Information About Weight Loss Pills

It would be nice if there was a magic pill that caused rapid weight loss results. Unfortunately, weight loss pills typically do not bring about such results. Weight loss pills use a variety of supplements to encourage the body to lose weight, though changes are usually slight and require proper diet and exercise. Weight loss pills can be a helpful supplement to a balanced diet and exercise, but can also have serious side effects.

Function

• Weight loss pills are designed and marketed to help people achieve weight loss results. The functions of weight loss pills are to burn fat, increase metabolism and suppress the appetite to shed pounds. By increasing the metabolism, weight loss pills cause the body to burn energy quickly and efficiently. Suppressing the appetite will prevent the person from consuming too many calories, which leads to weight gain. Appetite suppression can also help the body turn to the existing body fat as an energy source.

Types

• There are many different types of weight loss pills that incorporate a variety of fat-burning, carbohydrate-blocking or appetite-suppressing compounds. For example, some supplements contain chitosan, which is believed to attach itself to fat and prevent the body from absorbing it. Other supplements may contain hoodia or green tea extract, which are believed to be appetite suppressants. Weight loss pills that claim to burn fat usually contain a combination of hydroxycitric acid, pyruvate, fatty and herbal stimulants, such as ephedrine or caffeine.

Effectiveness

• Little scientific study has been done to truly measure the effectiveness of weight loss pills. Most weight loss pills are sold without hard scientific evidence of their ability to induce weight loss. With the exception of one over-the-counter medicine, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve these pills as an effective method of weight loss. As of 2009, the only weight loss pill to gain FDA approval as an effective weight loss aid was Alli, a potent drug derived from prescription-strength weight loss pills.

Considerations

• The claims of a quick fix to weight problems are often greatly exaggerated. On most weight loss pill advertisements, a small disclaimer will state that the advertised weight loss is not a typical result. The personal testimonies used for weight loss pill advertisements may be paid actors who are not speaking from personal experience. Also, simply taking weight loss pills will not usually result in significant weight loss. It is generally recommended to maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise to see results, even if weight loss pills are used.

Warning

• Weight loss pills can cause both mild and severe side effects. Depending on the supplement, possible side effects include jitteriness, diarrhea, vomiting, indigestion, flatulence and bloating. Since these supplements can be sold without FDA approval, dangerous side effects from weight loss pills may not be discovered until years after the drug's release. This was the case with Phen Fen, which was linked to heart valve damage, and ephedra, which was linked to seizures and death.