Are Diet Pills For Me?
Many people who want to lose weight often wonder if there really is a magic pill out there. If so, which one is it? How does it work? and What can I expect from it? Are any of them safe? Will any of them keep the weight off?  Here’s the scoop on diet pills:  Several are available that do work. They work in different ways and each individual should sort through the facts with their personal physician.
Meridia This pill is sold by prescription only. It works by suppressing the appetite. Research studies show a 5 to 10 percent loss of initial body weight over the first 6 months. After that, weight loss slows dramatically. Certain tests must be conducted (blood pressure, blood tests, etc) while on the pill. The best scenario I can relate for this pill is the story of a client of mine who is a school teacher. She had her eating plan down pat during the school year, but was concerned that over the summer she would start eating out of boredom and not be able to maintain her routine. She took Meridia from June through August and was able to maintain her weight loss. In August when she went back to school she went off the medication and continued to progress well with her weight loss plan.
Adipex This is another appetite suppressant available by prescription only. Again, results are seen mostly in the first 6 months, and also are found to be up to 10 percent of original body weight. This means if you weigh 200 pounds you can expect to lost 20. I was recently visiting a friend who is taking this medication to reduce her body weight from 155 pounds to 130 pounds in order to reach her ideal BMI.  She had such a suppressed appetite she would eat virtually nothing during the day. Not only will she drop her weight, but I was quite concerned she would also become malnourished: if you think being vitamin- or protein-deficient is not of concern when you’re trying to lose weight, keep in mind part of your goal is very likely to look better. That’s not going to be if your hair is falling out or you have blotchy skin rashes, brittle bones, bleeding gums and cracked nails. Ditto if you have no energy because of vitamin or mineral deficiencies. Be sure to eat properly and get in some fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and dairy while you are losing weight!
Xenical (over-the-counter Alli) This is the “fat-blocker” pill that prevents some of the fat you eat from being absorbed. For about every tablespoon of fat that leaves your body without access to the energy it can provide, you’ll save about 100 calories. Over time this can add up. One of the best ways it works is by reducing your daily fat intake. Most people will have to skip out on about 50 grams of fat they usually eat (in fast foods, fried foods, gravies, dressings, and spreads). Otherwise, much of that fat will be excreted unabsorbed and this is quite an unpleasant experience (think “uncontrollable oily stool”). Many people stop taking the pill because of this side effect. Others go on to lose weight, but the results are similar to the other prescription pills: up to 10 percent of your body weight in the first 6 months, and less thereafter.
As for other over-the-counter diet pills and herbs, none of them are approved by the FDA so we don’t have scientific studies to show results … or safety. Â Most of them come with a low-calorie diet plan as well as recommendations for daily exercise. They are actually designed just to help curb your appetite while you re-adjust your usual eating pattern to one that is healthier.
Before you try a diet pill, consider your long-term goals. Do you want to lose 20 pounds for an event and then gain it back? If so, diet pills may work for you. If you want to adopt a new lifestyle so you can keep the weight off, live healthier, and not have to go on and off diets for another 10 years, think about how you can adjust your attitude towards food and what’s really important to you.
Written by Laurie Beebe
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About The Author: Laurie Beebe has been a registered dietitian for 25 years and is certified in adult weight management. Laurie currently serves as a Related posts:
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