Login or Register

Information About Fat Burning Pills

Jun 14, 2011 | By Nicaela Crawford

Losing weight is hard work. Although many supplements promise to magically burn away fat in a matter of days, weeks or months, experts recommend changing your lifestyle and eating habits before trying to lose weight with pills. Nevertheless, some weight loss pills are effective and safe. Always consult with your doctor before taking a new fat burning supplement.

Uses

Fat burning pills may be prescribed by doctors for patients who cannot lose weight due to a medical condition. For example, a patient who has attempted weight loss through diet and exercise but cannot lose the weight due to a thyroid disorder may be an ideal candidate for a weight loss medication. Most pills function by preventing fat absorption and thereby decreasing fat storage. Over-the-counter pills are also available, although many have been proven ineffective or even dangerous.

Types

Several types of fat burning pills are approved for both prescription and over-the-counter use. The first product to obtain FDA approval was orlistat, a medication that decreases lipase production and prevents fat absorption. Orlistat is marketed under the brand name Alli, and was originally only available in prescription form. According to "Redbook," orlistat decreases fat digestion by 25 percent. Other ingredients in diet pills include chitosan, chromium, sibutramine, metformin, exenatide, green tea extract, conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA, and glucomannan.

Warnings

Magnet diet pills, which purportedly flushed fat out of the system, is just one example of a product that was found to be ineffective. Other diet medications have caused adverse side effects, resulting in FDA bans. Ephedra, for example, was linked to several cases of death and and health problems, resulting in an FDA ban in 2004 -- though it was lifted in 2005. Bitter orange has also been deemed to be possibly unsafe as a weight loss supplement. Always research product safety and effectiveness before purchasing or trying a weight loss supplement.

Considerations

Keep in mind that although many fat burning pills cause quick weight loss, you also need a healthy diet and regular exercise in order to control weight gain. To maximize product effectiveness, choose foods that are low in calories and fat, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. Incorporate exercise into your weekly routine. Aerobic exercises like walking, jogging, running, swimming and biking are the most effective ways to burn excess calories.

References

Article reviewed by Roman Tsivkin Last updated on: Jun 14, 2011

Must see: Photo Galleries

Member Comments