If you want to slim down fast without compromising your health, you may want to try a diet pill. Manufacturers of diet pills will make claims that the effectiveness and safety of their products are backed by research. However, no pill is infallible, and most weight loss pills you can buy over the counter are backed up more by hype than by facts, warns MayoClinic.com.
No Guarantees
The FDA doesn't regulate over-the-counter diet pills because they fall under the category of dietary supplements. Most diet pill firms must do some research in order to market their products, but they also are likely to make lofty claims about their products based on loose studies in order to make sales. The FDA won't step in unless an over-the-counter diet pill contains a brand new ingredient or consumers start sending in reports of negative side effects. As a result, over-the-counter diet pills are more questionable in safety or healthiness than prescription pills or even over-the-counter drugs. The ingredient ephedra, once popular in diet pills, was banned by the FDA in 2004 after it was deemed likely harmful to consumers.
Alli
As of 2011, the only over-the-counter diet pill that the FDA deems safe and effective enough for consumption is Alli, a mild dose of a drug called orlistat. Alli may promote health in overweight adults over age 18 by blocking the amount of fat the body can absorb. However, Alli isn't ideal on its own; it should be consumed in conjunction with regular exercise and a healthy low-calorie diet. Alli can also cause unwanted side effects such as oily anal discharge and frequent and difficult-to-control bowel movements, according to MayoClinic.com. Also, in 2009, the FDA started receiving reports about a potential link between orlistat and liver injury. Consult your doctor as soon as possible if you take Alli and you start noticing effects such as brown urine, yellowed skin, yellowed whites of the eyes, fever or fatigue.
Making A Healthy Decision
The best way to ensure you stay healthy when trying an over-the-counter diet pill is to have a conversation with your doctor before you invest in any product. You may be at increased risk of side effects from certain over-the-counter diet pills if you are taking a prescription drug or have any pre-existing health problem, according to MayoClinic.com. Your doctor can help you weed out any potentially risky pills, monitor your intake of a drug and give you tips on losing weight with a healthy lifestyle.
Following Up
According to the FDA's 2010 Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, a few over-the-counter prescription pills are in the "possibly safe" and "likely safe" categories. Among these are chitosan, which allegedly helps the body absorb less dietary fat; chromium, which may increase the number of calories you burn; and conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA, which may help you burn fat and build muscle. If you choose a product based on the information you get from databases, follow up with your studies on a regular basis. The FDA consistently updates its website with new safety alerts and product recalls. Also get in touch with the FDA or ask your doctor to contact the MedWatch program if you think a pill you're taking may be causing negative health effects.
References
- U.S. FDA: Overview of Dietary Supplements
- MSNBC.com: FDA Panel Approves Over-the-Counter Diet Pill
- MayoClinic.com: Over-the-Counter Weight Loss Pills: Do They Work?
- TeensHealth from Nemours: Are Diet Pills Bad for You?; March, 2011
- MayoClinic.com: Weight Loss Drugs -- Can a Prescription Help You Lose Weight?
- MayoClinic.com: Alli Weight-loss Pill: Does it Work?; Donald Hensrud, M.D.
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