Articles: Weight Loss

When you watch television you are bombarded with advertisements. You have probably noticed quite a few advertisements for diet pills. You see someone claiming that if you use these diet pills you can loose "10 pounds in 10 days." Some claim that you can achieve this without changing your eating habits or exercising; they claim all you have to do is take the diet pill. This claim sounds too good to be true, because it is. As you will find out diet pills are not "magic pills." Therefore, you must make an educated decision when choosing to use diet pills or not.

Two Types of Diet Pills

There are two types of diet pills that you can buy:

1. Prescription Diet Pills

2. Over the Counter (OTC) Diet Pills (Example)

Prescription diet pills are prescribed to you by your doctor. They are actually diet drugs that are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration Agency (FDA). Therefore, their side effects are monitored. They are prescribed for weight loss, but only under certain conditions.

Prescription diet pills are primarily designed for people who suffer from severe obesity. This means that they are prescribed to people with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or more. These pills are prescribed along with a healthy diet and a personal exercise regimen. These pills are only prescribed for up to six months. After, the six month mark, the body develops a tolerance to the pills. Therefore, after this point the pills will stop working. Only a healthy diet and exercise regimen will keep the body losing weight, and eventually maintaining a healthy weight. If a healthy diet and exercise regimen is not kept, the weight lost with the diet pills will come right back.

Over the Counter diet pills (Example) are by far the fastest growing division of the weight loss industry. In order for these diet pills to be over the counter, they must be classified as food supplements and not diet drugs. This means they are relatively unregulated, untested, and unproven. These diet pills are not tested by the FDA and they are not subject to the same dosage, labeling, or advertising requirements that prescription diet pills are. This can lead to dangerous usage of diet pills. That is why it is extremely important to talk to your doctor before you try any diet pill.

Don't be fooled by words such as "Herbal" or "Natural." If a diet pill uses this type of rhetoric it does not mean it is healthier or safer than other diet pills. Some of the pills that have claimed to be "Herbal" or "Natural" have been linked to causing serious health conditions. This is one more reason why it is important to consult your doctor before using any diet pill.

How Can I Calculate My BMI?

As stated above, prescription diet pills are usually prescribed to help people, who are obese, to lose weight. To calculate your BMI, use one of the following two formulas:

Formula 1:

1. Multiply your weight, in pounds, by 703

2. Divide that number by your height, in inches, squared


Weight (Pounds) * 703

Height (Inches) 2


Formula 2:

1. Divide your weight, in kilograms, by your height, in meters, squared

Weight (Kilograms)

Height (Meters) 2


What Does the BMI Number Mean?

1. If your BMI is below 18.5, that means you are underweight

2. If your BMI is 18.5- 24.9, that means you are normal weight

3. If your BMI is 25- 29.9, that means you are overweight

4. If your BMI is 30 or above, that means you are obese



If you find your BMI is not in the normal range, you should talk to your doctor as soon as possible.

Do Diet Pills Work?

Diet pills do tend to work, but only in the short term. They are not designed to sustain weight loss over the course of a person's life. Because diet pills only work for a short term period, if a person uses them, but does not adopt a healthy diet and exercise regimen, as soon as that person stops using the diet pills, they will regain all the weight they lost.

You might see some advertisements that claim a diet pill is the best, fastest, and easiest way to lose weight. Don't fall for it. You will lose weight, but not for the long term. The best way to lose weight is through diet and exercise. People who lose weight and keep the weight off are the people who adopt a healthy lifestyle of exercise and a proper balanced diet.

Diet Pills and Health Risks

Side effects of over the counter diet pills vary quite a bit for each brand. This is because each diet pill has a combination of many different ingredients. It is also because the instructed dosage is sometimes inadequate. Here is a list of some side effects from over the counter diet pills:

* Bulging eyes
* Diarrhea
* Nervousness
* Tremors
* Racing Heartbeat
* Elevated Blood Pressure


Prescription diet pills have the risk of dependence. Some of these pills, especially the ones that are stimulant based, are habit forming and run the risk of being abused. These pills also disrupt your metabolism. This is because you consume drastically less calories when taking diet pills. Of course, at first, this might sound like a good idea, but in actuality you are setting yourself up for a hard road of losing weight. This is because, the less you eat, the slower your metabolism will become, and the harder it will be for your body to lose weight. This is the reason a healthy and balanced diet suggests to consume five smaller meals during the course of the day instead of three big meals. It helps keep a fast metabolism.

On a more serious note, several diet pills have had severe health effects on their users. Over the last decade, diet pills have been linked to heart problems, including heart failure, and other serious health conditions. Diet pills have also been linked to a number of deaths.

What Should I Ask My Doctor?

If you are obese, and feel you need the help of diet pills to help you begin to lose weight, you should consult your doctor. When you meet with your doctor you should discuss the following:

1. Explain your complete medical history.
2. Give your doctor a list of all the medications you are currently taking.
3. Ask for a full medical examination.
4. Ask your doctor what your weight loss options are.
5. If your doctor wants to prescribe diet pills, ask for an explanation of all possible side effects.
6. Set up a follow-up appointment to monitor the effects of the diet pills.

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