Jump to: What Wonder Patch claims to do | Understanding the ingredients | The science behind transdermal vitamins | Overall effectiveness assessment | UK availability and cost | Better alternatives | Take home message
There is no evidence that The Wonder Patch supports weight loss. Despite being sold through mainstream UK retailers like Superdrug, which gives it an appearance of legitimacy, no clinical studies have tested this specific product’s effectiveness for weight management.
The Wonder Patch (also called Weight Away) contains a blend of vitamins and plant extracts including vitamin B12, vitamin D3, and green tea extract.
While these ingredients have various health benefits when consumed in foods, there’s minimal evidence they can be effectively delivered through the skin to influence weight loss.
About 28% of adults in England are living with obesity according to NHS data, making many people understandably interested in convenient weight loss solutions.
However, the issue with weight-loss patches is that there’s simply no published evidence suggesting they can support weight loss in any way.
At around £14.99 for a 30-day supply at Superdrug, The Wonder Patch is more affordable than many online-only alternatives.
However, this still represents questionable value given the lack of scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness for weight loss.
Understanding the science behind transdermal delivery can help you evaluate whether these patches are likely to provide the benefits they claim.
What Wonder Patch claims to do
The Wonder Patch (marketed as Weight Away) positions itself as a “slimming patch” that uses a blend of vitamins and plant extracts to support weight loss.
The product is sold through mainstream retailers, including Superdrug, giving it more visibility and perceived legitimacy than many online-only alternatives.
According to product packaging and marketing materials, The Wonder Patch claims to:
- “Support normal energy-yielding metabolism” through its vitamin content
- “Contribute to normal fat metabolism” with ingredients like green tea extract
- Provide a “convenient alternative to tablets” for those who struggle with pills
- Deliver ingredients “directly into the bloodstream” for better absorption
- Offer a “discreet” weight management solution that can be worn under clothing
The patches are designed to be applied to clean, dry skin once daily, typically on the stomach, thigh, or upper arm. Each patch is meant to be worn for 24 hours before being replaced.
Unlike some competitors that make explicit weight loss claims, The Wonder Patch uses more careful “supports metabolism” language, likely to comply with UK advertising regulations. This subtler approach helps it maintain mainstream retail presence while still appealing to consumers seeking weight management solutions.
However, these carefully worded claims still suggest weight loss benefits, and consumer reviews often mention purchasing the product specifically for weight reduction rather than general vitamin supplementation.
Understanding the ingredients
The Wonder Patch contains several vitamins and plant extracts that the manufacturer claims support metabolism and energy production. Here’s what the evidence actually shows for the key ingredients:
| Ingredient |
Wonder Patch claims |
Evidence quality |
Reality |
| Vitamin B12 |
“Supports normal energy metabolism” |
Good (for whole food sources) |
Found abundantly in eggs, dairy, and meat, a single serving of beef liver contains more B12 than patches could ever deliver through skin |
| Vitamin D3 |
“Contributes to normal muscle function” |
Good (for sunshine and foods) |
Best obtained from sun exposure and foods like oily fish; UK winters may require supplements, but skin patches show poor delivery compared to affordable tablets |
| Green Tea Extract |
“Supports fat metabolism” |
Moderate (for actual tea) |
Simply drinking green tea daily provides more active compounds than could be delivered through a patch |
| Garcinia Cambogia |
“Helps manage appetite” |
Poor (inconsistent results) |
Even in studies using high oral doses, results are minimal; protein-rich foods naturally provide better appetite control |
| Zinc |
“Contributes to normal carbohydrate metabolism” |
Moderate (for whole foods) |
Abundant in oysters, meat, seeds, and legumes; a small handful of pumpkin seeds provides more zinc than patches could deliver |
The fundamental issue isn’t just whether these ingredients work through the skin (they likely don’t), but that they’re all readily available in whole foods that provide dozens of additional nutrients and benefits at a fraction of the cost.
The science behind transdermal vitamins
The Wonder Patch claims to deliver vitamins and plant extracts through the skin directly into the bloodstream. This approach is called transdermal delivery, but does the science support these claims?
For a substance to effectively pass through the skin, it needs specific properties:
- Be small enough to penetrate the skin’s protective barrier
- Be able to mix with skin oils to get absorbed
- Be strong enough that even small doses can create noticeable effects
Successful transdermal medications like nicotine patches and hormone treatments work because they meet these requirements. They contain small, fat-soluble molecules that are effective in tiny doses.
Most vitamins and plant compounds face significant challenges with transdermal delivery:
- Vitamin B12 is a large, water-soluble molecule that doesn’t easily penetrate skin
- Many plant extracts contain large compounds that remain on the skin surface
- Even when minimal absorption occurs, the amounts are typically far below what research shows is effective
For The Wonder Patch to work as claimed, it would need to overcome these biological limitations, but the product provides no information about any special technology that would make this possible.
A more effective strategy would be to consume these nutrients through our diet.
The digestive system is specifically designed to extract and absorb vitamins and minerals from the food we eat.
A simple meal containing eggs, leafy greens, and whole grains provides more bioavailable nutrients than any patch could deliver, along with fibre, protein, and countless beneficial plant compounds that support overall health.
Without clinical studies testing The Wonder Patch specifically, claims about its ability to deliver active ingredients through the skin remain unsupported by scientific evidence.
Overall effectiveness assessment
Based on available evidence and scientific principles, The Wonder Patch faces several fundamental challenges that cast doubt on its effectiveness for weight loss:
Transdermal delivery limitations: Most of the ingredients in The Wonder Patch are unlikely to penetrate the skin in meaningful amounts without specialised delivery technology.
The product doesn’t appear to utilise advanced methods, such as microneedles or specialised carriers, that might enhance absorption.
Lack of product-specific research: No clinical studies have tested The Wonder Patch itself for weight loss effects. Without such research, claims about effectiveness rely on theoretical assumptions rather than demonstrated results.
Dosage concerns: Even if some ingredients could penetrate the skin, the amounts delivered would likely be far below levels shown to have metabolic effects in oral supplementation studies.
Mainstream retail presence vs. evidence: While availability at retailers like Superdrug might suggest legitimacy, this reflects commercial relationships rather than scientific validation. Mainstream retailers still sell many supplements with limited evidence bases.
Unclear mechanism of action: The product doesn’t clearly explain how its ingredients, even if absorbed, would lead to meaningful weight loss. Most effective weight loss interventions work through appetite reduction, calorie burning, or nutrient absorption – pathways that require significant biological activity.
When we compare The Wonder Patch to treatments that have been proven to work for weight loss, there’s not enough evidence to recommend using these patches.
UK availability and cost
One of The Wonder Patch’s distinguishing features is its mainstream retail availability, setting it apart from many online-only competitors.
Retail availability:
- Superdrug stores across the UK
- Superdrug’s online shop
- Some independent pharmacies
- Occasionally, at TK Maxx and similar discount retailers
Cost analysis:
- Single box (30 patches): £14.99 at Superdrug (often on promotion for £9.99)
- Monthly cost at regular price: £14.99
- Annual cost if used continuously: Approximately £180
Comparison with alternatives:
