1. Is There a Doctor In the House?
Some diet pills can only be prescribed by a doctor. These pills are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, helping to ensure they are safe for consumers. Meridia, Phentermine, Bontril and Tenuate are prescription appetite suppressants that create a feeling of fullness and help you to eat less. Other prescription pills like Xenical block the absorption of fat into the body; instead the body releases fat as waste. If you truly have medical reasons for needing a diet pill, getting a prescription from your doctor is a safe way to start losing weight.
2. DIY Weight Loss
Other diet pills can be bought over-the-counter (OTC) at your local store. Most of these pills and their effectiveness do not have to be approved by the FDA so beware of claims that sound too good to be true. The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act requires any new dietary ingredients to get FDA approval but this does not affect products already on the market. Different OTC diet pills work as appetite suppressants, fat blockers and energy boosters. Some popular OTC pills include Dexatrim, Xenedrine, Chitosan and Alli.
3. If It Were Only That Easy
If you could lose weight by just taking a pill, why isn't everyone doing it? Because a pill alone can't do it all. Some prescription diet pills have been successful in helping lose weight but this may also be because a patient is under the supervision of a physician and must lose weight for serious health reasons. The OTC diet pills that advertise unbelievable weight loss stories are generally unreliable since they aren't studied by the FDA. The best way to lose weight is still a sensible diet and moderate exercise. Diet pills are only meant to kick-start the beginning of such a lifestyle change.
4. It's Not All Bad News
When used to begin a healthy diet and exercise regimen, diet pills can stimulate quicker weight loss. Appetite suppressants will decrease your cravings for junk food and late night snacks, helping you adjust to a new wholesome eating style. Caffeine diet pills can provide you with the extra energy needed to start and stick with that new exercise plan. Diet pills are only meant to be taken for a short time as your body will develop a tolerance to them and make them ineffective.
5. Dieter Beware
The negative side effects of both prescription and OTC diet pills can be as minor as cramping, diarrhea, headaches and insomnia. However, some diet pills have been blamed for causing heart attacks. In 1996 the combination of the diet pills fenfluramine and phentermine, more commonly known as fen-phen, was found to cause serious heart disease in previously healthy people. The stimulant ephedra found in some OTC diet pills is also known to increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. The FDA has since banned fenfluramine but cannot eliminate the use of ephedra in OTC diet products since it has not been conclusively proven to be unsafe.
Member Comments