You may consider taking a diet pill if excess fat gain has caused you to become overweight or obese. Although you may be tempted to use a pill that promises fast results with with minimal effort, not all pills or effective and safe, according to MayoClinic.com. Even still, the most effective pills aren't foolproof.
Non-prescription Pills
Weight loss pills you find in a nearby supermarket or drugstore contain ingredients such as bitter orange, conjugated linoleic acid, green tea extract and guar gum. These dietary supplements claim to work in a variety of manners. For example, labels on supplements that contain bitter orange may claim that the product helps increase the amount of calories you burn and labels on guar gum supplements may claim that the product will help block your absorption of dietary fat and increase your level of fullness, according to MayoClinic.com. However, most weight loss supplements haven't proven effective and some may harm you. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration monitors supplement safety after the supplements have already gone onto shelves. It has banned once-sold products such as ephedra and country mallow after deeming them potentially harmful.
Prescription Pill Candidates
Weight-loss prescriptions are FDA-approved only for patients who are at a higher risk of medical problems due to their weight. They aren't intended to help dieters lose a few cosmetic pounds and potential candidates must have already attempted to lose weight through exercise and diet. When paired with exercise and a low-calorie diet, weight-loss pills can help patients lose up to 5 to 10 percent of their body weight within one year, an improvement that can aid them in decreasing their blood pressure, blood sugar and blood lipid levels, according to MayoClinic.com.
Types of Prescription Pills
Prescription weight-loss pills generally come in two forms: lipase inhibitors and appetite suppressants. Lipase inhibitors reduce the body's absorption of dietary fat to decrease the amount of calories the body takes in and appetite suppressants decrease the appetite or increase the body's feelings of fullness. Some doctors have also prescribed drugs for diabetes, seizures and depression to treat obese adults.
Considerations
Weight-loss pills won't replace your need to exercise or eat well. Additionally, weight-loss pills aren't appropriate for everyone who is overweight or obese, according to MedlinePlus. In the end, the best way to shed pounds is to choose mostly foods that are low in calories and fat, reduce portion sizes and exercise most days of the week.
Member Comments