Obesity affects about 40–45% of American adults, and it’s a risk factor for chronic disease.
Recent studies have linked banaba leaves with anti-obesity activity, as they may inhibit adipogenesis and lipogenesis — the formation of fat cells and fat molecules, respectively.
Also, polyphenols in the leaves, such as pentagalloylglucose (PGG), may prevent fat cell precursors from transforming into mature fat cells.
However, most research on this topic was conducted in test tubes, so human studies are needed.