Use of Prescription Drugs & Diet
Supplements to Lose Weight
Weight Loss Pills
Weight Loss Pills - For Obesity Treatment
Only
Weight loss drugs or any kind of prescription-only
weight loss medications, are designed and approved for the treatment of
obesity. Obesity is a chronic disease with serious health risks, which
justifies the use of weight loss drugs despite well known side effects
and health risks. Even so, clinical weight trials show that no sustained
weight loss and long term weight control is possible by using weight loss
pills alone. The use of weight-loss medications to treat obesity should
be combined with physical activity and improved diet to lose and maintain
weight successfully over the long term.
Weight Loss Pills - Over-the-Counter Diet
Supplements
In addition to prescription weight loss
drugs, there are a growing number of weight loss or diet supplements that
are sold over the counter to assist weight control. These weight loss
pills are not regulated by the FDA in the same way.
According to the Dietary Supplement Health
and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994, dietary supplements do not need FDA
approval (unless they contain a new ingredient, which must then be reviewed
by the FDA). Instead, the makers of the diet supplements are responsible
for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of their weight loss pills.
In addition, they are responsible for
disclosing all side-effects and health problems of the weight loss pills.
Weight Loss Supplements
"Natural" or "Herbal" Not Always Safe
Weight loss pills that contain herbal or
natural sounding ingredients are not always safe. Ephedra (ephedrine,
ma huang) has proved to be one of the riskier weight loss supplements.
Products containing ephedrine extracts have, according to the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA), caused hundreds of illnesses, including:
heart attacks, seizures and strokes. They are amphetamine-like compounds
with powerful and potentially lethal stimulant effects on the central
nervous system and the heart.
Weight Loss Pills & Supplements -
ALWAYS Consult Your Doctor
Whatever type of weight loss pills you
are interested in - prescription-only weight loss drugs, or diet/weight
loss supplements - you MUST consult your doctor. Ask for a full explanation
of your weight control options (with or without pills) as well as the
side effects and dangers of weight loss pills. By evaluating your risk
of experiencing obesity-related health problems, you and your physician
can make an informed choice as to whether weight loss medication can be
a useful part of your weight-management program.
Weight Loss Pills & Supplements -
Controlled, Short Term Use
Most currently available prescription weight
loss medications are approved by the FDA for short-term use only, meaning
a few weeks or months. Sibutramine (Meridia) and orlistat (Xenical) are
the only weight-loss medications approved for longer-term use in significantly
obese patients, although their safety and effectiveness have not been
established for use beyond 1 year. Long-term use of prescription weight-loss
medications may be helpful for carefully selected individuals, but little
information is available on the safety and effectiveness of these medications
when used for more than 2 years.
Over the counter weight loss supplements
remain unregulated, but their effectiveness in helping your body to lose
weight and fat is also short term. Appetite suppressant effects can swiftly
wear off, and can encourage harmful or fatal overdose. Metabolic benefits
can also be unpredictable and short term.
This is another reason why weight loss
drugs and supplements are best taken in consultation with your doctor.
Fast weight loss is one thing; sustained, healthy weight control is another.
Weight Loss Pills & Supplements
ALWAYS Combine With Diet and Exercise
All dietitians and other weight loss experts
say that weight loss pills are NOT a magic solution to weight control.
In order to lose weight successfully, without regain, you must combine
weight loss medications with a sensible diet and exercise program. In
fact, if you check the literature accompanying most weight loss supplements,
it often states that effective weight loss or sustained weight control
is not possible by taking the weight loss pills by themselves.
Weight Loss Pills & Supplements -
Do They Work
Prescription weight loss drugs are effective
when combined with diet and exercise, as part of a medically supervised
weight loss program. Studies vary, but an extra 10-15 percent loss of
body weight is not uncommon, over time. However, over the counter weight
loss and diet supplements are much less effective. Lack of FDA regulation
of diet supplements (ingredients, dosage, labelling), lack of medical
supervision and lack of sensible eating and exercise probably account
for the poor weight loss results.
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