In a society where the motto seems to be "thin is in," it's no wonder so many obese Americans turn to diet pills to lose weight. Whether they come in the form of prescription or over-the-counter pills, people grab the latest product on the market. Some may prove effective, however, all have pros and cons. You need to learn the facts before deciding if diet pills are good for your weight loss efforts.
The Purpose
The Food and Drug Administration -- FDA -- has approved drugs for weight loss, however, these drugs are meant to help people with a BMI of 30 or more, not those who only need to lose one or two waist sizes. These prescription pills are intended to jump-start your diet, not replace good eating habits or physical activity to lose weight. Mandy Leonard, PharmD, Assistant Director of the Drug Information Center at Cleveland Clinic, sums it up perfectly; "There are no magic pills." She further states that no data is available regarding the long-term efficacy of diet pills.
Safety
Safety should be first and foremost on your mind when deciding whether or not to use diet pills. Over-the-counter pills are not subjected to the same testing to prove effectiveness and safety as prescription diet pills because they are marketed as supplements. The FDA monitors them once on the shelves, banning or recalling a product if it proves harmful. One example is ephedra. The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that in May of 2004, the FDA banned the sale of all supplements containing ephedra, also known as Ma Huang, and ephedrine. Some consumers experienced heart attacks and strokes due to this product. Unfortunately, you do not know the possible health complications with new products due to this lack of testing. Taking a chance could prove fatal.
Effectiveness
The effectiveness of diet pills is what most people care about. You might expect to take the recommended dosage and lose 30 lbs. in a month, just as the advertisement promises. The facts vary a bit. Many over-the-counter diet pills contain some combination of the same ingredients; fish oil, chromium, guarana, L-carnitine and green tea. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that there is no evidence supporting these ingredients help you lose weight.
Prescription diet pills are not much better. The average weight loss is approximately 9 lbs. over 12 weeks or less. The Mayo Clinic explains you can lose an average of 5 percent to 10 percent of your body weight, but this is when following a low-calorie diet and exercising regularly while taking the pills.
Considerations
Not every weight loss pill works for every person. If they happen to work for you, you are likely to regain the weight you have lost once you stop taking the pill, explains the Mayo Clinic. You must also consider the risks of addiction. Although these pills might provide you with energy, especially over-the-counter products, you might continue the "need" for this energy once you reach your goal weight. As Dr. Leonard of the Cleveland Clinic puts it, a healthier lifestyle is the most powerful "pill" you have for losing weight.
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