Diet pills are used by many people in order to help lose weight, either to supplement a diet and exercise program or as an alternative to these other lifestyle changes. Many of these pills are marketed as "fat-burning pills" and are sold over-the-counter in drugstores and over the internet. These supplements are not regulated like drugs and should be taken with caution.
Theory
There are a number of diet pills that are available and they each have different ways of working. Some block fat absorption from the intestines, and other work to suppress appetite. "Fat-burning" pills, on the other hand, typically work to increase metabolism. Most of these work as stimulants that temporarily boost metabolism and suppress appetite.
Ephedra-Based Pills
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are a number of different compounds that either contain ephedra or are related to this chemical. Aside from ephedra itself, there is also mallow leaf (which contains ephedra), and bitter orange (which is chemically similar). Although ephedra is effective for weight-loss purposes, it can pose serious health risks, including sleeplessness, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, heart attacks, seizures and strokes. These side effects can be fatal and caused ephedra to be pulled from the market by the FDA.
Non-Ephedra Products
There are many different fat-burning compounds that do not contain ephedra. These include green tea extract, conjugated linoleic acid and chromium. According to the Mayo Clinic, there is not sufficient evidence that these compounds are effective at burning fat. These supplements also can have their own side effects, including diarrhea, bloating and indigestion.
Lack of Regulation
One of the biggest problems with over-the-counter fat-burning pills is the overall lack of regulation of these products. Unlike prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs, fat-burning pills are "supplements" and thus can be marketed and sold based on studies that the manufacturer has performed. In addition, these medications often contain many different compounds, some of which may not be listed.
Hydroxycut Recall
One good example of the problems involved with fat-burning pills is a recent recall of certain Hydroxycut products by the FDA. It was found that many of the items in the Hydroxycut product line could cause liver damage and jaundice. Hydroxycut has also been linked to cardiovascular problems, seizures and muscle breakdown. As a result, in May 2009 the FDA recalled many of the Hydroxycut products.
Member Comments