Losing weight is hard and sometimes exercise and diet alone are not enough. At these times diet pills may seem like the answer; however, precautions should be taken. First it is important to talk to a doctor before taking weight loss pills. Some can have serious side effects even when used as directed. This is especially a concern if there is a family history or risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Before taking any products, it is important to learn about diet pills and heart disease before proceeding to use them.
Identification
There are many varieties of weight loss pills to choose from. They can be bought over the counter or come in prescription strength. Some block the body from absorbing some of the fat that is consumed, some decrease appetite while others speed up the metabolism increasing the number of calories the body burns. However, since these drugs are not fully regulated, their safety has not been tested and there are no restrictions on what manufacturers are allowed to claim, warns the Mayo Clinic website. In addition, some can cause heart-related problems, so a doctor should always be consulted.
Warnings
Diet pills that speed metabolism can damage the heart. The heart comprises part of metabolism, which is artificially increased with some of these drugs. For this reason, some of the diet pills known to cause heart disease have been pulled from the U.S market. This includes products containing fenfluramine and phentermine, or "fen-phen," which has been linked to heart valve damage, states the Journal of the American Medical Association. Other diet pill ingredients include ephedra, or a combination of ephedra and caffeine. These products were also pulled, because patients who took more than 32 mg daily increased their risk of heart disease. Caution should be used because these products may still be found in diet pills sold online.
Considerations
Safer diet pills exist on the market today. These drugs work by suppressing the appetite or blocking fat absorption. However, even with diet pills that are considered safe, they should only be used for those with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 and higher, or those with a lower BMI who have an obesity-related complication, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes or high levels of fats in the blood.
In addition, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, recommends only using diet pills on a short-term basis as they can cause an increase in blood pressure, palpitations, weakness, dizziness and other side effects. Adding to this, many of these drugs have not been tested for safety or effectiveness when taken longer than two years.
Features
Along with a lack of studies on the safety of diet pills, there is very little evidence to support their benefits. Of those diet pills that have been studied, only a few caused modest weight loss. Also, taking a diet pill does not change the behaviors that led to overeating in the first place. Once the pill is stopped, if old eating patterns return, so will the weight. According to the University of Michigan Health System this can be dangerous, because yo-yo dieting or weight swings can also lead to post-menopause heart disease.
Solution
Even when taking a diet pill, it is still important to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors that will last a life time. Counting calories and getting regular exercise will need to become a way of life, both when taking the pills and after stopping them. Diet pills may help a patient get started, but then lifestyle choices will need to be the primary treatment in losing weight and keeping it off.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Over-the-Counter Weight-Loss Pills: Do They Work?
- JAMA: Efficacy and Safety of Ephedra and Ephedrine for Weight Loss and Athletic Performance
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Prescription Medications for the Treatment of Obesity
- University of Michigan Health System: Study Links Yo-Yo Dieting to Poor Post-Menopause Heart Health
