Does Losing Weight Via the Pill Work?

November 16, 2007

Lose weight via the pill? How much easier will this be than following a strict diet if there are no side effects? Won't it be great to lose the appetite with the pills? Will they really make us lose our addiction to food and increase our metabolism as well? Let's explore the matter, shall we?

There are researches galore that increase people's understanding of the body that directs the metabolism and appetite. Pretty soon, this could lead to a pill that indeed will work magic and make losing weight a breeze. But that time has not come yet.

The current drugs we have now either do not work or have side effects the body cannot tolerate. Pondimin and Meridia work by rousing the nervous system while Xenical gets in the way with the absorption of fat. The results of these drugs after two years is fairly small at best.

Comparing the results from the drugs with exercise and diet alone, people may lose an extra two to eight pounds. Some people lose more than this but they are the ones who also change their lifestyle by eating less and moving more.

Some people may not lose weight at all. So you see, there's a reason why there's a statement in the advertisement that says the end result may not be typical. The Food and Drug Administration knows that while the advertisement will make the pills sound good, it may not be accurate for all.

The pros and cons have to be weighed before taking weight loss pills. Why? The safety record is poor just like what happened to fen-phen and amphetamine combination. People can become addictive to amphetamines and can result in high blood pressure and irregular heart beats.

Although amphetamines are good for treating some conditions, they should not be used to lose weight. Fen-phen was found to be effective in losing weight but it was also found to cause heart damage and abnormalities in the valves of the heart.

We still have hope for someday a pill will come that will be both safe and effective in losing weight. Studies on animals are already successful so these pills cannot be far behind.

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