum. You’ll need to work out regularly in order to see a difference in your body fat percentage. To assist with that, many of the best fat burners for active women feature caffeine, which boosts energy and endurance so you can go harder during your gym time.
How Much Do Fat Burners for Women Cost?
To see what you are actually getting for your money when it comes to any supplement, you need to weigh the cost of the container against the number of servings you’re getting in that container. For women’s fat burners, this number typically varies from around $0.30 to about $3.00 per serving with an average price of $1.13 per serving.
Best For | Product | Key Ingredients | Caffeine | Price |
Best Fat Burner for Women Overall | Transparent Labs Recomp | Green tea leaf extract, natural caffeine, forslean, l-theanine, capsimax | 125 mg | $0.91 per serving |
Best Thermogenic Fat Burner for Women | Jacked Factory Burn-XT | Acetyl-L-carnitine HCl, green tea leaf extract, caffeine anhydrous, Capsimax cayenne pepper fruit extract | 270 mg | $1.16 per serving |
Best Non-Stim Fat Burner for Women | Legion Phoenix Stim-Free | 5-HTP, calluma fimbrata, L-DOPA, forskolin | None | $ 1.49 per serving |
Best L-Carnitine for Women | 1st Phorm L-Carnitine | L-carnitine l-tartrate, green tea leaf extract, fucoxanthin | None | $0.71 per serving |
Best Berberine for Women | BulkSupplements Berberine HCL Powder | Berberine HCl | None | $0.21 per serving |
Best Green Tea Extract | Thorne Green Tea Extract | Green tea phytosome | None | $0.50 per serving |
What to Consider Before Buying Fat Burners for Women
It’s most important to consider your personal goals before looking for a supplement. The main things you’ll want to consider here are the ingredients you’re looking for, the time at which you’ll be taking your fat burner, and the amount of money you’re willing to put toward this supplement.
As always, it’s critical to talk to your doctor before starting any supplement. The supplement may contain ingredients that interact with other medications you are taking, certain foods in your diet, or even other supplements.
Ingredients
Above all, you’ll need to decide on the type of fat burn you are looking for — fat oxidation, thermogenesis, or appetite suppression. Though many fat burners include ingredients that touch all three of these methods, most products lean more heavily toward one of the three.
When you are looking at these ingredients, you’ll also want to make sure to stay away from proprietary blends. These blends that may be listed on products do not give you a full look into the ingredients you’re getting and their dosages, so it’s best to steer clear altogether. (12)
Timing
If you prefer to take your fat burner when you wake up in the morning, any product on this list should be just fine. However, if you prefer to take it before a workout, you’ll need to consider the stimulants in the product and how that affects your stack. If you prefer to work out late at night, you may want to stay away from fat burners with stimulants (like caffeine) that could affect your sleep if you take them too late in the day. “Caffeine can stay in your system for up to six hours, so if you take a fat burner with caffeine in the afternoon or evening, your sleep that night might suffer,” says Dr. Raj Dasgupta, MD.
Medical Opinion
While most over-the-counter fat burners probably won’t cause any harm, different athletes have different bodies. That’s why we recommend everyone speak with a medical professional before trying a fat burner, especially if you have any pre-existing conditions.
Possible Side Effects of Fat Burners for Women
While fat burners for weight loss aren’t typically considered harmful, it’s important to be aware of any possible side effects before you add a new supplement to your stack. The side effects of fat burners may include increases in heart rate and blood pressure, a result of the stimulants often included in the formula. Similarly, these stimulants may make it more difficult to fall and stay asleep, especially if you’re taking dosages later in the afternoon or evening. Finally, some of the ingredients in fat burners for active women (like green tea extract, capsaicin, or certain herbs) may lead to digestion issues, such as diarrhea or constipations. As always, talk to your doctor or trusted medical professional before taking a fat burner.
Price
Most basic fat-burners include the main fat-burning ingredients (like cayenne pepper, caffeine, and green tea). If you’re willing to pay a little more though, more premium fat burners may also include extras like HMB or DMAE that can help with goals outside of fat burn. However, evidence recommending their use is limited. (13)(14) It’s a general rule that the more “stacked” a supplement is, the more it will cost. When we see longer ingredient lists, or higher doses of certain ingredients, there is usually a bump in price as well.
Who Shouldn’t Use Fat Burners?
As a matter of safety, certain populations should avoid taking fat burners unless medically recommended by their doctor.
Pregnant or Breast-Feeding People
Little is known about the effects fat burners may have on fetal development in utero or in infants if passed via breastfeeding. It’s safest to avoid taking a fat burner for active women while pregnant or breast-feeding.
People with Heart Conditions
Because many fat burners contain stimulants (like caffeine), those with heart conditions will want to avoid taking the supplements. That’s because stimulants may increase heart rate and blood pressure, which could lead to further complications such as arrhythmia, hypertension, or heart palpitations.
Anyone Under Age 18
This may go without saying, but children and teenagers should not take fat burners. Their bodies are still growing and developing, and taking a fat burner may interrupt that natural development.
Certain Prescription Medications
Some prescribed medicines may have negative interactions with even the best fat burners. If you take a prescription medication for antidepressants, blood pressure medications, diabetes medications, or thyroid treatments, you should avoid taking a fat burner unless explicitly cleared by your medical professional.
Best Fat Burners for Women FAQs
Do fat burners for women work?
They do, but not to the point that pills alone will eliminate a pot belly. “Fat burners” can have several effects, the most useful of which is appetite suppression, since excess calories cause weight gain. Some ingredients, like cayenne, synephrine, and green tea extract, may help you to burn a few extra calories per day. (1)(8)(15)
What are the best natural fat burners for women?
– Caffeine: Seems to increase adrenaline, which breaks down fats and decreases the release of fatty acids. Might burn an extra 100 calories or so. (1)
– Vitamin D: Some studies demonstrate benefits for fatty acid metabolism. (16)
– Forskolin: It may signal cells to produce more ATP, helping you burn more energy reserves.(10)
– Yohimbine: While it may be difficult to digest, this stimulant might lead to more fat loss through improved exercise performance. (17)
– Chili peppers: Cayenne might suppress appetite and increase metabolic rate, perhaps from 5 to 50 calories per day. (18)
What is the best fat burner for women?
Based on our research and consults with registered dietitians, we think Transparent Labs Recomp is the best fat burner for women. We appreciate that it’s third-party tested with research-backed ingredients, and it’s a reasonable cost, too.
Do fat burners help burn belly fat?
No, fat burners don’t necessarily help burn belly fat. It’s a myth that fat burners can target any specific area of your body. The best way to burn belly fat is to have a consistent workout routine and a diet that’s mindfully balanced to include an ideal ratio of fats, carbs, and protein.
Can you take fat burners daily?
Yes, you can take fat burners daily. However, consider starting with a lower dosage (say, one capsule, once a day) before committing to a full regimen. This will give you time to notice any potentially unpleasant side effects.
Are there fat burners that are safe for pregnancy and breast-feeding?
There’s not enough research to support using fat burners during pregnancy or breast-feeding. It’s unclear how much of a risk the ingredients pose to fetal development or to infants when passed on through breast milk. Avoid taking fat burners if you’re pregnant or breast-feeding.
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