A diet pill that makes you magically thin is akin to the Fountain of Youth; everyone wants to find it, but it probably doesn't exist. While some diet pills are approved by the U.S . Food and Drug Administration, they aren't magical fix-alls to help you lose weight. As you search for diet pills, look for those you can use perfectly every time in conjunction with healthy lifestyle changes that allow you to lose weight safely. Discuss taking any supplement with your doctor.
Availability
Diet pills are available over the counter, in grocery stores and by prescription. But beware: just because diet pills are readily available doesn't necessarily make them safe, warns MayoClinic.com. Supplements and so-called diet pills are available almost anywhere, and they may not be as heavily regulated as you think. Purchase diet pills from a reputable pharmacy or nutrition store for the best results and the best guarantee of safety.
Supplements
Diet supplements are not regulated by the same rules and regulations as over-the-counter and prescription diet medications, notes the FDA website, which means they can be sold almost anywhere and to anyone. While diet pills must be safe, many are untested or contain unhealthy and potentially dangerous ingredients.
Pharmaceuticals
The FDA heavily regulates both over-the-counter diet pills and prescription diet pills. Currently, only one over-the-counter diet pill has been approved by the FDA to help you lose weight safely, and that is Alli, otherwise known as the drug orlistat. A few drugs have been approved for prescription weight loss with the help and supervision of your doctor, including Metformin and Meridia. Both have serious side effects, so you should never take them without doctor supervision.
Testing
Diet pills must undergo various testing through the FDA be approved as safe. It's clear that more drugs are denied than accepted through the FDA testing process. "The New York Times" notes that a drug must cause a person to lose at least 5 percent of his body weight safely over the course of a year before it can be approved. The FDA typically holds a council and each member votes on whether or not to approve the drug after researching the safety and validity of the diet pill.
Alternatives
Unless you are morbidly obese and have health complications, your doctor doesn't need to prescribe a diet pill and you needn't rely on pills to help you lose weight. Instead, a healthy lifestyle paired with a sensible diet is enough to help you lose weight. If you've made lifestyle changes without results, talk to your doctor about possible underlying causes for your excess weight.
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