The diet pill industry is fueled by those seeking quick and effortless weight loss. According to a 2002 study by the Federal Trade Commission, at that time, diet pills totaled an annual sales of $30 billion. The diet pill Stacker, which has been sold as Stacker 2 and Stacker 3, consists of a combination of stacked ingredients to promote weight loss. Some of the ingredients, as well as the combination of ingredients, have been shown to be dangerous. Consult your physician before beginning a weight loss program using a diet supplement.
Original Stacker
The original combination of ingredients in Stacker 2, as well as several other over-the-counter diet pills, featured the combination of ephedra, or ephedrine, and caffeine and aspirin, which were in the forms of kola nut extract and white willow bark, respectively. The diet pills functioned by decreasing appetite, burning fat and increasing energy and lean body mass. Increases in energy also elevated metabolism, the rate at which your body burns calories. When the amount of calories burned is greater than the amount of calories eaten, excess weight is reduced.
Health Risks
Elevated energy and metabolism levels affect your body's systems, such as the circulatory and nervous systems. Health problems such as high blood pressure and a racing heart rate have been reported. Feelings of anxiety and irritability are related to the nervous system being stimulated. Other reported symptoms included dizziness, insomnia, headaches and feelings of depression. More serious risks to your heart, liver and thyroid have been linked to the pills.
In 2004, as a result of the associated health risks, the Food and Drug Administration banned the use of the ingredient ephedra, a main ingredient in Stacker 2.
Stacker 3
The updated Stacker pill, known as Stacker 3 was created as a result of the ban of Stacker 2. The Stacker 3 pill was marketed as "ephedra free." Product ingredients include chitosan, caffeine, green tea, guarana, cactus extract, white willow bark, grapefruit extract, kola nut and bitter orange. The product claims to reduce fat absorption, burn fat and increase metabolism. Admittedly less potent and effective as Stacker 2, the product is marketed as a safer alternative that works best when combined with exercise.
Considerations
Caffeine, an essential ingredient in Stacker 3, enhances weight loss through elevated energy levels and water loss. The Mayo Clinic warns against using caffeine for its thermogenic, calorie-burning and diuretic effects. High amounts of caffeine affect your nervous system, resulting in nervousness, insomnia and high blood pressure.
In a 2005 case report, the Mayo Clinic attributed an ischemic stroke to the use of Stacker 3. One of the ingredients, bitter orange, contains synephrine, which was linked to the chance of stroke.
References
- Federal Trade Commission; Weight Loss Advertising: An Analysis of Current Trends; George Blackburn; 2002
- Diet Pills With Ephedra: Original Stacker 2 with Ephedra
- Mayo Clinic; Case Report: Ischemic Stroke Associated With Use of an Ephedra-Free Dietary Supplement Containing Synephine; Nicole Bouchard, et al.; 2005
- Nutritional Supplements Bible: Stacker 3 Diet Pills
- Mayo Clinic: Weight Loss: Question: Does Caffeine Help with Weight Loss?
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