We live in a world of shortcuts. Whether it is making food, driving a car or losing weight, all of us want to take a shortcut and cut down on the usual time and effort involved in getting the things done. One of the most common shortcuts is being used by people in case of weight loss and the shortcut comprises of diet pills. These pills not only promise quick weight loss, but also help you avoid any effort or exercise that you will have to do in losing weight on your own.
Weight loss doctors and dieticians are flooded with calls for a quick fix because people want to lose 25 kgs and look ravishing for the upcoming marriage next month. Many people who want to lose weight do not even want to hear about a weight loss of 0.5 to 1 kg a week because it is so slow. These people will do anything to lose weight quickly including trying weight loss pills and supplements.
All such weight loss pills can cause unpleasant side effects, create drug dependency and can interfeare with other medications. Contrary to what people think, weight loss pills do not melt the fat. They work by suppressing your appetite or blocking metabolic pathways (glycolic pathway). If weight loss pills are taken without a doctor's prescription, this can prove to be extremely troublesome to the health of the individual engaging in these medications. Here are some of the pills used for weight loss along with their risks:
Prescription Diet Pills
These pills are diet drugs. These pills are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration agency (FDA). Their side effects are monitored and they may be advertised and prescribed for weight loss under certain condition and in certain pill-dosages. Examples of prescription diet pills include brands like: Meridia (Sibutramine), Xenical (Orlistat), Adipex, Bontril, Didrex, Phentermine and Tenuate.
Dangers of these pills: Accidental overdose is a common problem when taking these diet pills. It leads to an increased risk of addiction (both physical and psychological), headaches, high blood pressure and heart palpitations and arrhythmias, including heart attack.
Prescription Diet Pills Designed for Obesity Sufferers
Diet pills are principally designed for those suffering from serious obesity - for example with a body mass index of 35+. These pills work on both, brains and stomach. People who fail to lose weight on orthodox diet plans should not turn to pills as an easy answer to their weight problems. Instead they should continue with their weight loss diet and work on improving their motivation to lose weight and exercise.
Dangers of these pills: Diet pill side effects that operate on the brain to reduce appetite include: raised blood pressure, chest pain, fever, hair loss, depression, impotence, heart damage, to name a few. The side effects of the pills that work on the stomach include: diarrhea, unexpected fecal discharge and oily stools.
Over-the-Counter Diet Pills and Weight Loss Supplements
The OTC diet and weight loss pills sector is probably the fastest growing sector of the weight loss industry. However, these diet pills are classified as food supplements rather than diet drugs, and are relatively unregulated. These diet pills are not tested by Federal authorities, not subject to the same advertising, dosage or labeling requirements as prescription diet pills, even though some experts consider that many OTC diet supplements and weight loss pills are (in reality) diet drugs.
Dangers of these pills: The side effects and dangers of OTC diet and weight loss pills can vary enormously because many of these pills contain a cocktail of ingredients and because dosage instructions may be inadequate. Possible side effects include: nervousness, tremor, diarrhea, bulging eyes, racing heartbeat, elevated blood pressure and even heart failure.
But eventually if you do decide to take diet pills, you should follow these elementary precautions:
- Take diet pills exactly as prescribed or directed.
- Follow a proper diet and exercise program while taking the pills.
- If side effects persist or worsen, contact your doctor.
- See your doctor after 30 days to discuss your progress on the pills.
- If the diet pills stop working, stop taking them!
Often the best defense may be not taking weight loss medications at all. There are many risks that have been associated with weight loss pills and it is not worth the risk of losing your health or your life to lose a little weight! Also, they only cause temporary weight loss which comes bouncing back once the drug is stopped and the weight gained is much more than what had been lost!
