The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 70 million adult Americans are classified as overweight or obese. Obesity is connected to multiple diseases, which include heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes. The risks of obese men and women are increased if excess fat accumulation is centralized within the midsection. The Mayo Clinic states that belly fat increases the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea in men, and woman are at an increased risk of breast cancer, cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer. Because of this, diet pill manufacturers market their products to help reduce fat in the belly; however, localized fat reduction is not based on scientific evidence.
Belly Fat Reduction
Diet pill manufacturers often advertise their products as being able to trim belly fat. While this is an attractive notion, scientific studies have shown body fat spot-reduction is nothing more than a myth. Even though specific muscle groups may be strengthened through isolated resistance training, the body does not evacuate fat deposits within a localized area. The Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospitals states that no matter what type of diet or exercise program you perform, eliminating body fat in a specific area, such as the belly, is not possible. Instead, when a healthy diet and exercise program is enacted, fat is lost throughout the entire body, which in turn trims down your belly.
Prescription Diet Pills
As of 2011, the Food and Drug Administration has approved a total of four medications to assist in weight loss. These drugs include: diethylpropion, phendimetrazine, phentermine and orlistat. Except for one kind of orlistat, all require a prescription and work by suppressing the appetite. Orlistat works by inhibiting the body's ability to absorb fat from dietary sources. While these are the only medications approved by the FDA for the sole purpose of weight loss, other medications may be prescribe "off-label" for weight loss. These medications include: metformin, topiramate, bupropion and zonisamide. To determine what diet pill is best for you, consult your physician to ensure you are healthy enough to begin a medication treatment plan.
Over-the-Counter Diet Pills
Over-the-counter diet pills do not require a prescription, and work to decrease appetite, block dietary fat absorption or increase the metabolism. While OTC diet pills do not require as extensive testing as FDA-approved prescription medications, the FDA continually monitors these products to ensure their safety. One of the most popular OTC diet pills, and one of the most effective, is orlistat, which is sold in prescription-strength and in a lower-strength OTC weight loss pill. Orlistat works by blocking the absorption of dietary fats. The Mayo Clinic states this pill is the only OTC diet pill proven to promote weight loss. While no other OTC diet pill is as effective as orlistat, products with conjugated linoleic acid and guar gum are the only ingredients backed by research proving they're possibly effective at promoting weight loss.
Warnings
As with any supplement and prescription, diet pills carry a safety risk. Some of the most common side effects associated with prescription diet pills include gastrointestinal discomfort, dizziness, increased blood pressure, diarrhea, headache and anal leakage. Side effects associated with OTC diet pills include nervousness, headache, increased heart rate, diarrhea and elevated blood pressure. To locate the best diet pill, consult with your physician.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Vital Signs: State-Specific Obesity Prevalence Among Adults -- United States, 2009; B Sherry, Ph.D., et al.; August 2010
- National Institutes of Health Weight-Control Information Network; Prescription Medication for the Treatment of Obesity; December 2010
- Mayo Clinic; Over-the-Counter Weight-Loss Pills; Do They Work?; February 2010
- Mayo Clinic; Bell Fat In Women: Taking - And Keeping -It Off; April 2011
- Mayo Clinic; Belly Fat In Men: Why Weight Loss Matters; Michael Jensen, MD; February 2011
- Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospitals; The Spot-Reduction Myth; 2010
Member Comments