Understanding Arrae’s claims: ‘natural Ozempic’ marketing meets reality
Arrae positions MB-1 as a ‘natural faux-zempic’ alternative, claiming it can deliver pharmaceutical-level results through plant-based ingredients.
This comparison is misleading on multiple levels.
GLP-1 medications like Ozempic undergo extensive clinical trials involving thousands of participants over many years, demonstrating 12-15% weight loss in controlled studies.
MB-1 has no published clinical trials testing the actual product.
The company claims MB-1 can reduce body fat by 20%, lower blood sugar by 31%, and decrease cholesterol by 44% within 90 days.
These dramatic figures come from cherry-picking the best results from studies on individual ingredients, often conducted on different populations using different doses than those in MB-1.
MB-1 contains seven main ingredients in a proprietary blend: African mango seed extract, cissus extract, grains of paradise, bifidobacterium lactis, green tea extract, vitamin B6, and chromium picolinate.
The supplement industry loves proprietary blends because they can hide inadequate dosing while claiming their ‘unique formula’ justifies premium pricing.
Arrae markets MB-1 as being ‘backed by 15 clinical trials across its seven ingredients.’ This sounds impressive until you realise these studies weren’t conducted on MB-1 itself.
It’s like claiming a fruit salad will cure diabetes because individual studies showed apples help blood sugar, oranges provide vitamin C, and bananas contain potassium.
The combination matters, the doses matter, and the specific formulation matters.
Companies want you to believe that paying £70+ monthly for a pill represents cutting-edge science, but the reality is far less exciting.
Most of the ‘breakthrough’ results came from basic lifestyle changes that the study participants made, alongside taking supplements.
Individual ingredient analysis: modest research meets inadequate dosing
Here’s what the evidence actually shows for MB-1’s key ingredients and why the marketing claims don’t hold up:
| Ingredient |
Claimed Benefit |
Evidence Quality |
Reality Check |
| African Mango (IGOB131®) |
20% body fat reduction |
Weak (small studies, 8-10 weeks) |
Modest effects only with diet/exercise; undisclosed dosing |
| Cissus Extract (CQR-300®) |
Blocks fat absorption |
Very weak (limited human data) |
2-3kg additional loss with lifestyle changes; proprietary blend hides doses |
| Grains of Paradise |
Activates brown fat, boosts metabolism |
Very weak (tiny studies) |
43 calories/day increase = half a digestive biscuit |
| Bifidobacterium lactis B420 |
Controls cravings, gut health |
Moderate (mixed results) |
Some studies show modest weight loss benefits, but inconsistent results across trials |
| Green Tea Extract |
Steady energy, metabolism |
Moderate (inconsistent) |
Effective studies used 375-690mg catechins daily; MB-1’s content unknown |
| Chromium Picolinate |
Blood sugar control |
Weak (minimal weight loss effects) |
Studies show only 1kg additional weight loss vs placebo regardless of dose |
| Vitamin B6 |
Protein metabolism |
Good (for deficiencies only) |
Essential nutrient, but doesn’t drive weight loss |
Key takeaway: While some ingredients show modest effects in research, the doses and combinations in MB-1 are undisclosed, making it impossible to predict effectiveness. Even proven ingredients like chromium show minimal weight loss benefits.
The table above clearly shows the gap between Arrae’s marketing claims and the actual evidence for each ingredient.
African mango research typically involves small studies conducted over short periods, with participants making significant lifestyle changes alongside supplementation.
The most cited study showed 12.8kg weight loss versus 0.7kg in placebo over 10 weeks, with participants maintaining their usual diet and activity levels.
However, the study used 300mg daily of IGOB131 (150mg twice daily), while MB-1 doesn’t disclose how much African mango extract it contains in its proprietary blend.
This makes it impossible to determine how much benefit came from the supplement versus the lifestyle interventions.
Grains of paradise represent perhaps the most misleading inclusion.
Research suggests that it may increase daily calorie burning by 43 calories, equivalent to about half a digestive biscuit or a 5-minute walk.
Even if MB-1 contains effective doses, this minimal metabolic impact pales in comparison to building consistent exercise habits.
Bifidobacterium lactis B420 shows mixed results in research, with some studies showing modest weight loss benefits while others show minimal effects.
The inconsistency in results makes it unclear whether this strain provides meaningful weight loss benefits, especially at the doses likely present in MB-1’s proprietary blend.
Green tea extract can provide benefits, but effective studies used 375-690mg of catechins daily.
MB-1 doesn’t specify catechin content, making it impossible to assess whether meaningful amounts are present.
Chromium picolinate is present at research-backed doses (500mcg), but studies consistently show only about 1kg additional weight loss compared to placebo, regardless of dose used.
The dosing reality
Research consistently shows that effective doses of these ingredients are much higher than what’s likely contained in MB-1’s proprietary blend.
Companies use proprietary blends to create the illusion of comprehensive formulas while using minimal amounts of expensive ingredients.
It’s like expecting a full meal from a sample platter. Technically, all the food groups are present, but not in meaningful quantities.
Clinical evidence vs marketing hype: where’s the proof?
The fundamental problem with MB-1 isn’t that its ingredients are completely useless; some do have limited research behind them.
The problem is that Arrae makes dramatic claims based on cherry-picked studies while avoiding the expense and risk of actually testing their product.
No trials on the actual product
Despite claims of being ‘clinically proven,’ no published studies have tested MB-1 itself.
This matters because combining ingredients can alter their effects in the body.
Some compounds compete for absorption, while others may enhance or diminish each other’s effects, and the overall safety profile of combinations can differ from that of individual ingredients.
Misleading statistics
Arrae’s marketing highlights the most dramatic results from individual ingredient studies: a 20% reduction in body fat, a 31% improvement in blood sugar, and a 44% decrease in cholesterol.
These figures come from different studies, populations, time frames, and doses than those in MB-1.
It’s like claiming a new car will be the fastest, most fuel-efficient, and safest vehicle ever made by combining the best features from different vehicles.
Study quality issues
Many studies on MB-1’s ingredients have significant limitations:
- Small sample sizes (often fewer than 50 participants)
- Short durations (typically 8-12 weeks)
- Industry funding from ingredient suppliers
- Participants making multiple lifestyle changes simultaneously
- Lack of independent replication
The lifestyle factor
Almost all studies showing benefits for MB-1’s ingredients involved participants who also made dietary and exercise changes.
This raises the critical question: how much of the benefit came from the supplement versus the lifestyle modifications?
Companies want you to believe their pills deserve the credit, but research consistently shows that sustainable weight loss comes from developing healthy habits, not from taking supplements.
The participants who succeeded in these studies weren’t just taking supplements; they were learning to eat differently, move more, and build healthier routines.
Missing long-term data
Even if MB-1 provided short-term benefits, there is no evidence that it helps maintain weight loss over time.
Supplements can’t teach you how to navigate social eating situations, manage stress without food, or maintain motivation when progress slows.
These skills require practice and support, not pills.
Cost considerations and alternatives: £70 monthly for unproven promises
At £70+ monthly, MB-1 represents a significant financial commitment for unproven benefits.
Let’s examine whether this investment makes sense compared to approaches with stronger evidence.
The supplement industry’s profit model
Companies like Arrae understand that people want quick fixes and are willing to pay premium prices for the promise of effortless results.
The supplement industry generates billions by selling hope in expensive bottles while avoiding the rigorous testing required for medical treatments.
They know that most customers won’t demand the same evidence standards they’d expect from prescription medications.
Cost-benefit analysis
MB-1 costs £840+ annually for ingredients that might provide minimal benefits.
For comparison:
- NHS weight management programmes: Free with GP referral
- Quality gym membership: £30-50 monthly with proven benefits
- Personal trainer sessions: £40-60 each with lasting skill development
- Registered dietitian consultation: £60-80 per session with personalised guidance
- Second Nature’s Mounjaro programme: £230 monthly, including medication, with up to 25% weight loss in clinical trials
The whole foods alternative
You can obtain similar (and likely superior) benefits by investing the monthly cost of MB-1 in high-quality whole foods.
£70 monthly could buy:
- 2kg of fresh salmon (rich in omega-3s and protein)
- 3kg of mixed berries (antioxidants and fibre)
- 5kg of leafy greens (vitamins, minerals, and satiety)
- 2kg of nuts and seeds (healthy fats and protein)
- Quality olive oil and spices
These foods provide the nutrients your body needs for optimal metabolism, appetite control, and energy, without the marketing hype.
Plus, they teach you to build meals around nutrient-dense ingredients, a skill that lasts a lifetime.
Investment in habit formation
The most effective use of £70 monthly would be investing in developing sustainable habits:
- Meal planning and preparation skills
- Finding physical activities you genuinely enjoy
- Learning stress management techniques that don’t involve food
- Building sleep hygiene practices that support a healthy weight
These investments require more effort than taking supplements, but they create lasting change that extends far beyond weight loss.
The convenience trap
Supplement companies market convenience as a benefit, but true convenience comes from developing habits that feel natural and sustainable.
Learning to prepare quick, healthy meals you enjoy is more convenient than relying on expensive supplements indefinitely.
Building consistent exercise routines that fit your schedule is more convenient than relying on pills to boost your metabolism.
Companies profit from keeping you dependent on their products rather than helping you develop independence through healthy habits.
Why lifestyle change beats expensive supplements
The fundamental difference between supplements and lifestyle change isn’t just effectiveness; it’s what they teach you about creating lasting health.
Supplements teach dependence
Taking MB-1 teaches you that health comes from a bottle you must continuously purchase.
It reinforces the belief that your body needs external fixes rather than supporting its natural ability to maintain a healthy weight through proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.
Even if MB-1 provided modest benefits, what happens when you stop taking it?
You’re back where you started, potentially worse off because you haven’t developed any sustainable skills.
Lifestyle change teaches independence
Learning to prepare meals you enjoy teaches you that healthy food can be satisfying and delicious.
Finding physical activities you genuinely like teaches you that movement can be energising rather than punishing.
Developing stress management skills teaches you that you can handle life’s challenges without turning to food or supplements.
These skills compound over time, creating resilience and confidence that no pill can provide.
The hard truth about sustainable change
Developing healthy habits isn’t easy, and companies like Arrae profit from people’s desire to avoid difficult changes.
Building a lifestyle that naturally supports a healthy weight requires:
- Learning new cooking skills and meal planning strategies
- Finding ways to be active that fit your schedule and preferences
- Developing emotional regulation skills that don’t rely on food
- Creating environments that support your goals
- Building social connections that encourage healthy choices
These changes require time, effort, and often the support of qualified professionals.
But they work in ways that supplements never can, creating lasting transformation that improves not just your weight but your overall quality of life.
The fulfilment factor
Perhaps most importantly, lifestyle changes create a sense of accomplishment and self-efficacy that supplements cannot provide.
Learning to cook a healthy meal you love feels satisfying in ways that swallowing a pill never will.
Completing a workout that challenges you builds confidence that extends beyond physical fitness.
Managing stress through healthy coping strategies teaches you that you’re capable of handling life’s ups and downs.
This psychological component of health is crucial for long-term success and cannot be purchased in any supplement bottle.
Take home message
Arrae MB-1 contains some ingredients with limited research behind them, but the product itself has never been clinically tested despite costing £70+ monthly.
The marketing promises of dramatic weight loss and metabolic improvements aren’t supported by evidence on the actual supplement.
Companies like Arrae profit from selling the fantasy that expensive pills can solve complex health challenges without the hard work of building sustainable habits.
The supplement industry has perfected the art of making inadequate doses of researched ingredients sound revolutionary while avoiding the rigorous testing required for medical treatments.
While MB-1’s individual ingredients might provide modest benefits at proper doses, you can achieve far greater results by investing that £70 monthly in quality whole foods and habit formation.
The uncomfortable truth is that lasting weight loss requires developing skills that no supplement can provide: learning to prepare healthy meals you enjoy, finding physical activities that energise you, managing stress without food, and creating lifestyle patterns that feel sustainable and fulfilling.
This isn’t the easy path that supplement marketing promises, but it’s the only approach that creates lasting change while building confidence, independence, and genuine health improvements.
Rather than hoping for quick fixes from expensive pills, the most effective investment is in developing habits and skills that will serve your health for years to come.
Companies want to sell you dependence on their products, but true health comes from building independence through sustainable lifestyle changes that address the root causes of weight gain rather than just the symptoms.
Second Nature's Mounjaro programme
Second Nature provides Mounjaro as part of our Mounjaro weight-loss programme
Why choose Second Nature over other medication providers, assuming you’re eligible?
Because peace of mind matters.
We’ve had the privilege of working with the NHS for over eight years, helping people across the UK take meaningful steps toward a healthier, happier life.
Our programmes are designed to meet people where they are, whether that means support with weight loss through compassionate one-to-one health coaching, or access to the latest weight-loss medications (like Mounjaro) delivered alongside expert care from a multidisciplinary team of doctors, psychologists, dietitians, and personal trainers.
At the heart of everything we do is a simple belief: real, lasting change comes from building better habits, not relying on quick fixes. We’re here to support that change every step of the way.
With over a decade of experience, thousands of lives changed, and a long-standing record of delivering programmes used by the NHS, we believe we're the UK’s most trusted weight-loss programme.
We hope to offer you something invaluable: peace of mind, and the support you need to take that first step.
