| With over 64 percent of the US population classified | | | | Diet pills are expensive. As a general rule, the more |
| as overweight or obese, the diet industry is burgeoning. | | | | extravagant the claims for their success, the greater |
| For some, a mix of diet and exercise is the preferred | | | | the price will be. However, in the UK, only two |
| way to remove excess pounds. But in a way that | | | | medicines have been licensed for use to treat obesity. |
| typifies the instant society in which we live, many opt | | | | These are orlistat and sibutramine. The former |
| for using diet pills to shed the weight. | | | | reduces the absorption of the fat eaten, while the |
| The true concern is that many of these pills are | | | | latter boosts serotonin levels in the body to increase |
| unregulated, meaning that they have not undergone | | | | the feeling of being full. |
| evaluation by the Food and Drug Administration. There | | | | These are prescribed medications, only given to the |
| are no clinical studies to back up the results that they | | | | obese or where excess weight has caused health |
| promise. This has turned into a billion dollar industry as | | | | problems. Even then, those wanting the drugs have to |
| individuals spend untold amounts of money to shed fat. | | | | prove they have tried other methods of losing weight. |
| How the Pills Work | | | | Both drugs have been extensively tested to ensure |
| Different diet pills act in different ways. Some | | | | the results match the claims. |
| suppress appetite, with ingredients like caffeine or | | | | However, most of the diet pills have never undergone |
| phenylpropanolamine. Others claim to speed up the | | | | clinical testing, and are often hazy about their |
| metabolism while at the same time exercising control | | | | ingredients, especially the active ingredients, and how |
| over the appetite. A third group expands in the | | | | they work. Notably, most will say they should be used |
| stomach so that the user feels full without eating. The | | | | as part of a program that includes exercise and diet, |
| last group often includes a form of laxative or diuretic | | | | which alone can bring about weight loss. |
| to increase the elimination of waste products from the | | | | Where evidence of a study is quoted in advertising, it |
| body. | | | | is generally a small, one-time study that has not been |
| Effects of Diet Pills | | | | repeated, making it difficult to verify claims of |
| Before taking any diet pill, it is advisable to consult a | | | | effectiveness. |
| physician. Even prescription diet pills can have serious | | | | When over the counter weight loss pills do work, it is |
| side effects. Never take more than the recommended | | | | usually for reasons not directly associated with the pills. |
| dosage of pills. | | | | It can be due use in conjunction with a recommended |
| There is a very wide range of side effects that can | | | | calorie controlled diet, with an intake of 1000 to 1400 |
| stem from consuming diet pills, ranging from irritability | | | | calories a day and an increase in exercise. Consuming |
| and anxiety to heart attack. They can affect the | | | | large quantities of water with the pills will also promote |
| menstrual cycle and even cause hair loss. However, | | | | weight loss, since water has a sating effect on the |
| among the worst effects is both physical and | | | | body. Finally, there is rationalization, wherein an individual |
| emotional dependency upon the pills. | | | | who spends considerable amounts on diet pills can |
| Where a user credits the pills with weight loss, | | | | engage in other activities which guarantee their |
| discounting exercise and diet changes, it can create a | | | | success, such as engaging in a healthier lifestyle to |
| reliance on the pills to lose additional weight. There | | | | effect weight loss. |
| have been consistent warnings about taking diet pills | | | | Warning Signs |
| containing ephedra, and the FDA has given advice that | | | | Some pills promise significant weight loss - meaning |
| anyone considering using any supplement containing | | | | more than two pounds a week - without any change |
| ephedra, which is also known as ma huang, should | | | | in diet. These claims are simply not feasible. |
| consult their doctor before doing so. The FDA has also | | | | These promises should raise warning flags, because |
| banned 120 of the ingredients found in over the | | | | they are unproven, despite testimonials and celebrity |
| counter diet supplements. | | | | endorsements. If pressed, the companies would be |
| Some users switch from diet pill to diet pill, based upon | | | | unable to produce any clinical evidence to support their |
| advertising claims, seeking the magic bullet that will | | | | claims. |
| allow them to continue eating what they desire while | | | | Conclusion |
| losing weight. To date, there has been no pill created | | | | Other than with orlistat and sibutramine, there has been |
| that will allow this to occur. Pills can have an effect | | | | no extensive testing to prove that weight loss pills |
| only if used as part of an ongoing regimen of diet and | | | | alone will produce significant weight loss. While |
| exercise. The change needs to be in the lifestyle. | | | | nutritional cleansers have effected remarkable results, |
| In the few instances where diet pills have undergone | | | | long-term results are observed only if used as part of |
| FDA study, the best results have only reported a five | | | | a sustained program that includes a calorie controlled |
| percent reduction in body weight over the course of a | | | | diet and increased exercise, and in many cases the |
| year. | | | | latter two will produce the desired weight loss without |
| Do Diet Pills Produce Results? | | | | the use of the pills. |
