Can a sprinkle of Sensa on your food really help you lose weight? Well, the website of this product claims it’s “doctor formulated” and “clinically proven.” They also have claimed Sensa is backed up by “25 years of study.” I was intrigued by the claims made on Sensa commercial and website – especially all that stuff about Tastants and weight loss - the so I decided to review Sensa and see what I could discover. What follows is my unbiased review of the Sensa weight loss system and website. Hopefully, I can help answer some questions, so that you can make a decision that’s right for you. This is an updated review of the Sensa weight loss system, that I originally looked at in 2010.
Who makes Sensa?
Sensa is made by the company, Sensa LLC which is located at 2301 Rosecrans Avenue Suite 1150, El Segundo, CA 90245. The link shows a large glass building that likely houses several businesses.
To Contact the Sensa, phone number is (866) 514-2554.
The parent company of Sensa LLC is Intelligent Beauty Inc, a health, beauty and fashion company that operates other businesses. See the link for more info on Intelligent Beauty Inc.
According to the Better Business Bureau, Sensa LLC has a rating of A+ as of 9/17/12. It has been a BBB accredited business since July of 2008.
The BBB does list over 777 complaints against Sensa LLC including 304 complaints dealing with billing and collection issues but all complaints have been resolved. When I first reviewed Sensa in 2010, there were 550 complaints with the Better Business Bureau.
What is Sensa?
While sometimes called the “sprinkle diet” technically, Sensa is not a diet. Rather, Sensa is a weight loss product that consists of little sweet and salty crystals called “Tastants” which, are sprinkled on the food you eat. The idea is that these crystals are absorbed through the tongue and roof of the mouth and trick you into thinking you are full. They do this by – in theory - making you think the food is actually tastier than it really is.
If you look up the word “Tastant” you can see that a tastant refers to anything that stimulants the sense of taste. I mention this because Sensa advertising makes it seem like tastants are something unique to Sensa, when in fact the word is a general term that could apply to anything that has a taste.
Salty, sugary and sour foods all are tastants because they elicit a taste. Wikipedia has an interesting article on taste that mentions tastants.
One on of the Sensa TV commercials I saw, (on 12/30/12) it was said:
”Even though it looks like a seasoning, Sensa really doesn’t change the way food tastes.”
This is a very interesting statement that I had not heard before. Previously, I was under the impression that Sensa made food taste better, but now they are saying it doesnt change the taste of food. I’m not sure why they are changing their language but I have a feeling I may know why. Keep reading…
According to the product website, Sensa has the following ingredients:
- Maltodextrin. This is a type of carbohydrate.
- Tricalcium Phosphate. This is just a form of calcium. Some previous research has observed that calcium may have a weight loss effect, but most of those studies used low fat dairy calcium foods (milk etc.) and not a calcium supplement. Also, not all research shows calcium promotes weight loss.
- Silica. This is basically sand and is probably used to give Sensa crystals their hardness.
- Natural and Artificial Flavors. Since Sensa is supposed to trick the body by altering taste/smell, I’d like to know what these flavors are.
Sensa also contains Soy and Milk ingredients.
Sensa is sodium- free, sugar-free, calorie free, gluten-free, and there are no stimulants, drugs or MSG.
Sensa Research
The idea of Sensa stems from its creator, Dr Allan Hirsch who is a neurologist. According to the website Sofapedia, the idea for Sensa was developed after noting that people with brain injuries that reduced the sense of smell or taste, tended to gain weight. Would making the food tastier, cause these people to eat less – and lose weight?
It’s an interesting idea but is there any proof?
Sensa is said to be “clinically proven”. To back up this claim the website mentions a 6 month long study that consisted of 1436 people. The average weight of the people in the study was 208 lbs.
At the end of the study, those who received Sensa lost an average of 30.5 lbs (about 15% of their body weight). The people not using Sensa lost only 2 pounds.
I have some problems with this Sensa study.
1. The study does not look like “published peer reviewed” study that typically is found in medical/science journals. In fact, the pdf file for this study actually says “Abstract”. An abstract is a summary of a study and may not be peer reviewed. I often see abstracts listed as “proof” for supplements but they don’t hold as much weight as a study that has been published in a medical/science journal.
2. The study of the 1436 people also does not mention how much Sensa the people used. How many sprinkles did they use on their food? Was it the same as what is being promoted to consumers? It probably, is but I could not determine this from the Sensa website.
3. The study did measure “body mass index” (BMI). The people in this study had a BMI of about 30 which classifies them as “obese”.
Unfortunately the researchers did not appear measure body fat. Considering that they were testing a weight loss supplement, I personally think this was an error.
The study does indicate that people lost an average of about 30 “pounds” but:
- How much of that was fat?
- How much of that was water?
- How much of that was muscle?
- Did the people in the study also exercise?
They dont tell us. That’s too bad because most people want to lose fat, not just “pounds”.
This study is also at the heart of the Sensa class action lawsuit (Correa v. Sensa Products, LLC) that would provide up to $6 million in refunds to consumers who purchased Sensa before August 21 2012. For more on the Sensa lawsuit see this page on the website TopClassActions.com.
The Sensa independent laboratory study
The Sensa website used to also list study conducted by an independent laboratory. This study also seems to not be peer reviewed. This independent study consisted of 83 people (78 completed the study) and also lasted 6 months. The results:
- The people using Sensa lost an average of about 27 pounds.
- Those not using Sensa lost about 0.3 pounds.
Again, how much of that weight was body fat? They don’t tell us.
Note. This study does not appear to be listed on TrySensa.com any longer.
In both of these studies , very little information about how the research was conducted is given. Peer reviewed studies give much more information. This allows others to replicate the study and try to duplicate the findings.
I looked at the National Library of Medicine on 9/17/12 to see if there was any new research on Sensa. I searched for :
“Sensa Weight Loss” – no studies showed up.
That says to me that Sensa has no published peer reviewed research to back up its claims. I find this ironic, since the person behind Sensa -Dr Allan Hirsch – is a scientist.
On the Sensa website -TrySensa.com – they list several “As seen on” logos such as Fox, Shape, The Washington Post etc.
They don’t mention ABC News. The reason for this is probably because of a very interesting video segment that ABC did back in 2008.
Here is a link to the segment ABC News did on Sensa titled “Does the Sprinkle Diet Work?”
Notice in this video that they point out that Dr. Hirsch, presented his study to a group of scientists at the Endocrine Society. His study was not peer reviewed, only presented (basically he talked about the study).
This is a HUGE problem for the “clinical proof” that the Sensa website says exists for this weight loss product. Lack of peer review means that other scientists (the peers) were not able to look at how the study was conducted. I’ve already mentioned some of my issues with the Sensa research. It’s possible that those wiser than I am, might have other issues too.
Looking over the Sensa website, I still see no other scientific evidence for Sensa other than what I’ve listed above. Why? Dr Hirsch is a scientist. Why would he not publish any research on his baby? He presented his initial findings to the Endocrine Society in 2008. What’s taking so long?
Testimonials from people we dont know should never be taken as “proof” that something works.
On the TrySensa Website, there is a video on the “About Dr. Hirsch” Page where Stone Philips of Dateline NBC talks about the “Science” of Sensa. It appears the people in this segment are some of the those who took part in the non-peer reviewed study mentioned above, that was presented to the Endocrine Society.
This Dateline NBC segment must have been aired before 2008 because they never mention “Sensa” - and they say you can’t buy the crystals and Dr Hirsch has no plans to sell them. Well, we know that’s not true anymore…
As an aside, I took notice at how comfortable on camera Dr. Hirsch looked in the Dateline NBC segment – and how uncomfortable he appeared to be during the ABC News segment. It’s just an observation of mine. Take it for what it is.
The Sensa Lawsuit
On November 27 2012 a civil lawsuit filed by California District Attorneys against Sensa LLC was settled. Sensa LLC was fined more than $900,000 for making unsubstantiated claims that the product works. As part of the settlement:
- “Sensa Products, LLC and Intelligent Beauty Inc., the parent corporation, are forbidden from making any claims regarding the efficacy or effects of any of their products without possessing competent and reliable scientific evidence that substantiates the claims.”
- Sensa LLC is also prohibited “from continuing to charge customers for shipments sent after a customer has asked to stop the shipments. The companies may not enroll customers in an automatic shipment program without a clear disclosure of the customer’s obligations.”
See the nbcsandiego.com link for a full report on the settlement.
I can’t be sure, but I wonder if this may be the reason why Sensa TV commercials say Sensa doesn’t change the taste of food. Also If you look closely at Sensa TV commercials, you will see this statement :
“Sensa promotes healthy weight loss through portion control.”
I’ve watched several Sensa TV commercials but not until 12/30/12 did I ever see this statement mentioned. I can’t be sure but I think this statement may have been added to commercials because of the Sensa Lawsuit. So, instead of tricking the brain into thinking that food tastes better, they are now subtly saying that the mechanism of action of Sensa is portion control.
This makes more sense to me and it’s actually how many other popular diet programs work. Limiting portion size - and hence calories eaten - is the secret behind Nutrasystem, Jenny Craig, Slimfast, Right Size Smoothies and several other diets you have probably heard of.
But, does Sensa promote portion control because it works on the brain to make food taste better or does Sensa act as a placebo, giving people something to believe in as they try to lose weight? For me, this is the big question that the Sensa research does not answer.
The Sensa Medical Advisory Board
On TrySensa.com, there is a page where people can view the 7 doctors in the Sensa Medical Advisory Board. There is a brief bio of each along with their thoughts on Sensa. I was intrigued by what the the doctors said about Sensa – and what they did not say. For example:
Dr. Hilton Hudson, a heart surgeon : “He believes SENSA is a safe and effective weight-loss solution.”
My thoughts: Notice they say he believes it . They don’t say he “knows” Sensa works.
Dr. Carl Wahlstrom, a Psychiatrist, says “He found SENSA to be a well researched, novel non-drug approach to weight loss.”
My thoughts: Well researched? Dr. Wahlstrom, what research have you seen that I have not? How is a non-peer reviewed study “well researched”?
Dr. Nancy Zamora, an Internist says “she feels that SENSA provides overweight individuals with a tool to help them eat less. ”
My thoughts: Notice she “feels” it but she does not specifically say “it works.”
Dr. Jason Gruss, a weight loss doctor says “He believes that SENSA allows obese individuals to take a safe, surgery-free approach to weight loss. He is also interested in how SENSA® can help patients lose weight without changing their environments.”
My thoughts: Again, he “believes” it will help. He doesn’t say it works.
Dr. Richard Bone, a gastroenterologist says he was ” Intrigued by the results of the SENSA clinical study, and that he “considers SENSA to be an innovative weight-loss solution.”
My thoughts: So this scientist was intrigued by a non-peer reviewed study and he “considers” Sensa innovative. OK, I’ll concede its intriguing… But, he “considers” it innovative; notice he’s not saying “it works.”
Dr. Celestine Marie DeTrana, a psychiatrist says she “believes that SENSA enables individuals to overcome the psychological factors that interfere with successful weight loss.”
My thoughts: She “believes” it, but apparently does not “know” it. Also, what “psychological factors” is she talking about? That’s a vague phrase coming from a scientist, especially when its on a website that’s being marketed to the general public.
Dr. Paul Jones, provided the most reserved endorsement of Sensa when it was said that “Dr. Jones has expressed some optimism that SENSA may provide a novel approach to weight loss that assists individuals in control of portion sizes and in leading a heart-healthy lifestyle.”
My thoughts: “Some optimism.” Really? “May provide.” That’s not the most glowing endorsement if you ask me.
Notice that none of the doctors on the Sensa Medial Advisory Board actually said that”Sensa Works!” What’s up with that?
Who is Dayna Devon?
On the TrySensa.com site there is a video from Dayna Devon who is a TV personality. She talks of a “landmark” Sensa study where people lost 30 pounds using Sensa. That is the unpublished, un-peer reviewed study I mentioned above. Dayna Devon is not a scientist, so I will forgive her using the word “Landmark” when she discusses Sensa. But, According to Wikipedia Dayna Devon appears to have an financial involvement with Sensa. According to Wikipedia :
- “In January 2009, Devon became an on-air presenter on HSN, representing the Sensa Weight-Loss System. She also had a regular blog on hsn.com.”
- “In the fall of 2009, Devon moved to ShopNBC, regularly presenting Sensa systems in “Our Top Value” presentations.”
As such, her words about Sensa should be taken with skepticism.
How Much Does Sensa Cost?
On the Sensa website I see they will give you a free 2 month starter kit - BUT if you do not cancel within 30 days you will be charged $89.95 AND you’ll be “enrolled” in an auto ship program where they send Sensa to you each month (at a cost of about $59.95 a month). To opt out of this you MUST SEND BACK THE BOTTLES of Sensa (even if they are empty they say) to not be charged. So, you will have to pay to send them back!
Sensa side effects
I was unable to find any side effects for Sensa from the research I saw. On the website TopClassActions.com some people have reported that Sensa knocked out the sense of taste and caused leg cramps. It’s hard to know how prevalent these side effects are, or if they are really side effects of Sensa itself. Sensa does have soy, but how much I dont know. When in doubt, if you have problems with soy, this might be something to consider.
Sensa Supplements
The Sensa website does list various supplement’s that it’s said will “kick start your weight loss with a targeted blend of vitamins and antioxidants designed to revitalize your body and support a healthy metabolism.” Those words sounds impressive however I see no published peer reviewed proof listed for any of the Sensa Supplements. Therefore, I dont think they will aid in people’s weight loss efforts. Let me speak a little bit on each of the Sensa supplements below.
Sensa Complete
This costs $49.95 and is said to:
- Support a healthy immune system
- Maintain healthy muscle
- Strengthen the body against free radical influences
Looking over the ingredients in Sensa Complete, it looks for the most part like an expensive multivitamin. It also has some other ingredients, most notably green tea (which contains caffeine).
Sensa Complete for Men
This product is also $49.95 and is said to:
- Boosts energy and supports metabolism
- Fuels muscle recovery and cushions joints
- Contains 100% RDA Vitamins A, C, E and B
Again, this is an expensive multivitamin that has some caffeine (from green tea) and a few other things that I dont think justifies the price. Let me speak briefly on a couple of the ingredients that stood out to me:
Sensa Complete for men contains 1000 micrograms of the mineral, boron. Back in the 1990s some men were taking boron supplements because they heard of a study that suggested that boron might raise testosterone levels. Is this why its in these vitamins? I hope not because, several studies show boron does not raise testosterone levels in men.
Sensa Complete for Men also has a mineral called vanadium (vanadyl 
sulfate). Valadyl sulfate might have a blood sugar lowering effect and that “might” help some people with blood sugar issues (why isn’t vanadium in the woman’s formula too?). Regardless, exercise has a better blood sugar lowering effect than vanadium.
Sensa complete for men also has 150 mg of glucosamine HCL. This is likely to help reduce joint pain from osteoarthritis (Again, why doesn’t the female version of Sensa Complete have joint support too?). The problem with this is that 150 mg is very little (the recommended dose is 1500 mg per day) AND the type of glucosamine Sensa Complete has is the wrong type. Most of the good research is on glucosamine sulfate – not glucosamine HCL. For more see my glucosamine sulfate facts post.
I could say more about Sensa Complete but I will end here and say that I just think these products are over priced.
Sensa Quench
Sensa Quench is said to be an “energy enhancing vitamin drink.” The “energy enhancing properties probably has to do with the 90 mg of caffeine that each serving has. Caffeine can definitely wake people up, however, at $39.95, I just think its over priced.
Again, since there is no proof that any Sensa supplements add to the effects of Sensa, I don’t think they are needed.
Sensa and Dr. Oz
On November 16 2012 Sensa was featured on the Dr. Oz Show. I watched the show as many did and wanted to mention a few things that were brought up in the segment.
The first thing that jumped out at me was when Dr. Oz said “The big question is how much does it cost and where you find it.” Huh? That’s not the big question because everybody knows about Sensa; it’s TV commercials are on all the time!
The REAL BIG QUESTION is what I would ask Dr. Hirsch —and that’s why have you never published your Sensa research in and peer-reviewed medical journal? How did Dr. Oz miss this important question? If you ask me, he didn’t miss it.
I think his producers preferred Dr. Oz not get into the discussion of peer review of Sensa research for fear of boring the audience.
The Dr. Oz segment also featured Dr. Lewis Aronne, Director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Program at NY Presbyterian Medical Center and Kristen Kirkpatrick, a registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic.
When Dr. Oz asks Dr. Aronne what he thinks about the Sensa research noting that people can lose 30 pounds in six months, Dr. Arrone says, while “theoretically it’s possible”, “that amount of weight loss is an extraordinary result” AND —and this is the important part — “this really is not a research study.”
This is a VERY important point to remember —and it was the only time this glaring fact is ever brought up.
Dr. Aronne rightly points out that the research people see on the Sensa website and TV commercials is not real scientific proof, because it is not published in a medical journal. Published research showing significant effects are the holy grail of science.
Failure to publish the Sensa research – after all these years – makes me wonder why. Why not publish the research? What are they afraid of?
To respond to this criticism Dr. Hirsch talks about a study done at Duke University in the 1980s (30 years ago!) – but Sensa was not around in the 1980s, so this study is not valid in my view.
Dr. Hirsch then goes on to talk about a study currently going on at “a major university” —but he doesn’t tell what university it is or when we might see the results of that study.
Kristin Kirkpatrick RD of the Cleveland Clinic made an interesting point about one of the Sensa ingredients—Maltodextrin. She mentioned if the maltodextrin is derived from wheat, then it may contain gluten and this, in turn, may be a problem for those celiac disease or gluten insensitively. Unfortunately, Dr. Hirsch did not respond by telling where the maltodextrin in Sensa comes from.
When Dr. Oz asked what the natural flavors were in Sensa, Dr. Hirsch didn’t specifically respond, except to say that the ingredients were “GRAS”
GRAS means generally recognized as safe. Foods /ingredients can be called GRAS if they have been in the food supply for at least 50 years.
But, when Dr. Oz pressed further by asking “But why wouldn’t you put those ingredients more openly on the label?” Dr. Hirsch didn’t really answer him, instead choosing to return to his mantra that the ingredients cause weight loss.
When Dr. Oz pressed further by saying, “But it would seem me that you could write what those actual flavors are on there. Why not?” Now, Dr Hirsh struggles again to answer, finally responding “Sure, that would be another mechanism of doing it.”
Are the natural flavors in Sensa critical to how Sensa works (if it really does work)? I don’t know, but if they are, then I can see how keeping them a trade secret would be an important thing. Another idea is that maybe the people who make Sensa didn’t think their omission of these ingredients would be a big issue? Either way I don’t know.
Does Sensa work?
When I originally reviewed Sensa, I was skeptical about whether it would help people lose weight. I had hoped that Dr. Hirsch would eventually do some peer reviewed research on Sensa to prove me wrong, however that still does not seem to have happened. The lack of good science to support Sensa and even the carefully worded statements from its own Medical Advisory Bord, just raise big red flags for me. I want to keep an open mind about this, so if Sensa has helped you – or not – I’d like to hear from you.
What do you think?
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I tried the Sensa product and on the 3rd day after my lunch I started itching all over and my throat started to close up. I was taken to the emergency room here in Scottsdale AZ and immediately put on an IV drip with steroids and medication to take home as well as prescriptions to buy. It took over 4 weeks for it to leave my system and for the hives to stop appearing.
I contacted Sensa and got a “I’M sorry to hear you had a problem” My advice be careful. It would be interesting to hear if anyone else has had this problem.
Mona, yes I believe if you read through the comments you will see a few who had similar symptoms.
Joe Thank you for all that research, I 49 I did get caught up in all the Sensa Hype, I see now that I have made a
mistake ..Thank you for your research , I just ordered free Trial 12.95 I was skeptical – Now I know why thanks
to your extensive research , thanks for that
I’m not agreeing or disagreeing about whether Sensa works or the validity of the science, but i do want to point out something. I am a trained scientist in a TOTALLY different field (I’m a environmental geologist) but I see nothing particularly peculiar, wrong, or shady with the statements from the advisory group. I see scientific professionals not making statements of absolutes. That isn’t odd. Absolutes are not something you get a lot of in scientific professionals.
Always, will, must, yes, and no are generally hard to get out of a scientist. We don’t say stuff like that often because the nature of our profession is frequently exploratory and subject to interpretation. “Gravity works” seems like a logical statement of basic fact, but that statement from a physicist is often followed with “but…” and “except…” thus the birth of particle physics and string theory. The chemistry of how the brain works is a multi-layered and complex thing. Heck, even psychiatric drug commercials often describe things like ” (Drug name) is believed to work by…whatever process they think it dose.
You have placed a lot of emphases on something that doesn’t seem to particularly warrant highlighting. When you consider that everybody’s biochemistry and reactions are different then the only professionally responsible thing to say is “maybe” and all its associated indefinite words. They can’t just say “Yes, it works.” because the implication is that it will work for everybody, all the time, and in the same way. That’s just not possible. Those kind of absolute statements are far more irresponsible than the mis-perceived hedging you are going on about.
Erin, I understand what you are saying and I agree its very unusual to hear definitive yes/no statements from scientists. I pointed out the words of the advisory board because their presence on the website is there I believe to engender confidence – even subtly – that medical professionals are “endorsing” the product. That is why I wanted to look at what they actually said.
Using medical professionals is a common practice in the world of health and wellness products. We believe doctors and scientist becaukse they are smarter than the rest of us. I’ve heard that one of the strongest predictors of why people will do something is because their doctor told them to do it. It’s why we often see people in white coats, with stethoscopes around their necks in ads for products (sometimes those ads have in small print “doctor portrayal” to say they are not doctors) and its why we sometimes see Dr Oz in his scrubs. Its why “The Doctors” TV show usually has them in their medical garb too.
If medical professionals are going to be used in ads for supplements then I feel people should have a better understanding what they are saying and not be impressed by all the letters behind their names.
I hope that clears up where I was coming from Erin and I really do appreciate you writing.
Their presence IS a endorsement of the product. The statements are endorsements. No quarrels. You say that you FEEL people should have a better understanding and then you pick the statements apart for not speaking in absolutes. That comes with the connotations that it is a negative thing because they wont say YES. It is not a part of the scientific reality that you endorse.
You say “Notice that none of the doctors on the Sensa Medial Advisory Board actually said that”Sensa Works!” What’s up with that?” Scientists (of which medical is a complex one) don’t talk like that. I mean… you know this. You have a MS and a BS. You are yourself a medical professional. You know it only takes one exception. It only has to not work for 1 person for those kind of absolute statements to be wrong.
The apparent raison d’être of this site is for the education of consumers.(That’s how I got here after all) Your books and your business are dependent on well educated consumers. However, you have (perhaps unwittingly) created a false expectation for unreserved endorsements. You have put up the expectation that they should when they can’t(and shouldn’t). That is not a expectation that you want to engender when you are trying to educate people on how to take responsibility for their own health.
Erin, when medical professionals align themselves with a product – such as appearing on TV ads or websites etc, it’s their credibility as members of the health care system that is going to sway people into using a product. All those letters behind their name impress people. When they endorse products -without providing facts to back up their endorsement, in my opinion, they are leaving the world of science and entering the world of marketing.
I know there are few absolutes in science. But in marketing there are a lot of “implied absolutes.” I wanted to lift the veil from those implied absolutes a wee bit by looking at what they actually said.
Erin , you are missing his point. It is obvious that the doctors quoted do not have much evidence by which to endorse Sensa. They could say something like, “Sensa appears to work in about 70% of the people who use it,” IF there were any true clinical trials done on it. We know that scientists and doctors are cautious, so this kind of info would be convincing enough, without the professional fully committing himself.
The point is, they have no evidence at all, so they are saying, “Well, it looks like it could work.” Duh– that is so obvious, it renders their statements meaningless. So why even bother with such endorsements?
sensa is a deceptive company if there is one! I spoke to a customer service rep who told me that my trial had been extended and I later found it was not. The deal is that I would have been charged the approx $90 on the date my trial ended. The same rep told me that she would do me this great favor of using her employee code and get me the drink for 50% off. I later found that I had 50% off on all products I purchased because I was on the trial.
I am now trying to cancel my order and I am running around in circles to get a RMA number and the label and the return address!!!
AVOID THIS COMPANY!!!
Erin, like you mentioned, you are in a completely different field than medicine! I was a Radiolgic Technologist for 18 years and find your comments worthless on this medical subject. Go study some rock formations and stop wasting the time of others with real problems!
Thank you for your article. Very informative and helpful. Octavia Spencer was just on The View today and had lost 20 pounds in 3 months, all because of Sensa. Octavia looked great and stated that she had not changed her diet but that the product affected her portion control. I had heard of this product before but her appearance led me to your website.
I will not be purchasing this product. Once again I am reminded there is no magic bullet. Portion control, calories and exercise are the “magic.” Boring but true.
Tamara, thanks glad you found me. I heard also today about Octavia Spencer as the new Sensa spokesperson.
I also watched The View today and saw Octavia Spencer’s endorsement for Sensa. Your site helped me sort things out and realize once again (I had checked into Sensa about a year ago and came to the same conclusion) that this product is most likely a waste of money. Thank you!
I ordered the trial product. I will see how it goes. Im on a low salt diet for BP and my doctor wants me to shed a few pounds. I will be definitely let people know what my results are. Glad you put the cancellation policy on here!! Thanks
Kent, thanks for saying that! For what its worth I do hope it helps you. Since you said you were on a low salt diet becaues of your blood pressure, I thought Id mention the DASH diet to you. its been shown to reduce blood pressure in people who have high blood pressure. Here’s a link in case you have not heard of it
http://dashdiet.org/
Great review, thanks for all your hard work. Given the unknows I think I’ll pass on this one.
Great review, thanks. I’m going to pass on this magic bullet
If you look at the reviews on amazon and eBay alone I barely saw anyone who lost a substantial amount of weight all I saw we’re complaints of mouth soars, weight gain, diarrhea or no weight loss or gain. I’m not saying that you will go through the same but this is by the people not a commercial website which is most of the time bull crap.
I had a friend who did infomercials and she said it was all lies she was always skinny they just took a picture of someone else’s stomach (this is 4 another product but gives u an idea of how it works) good old fashion exercise and healthy dieting there are tons of healthy recipes online that taste amazing and it’s fun to cook with your kids I love cooking with my 4 year old and dance class is fun too.
Is this safe to use for a child who is being bullied at school for being fat. My daughter saw the commercial and said to get her that so she could loose weight.
Oh Linnette, Believe me when I say that I really feel your pain and that of your daughter. Since Sensa doesn’t have any strong proof that it works – and no proof that its safe in kids -I just don’t have a good answer for you on this. You didn’t give your daughters age but can I suggest weight watchers. I love how it has a social aspect to weight loss. People will support your daughter and they even have online help.
I also wonder if there are programs at school that might help also. I wonder if it is possible to meet with school administrators and see if there is funding for an after school program for your daughter and other overweight kids in the school. They could learn to eat better, exercise and make new friends. This is at least worth a phone call to the principle to ask about it.
I know this is very hard on you as it is on your daughter. I know it seems like you may be alone in this. you are not. Your daughter does have options.
I am saying a prayer for you both that you find the answers you need.
Linnette, I think if you’re willing to buy her diet supplements, you might try investing in a personal trainer and Weight Watchers for her and/or amping up the amount of chicken breast you guys eat at home. I hope this doesn’t sound critical or mean or anything because I’m purely trying to be helpful. I’m a firm believer in “old-fashioned” diet plans, especially for kiddos, and I have seen Weight Watchers work wonders for people.
I mention chicken breast because the skinless ones you can buy have so little fat in them. My mom put my stepdad on that diet when I was younger (he cheated but he lost weight). Even if you consult a nutritionist, that would probably be better than supplements that aren’t approved by the FDA yet.
I’m very sorry to hear about your daughter. I work with kids, and it makes me crazy how mean they get to each other. They rarely see when they’re wrong, too, and it’s so unfair. I was bullied repeatedly as a child myself. Now that I think about it though, I’m not sure if Weight Watchers is OK for kids, so maybe just go with a trainer and nutritionist. I hope I’ve been helpful and not mean, and I wish your daughter the very best of luck – being a kid isn’t easy.
Lynette should enroll her daughter at the Y or some place where she can get on an exercise program and she can also feel good about herself. Most Y programs are around $50.00 to $75.00 a month. You will need to check at your local Y. Sensa cost about the same per month. Not only will your daughter loss weight, but she will have fun with other children her age. She should loss weight on an exercise program at about the same rate as the Sensa plan claims.
The Y isn’t the only place she can go, It came to mind since they offer many different programs. She could enroll in a dance class, or self defense class. I am older but I love water aerobics. Good luck to your daughter and to you.
Like the First Lady, Michelle Obama says. Move It. Keep active and eat well.
Thank you for this article. An excellent reminder to us all that marketing of any weight loss program can be dubious at best.
I think Sensa works purely through the placebo effect and the development of “mindful” eating. Sensa is to be sprinkled on EVERYTHING you eat, with the hope that you will become fuller, quicker. Anyone willing to believe this is going to be eating their meal, bite by bite, with an extreme focus on when they begin to feel full.
Essentially, for those individuals who actually lose weight, they are honing in on their satiety signals and actually beginning to recognize when they become full. This in itself decreases portion size and the consumption of excess calories.
I choose to believe this because Sensa makes no sense to me! How can one become more full from food tasting and smelling better? Naturally, when something tastes great…it’s harder to stop eating it. However, Sensa also claims to not change the smell, taste, or texture of food. Huh?
My other concern regarding Sensa is the vagueness surrounding the natural and artificial flavors. While the ingredients listed may be GRAS, we don’t know what the “flavors” are and cannot check up on their safety ourselves. Sensa is a supplement, not a food, so it is not regulated by the FDA. Therefore, we cannot begin to predict the long term effects that these “flavors” may have. As they are consumed with every single bite of food, I find it rather worrisome that we have not the slightest idea what they are composed of.
Thank you for this review!
I HAVE BEEN USING SENSA FOR 1 AND HALF WEEKS. I HAVE LOST A TOTAL OF 3 LBS ALREADY. I CAN GO 9 HOURS WITHOUT GETTING HUNGRY, SO I HAVE TO FORCE MYSELF TO EAT BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER. I THINK IT MAKES MY FOOD TASTE BETTER. I LOVE SENSA.
Thanks for all of the wonderful information. I just think we get desperate to loose weight sometimes and we just want to feel hopeful about something;this time it was Sensa. Even with all of your pertinent information, I will still try it. Thanks, Vera
Well, I have been on this stuff for two day’s now. I don’t have much weight to lose. I was wondering did any of your research turn up anything about Sensa being a laxative? Because I think that’s what it really is. It makes me go a lot. I’ve been taking green coffee bean extract as well.
Part of me thinks that this Sensa stuff is just mind over matter and power of suggestion, like there’s a subliminal message is hidden on the box or in the commercial or something. lol. IDK… Maybe I’m a bit paranoid about this stuff and should stop using it before something happens to me. That lady up there ended up in the hospital, is this stuff safe or not? What are your thoughts?
Thanks for the research, it is an eye opener.
Antoine, everything I saw about the ingredients made me think it was safe. I don’t have an explanation why people sometimes report odd things with Sensa. I wish I had a better answer for you…
Interesting that it contains carbs. I was put on a low carb diet by my doctor so how do I know how to count them in sprinkles? Think I’ll pass..
I have been using SENSA for three days, and my stomach has begun to hurt. Prior to using SENSA, I purchased Raspberry Ketons and experienced the same abdominal pain. I believe I can’t tolerate green tea extract because I can’t tolerate coffee. Could this be it?
I dont think green tea is in sensa so I don’t think that’s it. It just could be you are one of those people who have strange reactions when they take some supplements? Ive met a few people like that before.
i started Sensa in November 2012 and i have lost 12 lbs since , i don’t notice any weight lose in my stomach are but i do in the waist, plus people have been telling me i look like i am losing weight in my face
Chris thanks for the feedback and I’m happy you are noticing a difference.
I just completed my 6th month with Sensa. I’ve had no adverse affects from the product, nor have I had any dramatic weight loss. I like that it does help limit my appetite. I was already a healthy eater and question how valuable this is for those not obese. I wonder about the weights of the people who “lost 30 lbs in 6 months”- what was their average weight upon starting?
I’m also upset about the ” 6 month program” that they hype so much- be warned: yesterday they shipped me another shipment even though the program is only supposed to last for 6 months. If it’s only a 6 month program- why are they shipping me more product? ( another batch of the original first 2 months). Clearly they don’t expect it to only last 6 months, but that’s not what all their marketing tells you it is. And they auto-charged me $90 for the shipment- I have to arrange shipping and pay to send it back. Not a reputable business practice.
I’ve been on Sensa for 6 months and what I can say is that I’ve lost 8 lbs in the first 2 months by reducing the food intake and exercise’. As my work schedule doesn’t allow me to find time to go to gim, in the last 4 months I gained 2 lbs. I posted today my comments on Sensa site and I found out that it is published just after being reviewed. I didn’t have any side effects and I didn’t notice any craving decrease.
For those who didn’t start Sensa my advise is to refrain from spending money on something that doesn’t work as advertised. You can do without Sensa: reduce the portion and exercise.
I have looked at Sensa but the obvious money grab has turned me off. The ingredients do not justify its high prices and from experience, when something is very expensive its just a money grab.You can buy a lot of salt ad pepper for the price of Sensa.
What is your opinion on thinogenics
AdamKanoa, Others have asked me about it. I just posted a question about it on my facebook page to see if anyone can tell me who makes it, its website etc. I had a hard time figuring out this info when I searched for it online.
Thanks for the straightforward and thorough analysis. I’ll be passing on Sensa. Seems like nothing more than hype and a money grab. Any company which makes it so difficult to stop a program (i.e., the automatic transfer of your money to them) gets a huge red flag from me. You can get his stuff at Costco, in case anyone still wants to try it.
Have you heard of Brenda Turner’s Lean Secrets? Do you have an opinion?
Zoe, I haven’t heard of Brenda Tuners Lean Secrets. But I have added it to my list of things to look at (yes, I really do have a list of things I review
)
Interesting! I just watched a TV commercial for Sensa and they make it sound like it’s the magic bullet everyone has been looking for. It also sounds like it’s a lifetime “sprinkle” program or you’ll gain the weight back. Hmmm – why not just decrease your calories and add some exercise for free? The only guarantee that Sensa will give you is that your wallet will definitely lose weight!
In reply to the report that Sensa gave you diarrhea…Maltodextrin can have a fiber effect when it is derived from natural sources like bananas and legumes. Many people get diarrhea if it is consumed in significant quantity.
I am on week two of the sensa diet… It hasn’t curbed my appetite yet… I will give it til the end of this week before I return it or keep on going… First week shows no major loss in weight… 1lb. But I’ve also been eating healthier, I will keep you updated on the upcoming week but I believe this product falls short of its promises
Enzo, thanks for the update!
I too almost caved a bought these “magic crystals”. First I read your article and then the next link for reviews was on a very popular site that sells Sensa. There are 112 buyer reviews. Sensa received 2 out of 5 stars for customer satisfaction. Review after review not only mentions NO weight loss, but also some pretty nasty and sometimes very SERIOUS side effects.
Research into product claims are important but NOTHING speaks louder then 100+ customer reviews. Sensa sounds like just another dieting scam. I’m sorry people nothing less then a sensible eating and regular exercise will yield the results this dieting fad promises.
I just ordered the 2 month trial – and my credit card was charged right away for $95.83. Not a hold on the money – actually charged. That made me uncomfortable right away. I wish I had taken a moment to read your review before I ordered, but admit I got caught up in the hype.
I haven’t opened the box, just having rec’d it yesterday – so I’m sending it back, canceling the auto-ship, and demanding a refund. I’ll do this through weightwatchers and exercise. I’ll keep you posted on the progress of my refund. Thank you for writing this, Joe!
Mia, sorry you went through all of that! Yes please keep me posted with the refund and also please share my review with your friends etc so they can learn from others before they buy.
I hate to admit this but I got caught with this hype also, i just ordered it last week, is there anyway that I can cancel it before it arrives at my apartment? Btw thanks for the review
Mark, call the company and tell them to cancel your order. you might also try calling your credit card and asking for their help too.
Thanks Joe for the info, i will definitely be passing on this one.
Betty, thanks I appreciate you sharing my info with your friends
Hi Joe! I was just surfing the net and found your column. It is totally awesome and informative! Like everyone else out there that’s trying to find the “magic” formula for weight loss, I’m curious as to your opinion on the BEST weight loss product (or program) out there today? Of course, I would like “fast” results, but I know that’s not the best. Keep up the good work.
Hi Karen, Im happy you found me! Do share my site with your friends as Im sure most websites never link to me as they dont want people to know Im out there.
As to your question, I get asked this a lot, so much so that I wrote my thoughts on the topic here on my personal site. I try not to recommend specific products as I want to remain unbiased. I will say that I think the safest are those that have fiber. do a search on my site for “glucomannan” as its an example of one such fiber found in various supplements Ive already reviewed and its a stand alone product also. Fruits and veggies also have lots of fiber.
I was only one click of getting the trial for me and my teenager daughter, but I found you and there is not way I will pay for it. I am more afraid of have to deal with the overcharge in my credit card AND wearing my time calling them to request to fix it than try the product.
I have been using Ali and I like it. what do you think?
Anonymous, Ali is a fat blocker drug. Prescription drugs are outside my area of expertise but if its been working for you then Id say stick with it. As you know, you have to be careful with eating fatty foods, or you have the “leaky stool” side effect people often report. Still, if something is working, I say, stay the course. Glad you found me
Glad to have found and read all of this info before ordering Sensa!! Thank you!! I realize portion control and exercise work best, but is there anything over-the-counter that can aid this Forty something in her newly started weight loss journey?
Lori, I get asked this a lot. First check out the “weight loss” section of my resources page http://supplement-geek.com/resources/ I have a post called “what weight loss supplements work” where I detail my thoughts about these types of products. Also do a search on my site for “glucomannan” its a fiber that’s been in several wt loss products. No promises but there is research on it.
My 15 year old daughter began Weight-Watchers with her 23 year old brother 4 months ago. I did not try to influence her, because she got angry with my suggestions. When she started tracking her foods and making changes on her own, she lost 25 pounds without exercise.
She has a much more positive outlook on life, looks at the foods she eats everyday, and has had to buy a new wardrobe for school. It was an easy transition for her, because she held herself accountable and planned for the extra calories when she was going to a party or away for the weekend.
She was finally in charge of what she was consuming, and she saw the results on the scale and in her clothes every week. When her friends started noticing and commenting, it just gave her more motivation to keep up her daily diaries.
She has changed her life for the better, and it was all on her own. I didn’t need to remind her about her choices or eliminate any foods we would normally have in our home. I have never been so proud of her!
Tressie, that’s wonderful. Im really happy for her also
Can we locate the actual study? If there is a treatment and a control group, and group assignment is random, and if the control group received a placebo sprinkle, then the scientific evidence is as good as it gets. However, if all these 3 conditions were satisfied, the study would probably be published somewhere. So I’d guess there is no control group.
Another note, I agree with one of the comments. The endorsement is there. Scientists always talk in probabilistic terms. You will not hear absolutes from their endorsements.
Ayse, Ive never been able to locate any published studies on the product.
Thank you for giving us your honest review Joe!
I tried Alli and I’m not sure if it’s because of having my gallbladder removed, but my body couldn’t tolerate it. I have noticed a difference obviously since having the surgery and it (Alli) was like it made it much worse..
I’m just wondering if a majority of these “diets” would have the same effect..
Kat thanks! People do have issues with fat digestion after gallbladder surgery. Not sure if Sensa would have the same effect or not.
I am not debating what you just mentioned about people having problems with fat digestion after gallbladder removal…BUT, Iin 18 years of imaging gallbladders AND andomens before and after removal of the gallbladder, NONE mentioned digestive problems, just after or months after, including me.
I wanted to follow up on my previous comment. I had ordered the two-month trial of Sensa in March and my credit card was charged immediately (actually charged, not funds put on hold – that was not how the “trial” was explained to me) which led me to look into the company further and I came across this article (thanks again, Joe!).
I returned my shipment unopened to the company, canceled the auto-ship and asked that my account was credited.. After about 3 weeks, my credit card was credited back the $96.00. I have to say that I’m relieved now – this company throws up all kinds of red flags. I’m so thankful I found this article when I did.
From now on, I would certainly do my homework before I ordered a product such as this, But – I;m very happy to say that I went on WeightWatchers in mid-March and am down 6 pounds. I’m not looking at this as a “diet”, but as re-learning how to eat and learning the triggers that cause emotional eating to start with.
Theres no easy way out of losing the weight – and as far as Sensa goes, theres no doubt in my mind that a person could use it and believe that its making a difference in how they eat. But at the end of the day – it’s all about eating the right foods and stopping before you eat the whole pan of lasagne or the entire quart of ice cream. You don;t need to pour silica on your food to learn moderation.
Best of luck to all of you
Mia, glad you got your money back and congratulations on losing weight with weight watchers
Thank you, Joe! Your article was really invaluable. You’re onto something here.
Thanks Mia
Joe, So I have been looking all over the web for the actual study done by Dr. Hirsch. Any ideas on where to look? I am doing a research paper for my physiological psychology class on weight loss and I wanted to use Sensa for my example.
Tina
I was never able to find his research either. That said I am listening to an audio book called Sugar Salt Fat How the Food Giants Hooked Us. In that book, in chapter 2 I believe, they mention US army experiments on “Sensory Specific Satiety”, the science of how good tasting food helps us feel full sooner.
Here is a study I just turned up http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/80/4/823.full
This doesn’t necessarily endorse Sensa but it may be something to add to your psych paper
I like your reporting style it nice to hear it from a diff. Point of view
Thanks Erica, I really appreciate that
I tried the sensa free trial. I got it four days ago and I’m returning it already. I was at first interested, because I was looking for something to help assist me in my weight loss. I started my weight loss journey two weeks ago. I do a basic 40 min work out ( 5 min warm up, 30 min cardio, 5 min cool down) just using my stairs and my treadmill. And I’m doing portion control. I’m not cutting anything out of my diet because I’ve attempted this before and failed but I am adding more water. I love chocolate and cookies and soda. That’s what I crave.
So far in two weeks I’ve lost 4 pounds. I don’t know if its fat or water but its a start.
I tried sensa to help jump start my progress. And I hate it. For me it actually made me want to eat more and I was craving more often. Which was frustrating because just doing my workouts and portion control makes me feel great. I have energy and an excitement about life. I feel more confident and healthy. The sensa seemed to make me take a step or two in the wrong direction.
I also tried a reboot ( rebootwithjoe.com ). I loved it and will be doing it again. If you’re interested it’s an all juice cleanse. Basically just fruit and veggies juiced as meals and water to drink. It’s tough but amazing. There’s a documentary on it called Fat Sick & Nearly Dead, (can be found on Netflix)
Now THAT is a magic bullet.
Kelsey, I really need to watch that documentary! Maybe time to hook up Apple TV and watch it
Linnette, My daughter who is 8 is overweight. I could never understand why, as she isn’t a big eater, prefers veggies over sweets and is quite active. I share your pain. I know what it is like to deal with bullies and the tears. It hurts so much. In my quest to find an answer, I hired a fitness and lifestyle coach. She introduced us to what she calls the “3 Amigo” program. Simply it is making sure every meal contains protien, complex carb and simple carb in the proper portions. And eating every 3 hours during the day.
We have 3 main meals(breakfast, lunch, supper) and 2-3 snacks(3 snacks if we are having a long day, but usually supper is the last food of the day) She also suggested clean eating to rid our bodies of unnecessary junk and sugars. I have studied everything I can find on clean eating and have made a ton of changes. It hasn’t been easy.
Financially, it has been a challenge but clean eating can be done on a limited budget. It is so worth it!!!! Not only is she losing weight, her mind is clearer = better grades in school, she is even more active(body has more energy). She is overall a happier girl. The kids at school are noticing and making positive comments.
We have a long way to go, but we are on our way. Our whole family is getting healthier. This, I believe, is the real answer to weight loss. Not pills, sprinkles, pre-packaged food like meals, etc. I know what it is like to be a parent of an overweight child, please know there is hope, there are options and there are victories!
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