Eating well and exercising habitually are the best ways to lose weight. However, the prospect of jump-starting your results with weight-loss pills may be too appealing to pass up. Your doctor likely won't recommend that you take a weight-loss pill unless you're obese and in a constant struggle with your weight. But even if he does, no pill is foolproof. Some types may even do more harm than good.
FDA-approved Pills
The only weight-loss pills you can take with some confidence that they're safe and effective are pills approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These generally fall into two categories -- lipase inhibitors and appetite suppressants. Lipase inhibitors, such as orlistat, cut back your body's ability to absorb fat from foods and send the fat out of your body. This reduces the amount of calories you take in. Appetite suppressants either decrease your appetite or make you feel full sooner, which generally helps you eat fewer calories. The only over-the-counter weight-loss pill that has been approved is a lower dose variety of orlistat called Alli.
Concerns
Pills once approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration can be removed from the market if patients taking the pill experience ill effects. For instance, the appetite suppressant sibutramine, once approved in 1997, was removed in 2010 when followup research linked it to increased risk of problems such as heart attacks and strokes. As of 2011, orlistat is under review because it may be linked to liver injury. Furthermore, medications that are currently approved as safe weight-loss pills may cause side effects such as cramping, gas, intestinal pain, leakage of oily stool, nervousness and sleeplessness.
Dangers of Supplements
The weight-loss pills you see at the store -- not including Alli -- are considered dietary supplements, not drugs. Dietary supplements don't need U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval before they are sold, meaning they can go onto store shelves with little proof of safety or effectiveness. They may use benign words such as "natural" and "herbal," but that doesn't mean they can't be dangerous. Manufacturers may inaccurately label the plant species that's inside the bottle, incorrectly label how much is in the bottle or put contaminated products in the bottle. Additionally, dietary supplements may interact negatively with a medical condition you may have or a medication you take to treat it. For instance, St. John's wort can interfere with HIV and cancer medications, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
What to Do
Have a conversation with your doctor if you think you would benefit from prescription weight-loss pills. She can help you sort out the pros and cons, determine if a medication is right for you based on your medical history and give you lifestyle tips to get the most out of your pill. Also talk to your doctor if you think you may benefit from an over-the-counter weight-loss pill, particularly if you're taking any medication for a medical condition, considering replacing regular therapy or medications with the supplement, pregnant or nursing or about to have surgery. Furthermore, do your own research into any pill before you take it. You may be taking a big risk if you try a product that sounds too good to be true and bases its proof on a single study.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Over-the-Counter Weight Loss Pills: Do They Work?
- MayoClinic.com: Weight-loss Drugs: Can a Prescription Help You Lose Weight?
- Weight-control Information Network: Prescription Medication for the Treatment of Obesity
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: What's in the Bottle?
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Overview of Dietary Supplements
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