The Weight Control Information Network reports that over two-thirds of the adults in the United States are overweight. Obesity is an epidemic in the United States and many people are looking for the quickest, easiest way to lose their extra weight. Weight-loss pills are often viewed as a lifesaver for desperate dieters, but they should not be taken lightly. While they can be helpful for some, diet pills are not for everyone and should not be relied upon as your sole effort toward losing weight.
Diet Pill Variety
A quick stroll through the supplements section of your local grocery store or a search on the Internet would quickly reveal that there are a variety of weight loss pills on the market, priced from dirt cheap to wildly expensive. Some brands have weight loss gurus plastered across the front, promising results that will have you looking just like them. Other weight loss pills promise to stop your hunger, make you go to the bathroom more frequently, lose five pounds in one day or all of the above.
There are weight loss pills that can be prescribed by a doctor, as well. While these are not always a safer or more sensible option than over-the-counter diet pills, being under a doctor's supervision while taking them can add a degree of safety to taking them and act as a safeguard against unexpected side effects.
Advantages
With the right diet, enough exercise and the right mindset the weight will come off eventually, whether you decide to use weight loss pills or not. Diet pills are not for everyone, but there are some advantages to taking them that are worth considering. The website HealthGuidance suggests that taking diet pills can be a great way to jump-start a diet, especially for those that are having a difficult time getting things together. They can spur rapid weight loss, especially at first. This is a huge advantage for those who need to see results in order to feel inspired and motivated to continue on their weight loss endeavor. MayoClinic.com encourages eating fewer calories to get the body to lose weight and do plenty of exercise to burn calories, but warns that continued weight loss may require continued use of weight loss pills.
Fen-Phen (Banned)
Fen-phen is a drug that was used in many weight loss supplements in the 1990s. According to FenPhenFYI.com, the drug works by changing the levels of serotonin in the brain in such a way that people don't feel hungry as they normally would. As the drugs became more popular, it was discovered that the combination of the two drugs used to make Fen-phen, fenfluramine and phentermine, contributed to heart-valve damage and even death of some dieters. In 1997, Pondimin and Redux, the two popular diet pills that had Fen-phen as the active ingredient, were recalled and banned by the United States Food and Drug Administration.
Hoodia
Hoodia is a weight-loss supplement sold over the counter. According to Drugs.com, Hoodia has not been evaluated by the FDA so there is no guarantee of its purity, safety or effectivenes. Although it has been known to be an effective appetite suppressant, hoodia is unsafe for people with diabetes and heart disease.
Alli
Alli pills are sold over the counter. For a higher strength, Xenical, which contains the same active ingredient, orlistat, can be prescribed by a doctor. While orlistat will decrease the absorption of fat from your diet, the FDA is investigating claims that the pills cause damage to the liver. Users must follow a low-fat, low calorie diet; excess fat not absorbed in digestion can "leak" out the end of the digestive tract -- one of the infamous drawbacks to this pill.
Ephedra
Although it has been banned by the FDA, ephedra is still used in some diet pills that are purchased from overseas or online. While it is designed to decrease appetite and has been shown to be effective in doing so, MayoClinic.com reports that ephedra has been deemed generally unsafe and was banned by the FDA for use in weight loss pills.
Considerations
While diet pills can be good for jumpstarting a weight loss regimen and helping to shed a few pounds quickly, there are some cons to taking them that should be weighed carefully. MayoClinic.com reports that there are no miracles for weight loss, even in the form of a pill. Diet pills have some side effects that every person should carefully consider before taking them. Talk to your doctor about the diet pills you are considering and the side effects that are common with that particular product before you start taking them.
Some of the more common side effects are nausea, dizziness, vomiting, exhaustion, high blood pressure and even increased risk for heart attack and stroke.
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