Successful weight loss and long-term weight management requires you to consume less calories and exercise more. Despite what the advertising of a weight loss product or diet program may claim or promise you, losing weight and keeping it off, no matter how you go about it, is only achieved with a better diet and more physical activity.
This is not to say that weight loss products and diet programs aren't helpful - in fact many are very good and can be useful tools for someone trying to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle. However, there is an equal number of weight loss products that will do nothing for you at all, except drain your bank account, and some weight loss products can actually be harmful to your health.
When considering using a weight loss product, whether it is a diet pill, Diet Book, or a piece of exercise equipment, do your research about the product before you are commit to it. When possible, read reviews by people who have used the weight loss product you are considering and be wary of products and programs that seem "too good to be true", because they probably are.
Diet Pills
There is a vast array of weight loss medication available, some of which work, and work well, others that are a complete waste of your time and money. Diet pills should not be a stand alone tool in weight control but combined with an entire plan or program geared very specifically to your personality and lifestyle. A well balanced weight reduction plan includes a nutritional component covering meal plans, supplements and medications. Any successful meal plan will limit portion size and reduce the amount of calories consumed per day. A daily physical activity component is also a must, as is the ability to actually change your behavior. By starting slowly and taking small steps and you will see big results.
Diet pills are very popular weight loss tools and have been since back in the 1950’s when the FDA approved Phentermine for public consumption as an appetite suppressant. Here is a brief look at the different types of diet pills and how they work.
Fat burners: increase your body’s metabolism to increase the amount of calories burned.
Stimulants or appetite suppressants: work by having the central nervous system convince the brain that the stomach is full. Coffee is an example of a natural stimulant. Phentermines are the most well used stimulants because they are fast, sure and safe, with almost no side effects.
Alkaloids: are natural or synthetic compounds containing organic nitrogen. They are produced by plants, animals, fungi and bacteria.
Nutraceuticals: are natural or chemically engineered ‘extracts’ derived from a variety of plants. Examples of these would be beta-carotene (organic compound), antioxidants (molecules and enzymes), and flavonoids (metabolites). It must be noted that there is no documentation to prove that the use of nutraceuticals have any medical basis, except for the health claims of psyllium which have been approved by the FDA as a source of fiber.
To assess a product and determine its potential for your use, look carefully at the ingredient quality, costs, safety, weight loss potential and both short and long term results. It cannot be overstressed how important it is to read the labels and pay attention. Do your research and make sure you are getting what you think you are. All weight loss medication should be used as directed just like any other drug. Anything else would be abuse and could be potentially dangerous. For information and warnings issued about weight loss products, visit the FDA Website.
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