Do digestive enzymes help you lose weight?
Written by: Vincent Pedre M.D. | April 2, 2024 | Time to read 9 min
Let’s get real for a moment.
You’ve been eating clean, maybe even counting macros. You’re squeezing in workouts, managing your stress (as best you can), and making sleep a priority. Yet, the scale won’t budge—or worse, the bloat seems to hang around no matter what you do.
If that sounds familiar, it’s not your willpower that’s broken—it could be your digestion.
Yes, your gut might be what’s quietly sabotaging your weight loss. And one often overlooked solution? Digestive enzymes. I know, this may sound far out there, but read on to learn why digestive enzymes can help with weight loss.
In this post, I’m going to walk you through:
What digestive enzymes are
How they relate to feeling satiated
How they relate to metabolism and weight
Why they matter even more after 40
And how to use them strategically to feel lighter, more energized, and finally see the scale move again
Let’s dive in.
What Are Digestive Enzymes, Anyway?
Think of digestive enzymes as your body’s internal food processors.
They’re specialized proteins that help break down the food you eat into absorbable nutrients. Without them, your body struggles to access the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and healthy fats in your meals.
There are several key types:
Protease – breaks down proteins
Lipase – digests fats
Amylase – processes carbohydrates
Lactase – helps break down lactose (milk sugar)
Cellulase – breaks down fiber from plants
Your body naturally produces most of these enzymes (primarily in your pancreas and small intestine).
But here’s the kicker: enzyme production declines as you age —especially after 35, and even more with other factors. Add stress, processed foods, or a history of gut issues, and you’ve got a recipe for sluggish digestion, poor nutrient absorption, and uncomfortable bloating.
So… Do Digestive Enzymes Help You Lose Weight?
The answer: Yes—indirectly, but powerfully.
Digestive enzymes aren’t appetite suppressants or metabolism-boosting “fat burners.” You won’t take them and instantly drop pounds. But what they do is fix one of the biggest silent disruptors of your metabolism: poor digestion.
Here’s how:
1. They Help You Actually Absorb Nutrients
If your digestion is impaired, you’re likely dealing with nutrient deficiencies —even if you eat a healthy diet.
Low B vitamins, magnesium, iron, or amino acids can:
Slow down your metabolism
Disrupt hormones that regulate weight
Leave you feeling tired and foggy
Digestive enzymes break food down so your body can extract and absorb what it needs—fueling your cells, revving up metabolism, and helping your body run more efficiently.
2. They Reduce Bloating and Gas
Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt 5 months pregnant or like a balloon after a meal 🙋♀️
That bloat? It’s often caused by poorly digested food fermenting in your gut —creating gas, inflammation, and discomfort.
Digestive enzymes help prevent this by breaking food down before it reaches the colon, where fermentation happens. That means:
Less bloating
Smoother digestion
A flatter-feeling belly
It’s not just about vanity—chronic bloating can actually signal low-grade inflammation, which is linked to slower fat burning and higher cortisol levels.
3. They Help Balance Blood Sugar
Digestive enzymes, especially amylase, help break down complex carbohydrates that when in balance with other enzymes helps to prevent blood sugar spikes and crashes.
This is crucial because:
Spikes in blood sugar trigger insulin (your fat-storage hormone)
Crashes lead to cravings for sugar and carbs
Both can derail your weight loss goals—fast
When digestion is more efficient, blood sugar stays more stable. That means:
✅ Fewer cravings
✅ Better appetite control
✅ More sustained energy throughout the day
4. They Can Reduce Cravings and Help Regulate Hunger Hormones
When your body doesn’t get the nutrients it needs (because you're not digesting properly), it sends signals to eat more. This can lead to:
Constant hunger, even after meals
Emotional eating
Late-night snacking
By improving nutrient absorption, digestive enzymes help normalize levels of ghrelin (your hunger hormone) and leptin (your satiety hormone). Digestive enzymes don't directly trigger leptin, but they help set off a chain reaction that supports leptin function and overall appetite control.
The result? You actually feel full and satisfied sooner, avoiding that overeating mistake that happens when your brain can’t hear your gut signals.
5. They Boost Energy and Exercise Performance
When your digestive system is sluggish, your energy tanks. You feel tired, foggy, and unmotivated. That often leads to:
Skipping workouts
Lower intensity at the gym
Slower recovery
By lightening the load on your gut, enzymes free up energy for movement, metabolism, and fat burning.
Research Backs It Up
While digestive enzymes aren’t marketed as weight-loss products, studies show they:
Improve symptoms of indigestion and bloating
Enhance nutrient absorption
Reduce inflammation in the gut
Support healthier microbiome function
A study from 2024 published in Nutrition and Dietary Supplements found that a multi-digestive enzyme and herbal supplement significantly reduced post-meal abdominal distension and discomfort in healthy adults. Participants experienced notably less bloating within 30 to 90 minutes after eating, and over half reported feeling less gassy and more comfortable overall, without any adverse effects.
Additionally, a review in Alternative Medicine Review reported that poor enzyme function, particularly due to pancreatic insufficiency, can impair nutrient absorption and slow digestion, leading to symptoms like bloating, cramps, flatulence, and diarrhea. Supplementing with enzymes—whether animal-based, microbial, or plant-derived—can help correct malabsorption and support digestion in conditions such as lactose intolerance and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.
Bottom line? A happy gut = more energy & a more responsive metabolism.
Who Might Benefit Most from Digestive Enzymes?
If you’re wondering if digestive enzymes are right for you, ask yourself:
Do you feel bloated after meals?
Do certain foods (like dairy, beans, or veggies) upset your stomach?
Do you feel full for hours after you finish eating, like food just sits in your stomach?
Have you been diagnosed with IBS, reflux, or leaky gut?
Are you over age 40?
Are you under a lot of stress and find it hard to eat?
Have you had your gallbladder removed?
Are you eating a high-protein or high-fat diet?
If you answered yes to any of these, you most likely will benefit from targeted enzyme support.
Choosing the Right Digestive Enzyme Supplement
Not all enzyme supplements are created equal. You want one that’s:
Broad-spectrum – covers protein, fat, carbs, fiber, and dairy
High potency – not just a sprinkle of enzymes (if it’s not strong enough, you’re going to think it’s not working and useless)
Free from fillers – no allergens, GMOs, or additives
One I personally recommend?
It’s my go-to digestive enzyme formula, and here's why:
✅ Includes protease, lipase, amylase, lactase, cellulase—and more
✅ Designed to reduce gas, bloating, and indigestion
✅ Helps break down hard-to-digest foods like legumes, dairy, and cruciferous veggies
✅ Supports leaky gut repair and inflammation reduction
✅ Vegan, non-GMO, and allergy-friendly
When I formulated Activate Plus, I wanted to create a supplement that did more than just ease occasional discomfort. I wanted to help people repair and restore optimal digestion —which is the root of energy, weight balance, and vitality.
How to Use Digestive Enzymes for Best Results
Using enzymes is simple—but strategy matters.
Here’s how to get the most from your supplement:
📍 Take it before or at the start of your meals – Ideally 5–15 minutes before eating (this is supplement-specific; for Activate Plus, aim to take it 5 min or less before your meal)
📍 Start with one capsule per meal – Adjust as needed based on how you feel (one capsule may not be enough, and if it’s too low of a dose for what your digestive system needs it’s going to feel like it’s not working / like nothing’s happening. Increase the dose slowly by one capsule every couple of days and look for decreased bloating after meals).
📍 Stay consistent – Like any health habit, daily use brings better results
📍 Pair with gut-friendly habits – Chew your food well, eat slowly, and don’t overeat
You don’t need to take them forever—but using enzymes for even a few months can retrain your digestion and reduce inflammation long-term.
Digestive Enzymes: Not a Magic Bullet—But a Missing Link
If you’ve been stuck in a weight loss plateau, battling stubborn belly bloat, overeating, succumbing to your cravings, or just feeling off energetically, digestive enzymes might be the overlooked fix you didn’t know you needed.
Remember:
Weight loss isn’t just about calories—it’s about how your body processes and uses those calories.
When digestion works better, everything else works better —your energy, mood, metabolism, and yes, your waistline.
Final Thoughts: Is It Time to Support Your Gut?
So, ultimately do digestive enzymes help you lose weight?
Not directly. But when they improve digestion, reduce bloating, balance hormones, and enhance nutrient absorption—they support weight loss in a BIG way.
You’ll put an end to overeating.
Especially if you’re over 40 and feel like your metabolism is slowing down or your usual routines just aren’t cutting it anymore… it might be time to go deeper.
Your gut’s slow enzyme production could be the missing link.
👉 Want to try digestive enzymes as part of your weight loss journey?
Check out Activate Plus by Happy Gut —and start feeling the difference in just a few days.
Your metabolism—and your mood—will thank you. 💚
