18 & June 2016 | Read this issue and more at www . healthandwellnessmagazine . net | Like us @ healthykentucky
“ If weight loss came in a bottle , the world would be slim .”
— Dr . Yoni Freedhoff
Do Weight-Loss Pills Really Work ?
Three varieties make various promises
By Harleena Singh , Staff Writer
The temptation to lose weight quickly is hard to resist . Some people opt to use weight-loss pills . But are they effective and safe ? Most diet or weight-loss pills promise to burn fat , control appetite , increase energy and do much more . These pills can be broken down into three varieties :
• Powerful laxatives , which claim to flush or melt fat and cleanse your body . They contain natural laxatives such as fennel powder , senna , rhubarb powder , psyllium and other substances and natural diuretics such as ginger , vinegar and tea .
• Stimulants , which claim to burn fat and calories and increase metabolism . They may cause your heart to race , making you feel jittery and on edge . Common ingredients in these pills include caffeine – sometimes the equivalent of two to three cups of coffee in a single pill – and green tea extract , identified as Camellia sinensis .
• Appetite suppressants , which can kill hunger pangs and make you feel
full . However , these stimulants also create gastrointestinal issues such as bloating , gas and diarrhea . Common ingredients in appetite suppressants are hoodia , an African plant , green tea extract and psyllium .
It is essential to research overthe-counter weight-loss pills before trying them . Information about many dietary supplements is available at the Website of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicines ( https :// nccih . nih . gov ). In 2004 , the U . S . Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) banned ephedra or ma huang ( an herbal stimulant once used in weight-loss products ) because of possible adverse effects such as irregular heart rate , seizures , heart attacks , mood changes and hypertension . Another product that was taken off the market because it caused serious health problems was a combination of fenfluramine and phentermine , marketed as Fen- Phen . It led to a number of deaths , besides cases of damaged heart valves and pulmonary hypertension . Manufacturers removed the product from the market under pressure from the FDA .
Melinda M . Manore , professor of nutrition and exercise sciences at Oregon State University ’ s College of Public Health and Human Sciences in Corvallis , reviewed the evidence surrounding several weight-loss supplements and discovered no research evidence exists that says any single product results in significant weight loss , and many have detrimental health benefits . The study is online at the Website of the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism ( journals . humankinetics . com ).
“ What people want is to lose weight and maintain or increase lean tissue mass ,” Manore said . “ There is no evidence that any one supplement does this . And some have side effects ranging from the unpleasant , such as bloating and gas , to very serious issues such as strokes and heart problems .” She suggests eliminating processed food from your diet because research shows foods that are harder to digest have a greater thermic effect to boost your metabolism .
The FDA approves the following for weight loss : Phendimetrazine ( Bontril ), diethylpropion ( Tenuate ), benzphetamine ( Didrex ) and phentermine ( Adipex-P , Fastin ) are for short-term use ; orlistat ( Xenical and Alli ), lorcaserin ( Belviq ), phentermine and topiramate ( Qsymia ) are for long-term use . ( This data is according to a 2014 update .)
There is no magic pill for losing weight fast . Dr . Yoni Freedhoff , founder of Ottawa ’ s Bariatric Medical Institute , a leading center for medically supervised obesity treatment , said , “ If weight loss came in a bottle , the world would be slim .” Dr . Arya Sharma , scientific director of the Canadian Obesity Network , said , “ Laxatives and stimulants are not a healthy and safe approach to longterm weight management .” The most effective way to lose weight and keep it off is through changing your lifestyle , by eating a healthy low-calorie diet consisting of fruits and vegetables and remaining physically active .
Before taking any weight-loss pills , talk to your doctor , especially if you have health problems , take prescription medicines or are pregnant and / or breast-feeding .
Sources and Resources www . mayoclinic . org / healthy-lifestyle / weight-loss / in-depth / weight-loss / art- 20046409
www . besthealthmag . ca / best-you / weight-loss / do-diet-pills-really-work /
www . oregonstate . edu / ua / ncs / archives / 2012 / mar / study-most-weightloss-supplements-are-not-effective
www . healthline . com / health / healthyeating / diet-pills