Chitosan attaches to fat in the stomach before it is metabolized. The Chitosan traps the fat and prevents its absorption in the digestive tract. The fat binds to the Chitosan fiber and becomes a mass which the body cannot absorb. This mass is then eliminated from the body. Neutralizing fat after it enters the stomach spares the body from having to deal with the fat.
Chitosan fiber differs from other fibers in that it possesses a positive ionic charge.
This positive charge gives Chitosan the ability to chemically bond with negatively charged lipids, fats and bile. Chitosan is an all natural product which is derived from the polysaccharide chitin. Chitin is found in the exo-skeletons of shrimp, crabs and other shellfish. Chitosan can bind from one half to two thirds of the high calorie foods we eat. It's as if we never ate them.