Should You Take Diet Pills To Lose Weight?
Jude Wright
Losing weight is not easy. When diet and exercise don't seem to
work, you may be tempted to try diet pills.
Diet pills are called weight loss supplements when purchased
over the counter and called weight loss medications when
prescribed by a physician. But, how safe are they?
Drug stores and health food stores are filled with a wide
variety of pills, creams and other substances that promise to
burn your fat, reduce your weight and stop hunger pangs.
Americans spend nearly $2 billion on them every year. So, they
must be good...right?
Well, there is no medical evidence that these over-the-counter
diet aids do any good. In fact, they could be hazardous to your
health.
It can be extremely risky to take any medicines without a
doctor's supervision. Diet pills are designed to react in the
body a certain way and may have potentially serious side
effects. These side effects could be anything from rash,
insomnia or digestive upsets. They may also interact with
prescribed medications that you are on and can cause even more
serious problems.
If you really feel you need diet pills to help you lose weight,
they should be prescribed by a doctor. They are not to be used
to lose 5, 10, or even 20 pounds, but are for people who need
to lose a large amount of weight.
There are three main types of diet medications. The first type
uses a medication that works like amphetamines to decrease your
appetite. Although they are safer than the amphetamines that
used to be on the market, they are usually prescribed for just
a few weeks because of the possibility of becoming addicted to
them.
Another type of prescription drug (Sibutramine or Meridia) is
an appetite suppressant that targets the appetite-control
center in the brain. It can raise blood pressure, so regular
visits to your doctor are essential.
The third type blocks digestion of the fat a person consumes
(Orlistat or Xenical). The undigested fat passes through the
body. You may need to take a vitamin supplement while on this
medication because it blocks the absorption of vitamins A, D, E
and K.
Diet pills alone will not help you lose weight and keep it off.
It comes back to remaining on a healthy diet and ongoing
physical activity. Prescription weight loss medication will
give you a start, but it's up to you to continue eating
nutritious meals and continuing your exercise plan.
About The Author: Jude Wright is the owner of "9 Weeks to
Weight Loss" at
http://9weekstoweightloss.com . Stop by and get
your free report and learn how hunger affects your weight loss
efforts.
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