Losing weight fast is something that’s very appealing to many of us, but it’s because we consumers so desperately want shortcuts to weight loss that so-called ‘miracle’ diets and assorted ‘magic’ pills and potions are so popular. But are they safe?
Weight loss medications – or supplements – tend to fall into one of two categories; prescription or ‘natural’ over the counter medications and while many diet pills have been proven to be effective, they aren’t necessarily safe, even when they are prescribed by a health care professional.
Natural supplements are presumed to be safe simply because they contain herbal elements and we tend to assume herbal anything is safe, however that’s not always the case.
For example, some very effective diet drugs have historically been based on what are called ergot derived dopamine receptor agonists, that is, they are derived from mushroom type fungi and work on dopamine activity within the brain and liver as well as other organs.
One such drug was the now banned Fen-Phen, a notoriously over-prescribed and dangerous drug that has caused a number of severe cardiac conditions and deaths. This was marketed as both prescription medication and was freely available on the internet at one time, where it was promoted as a natural supplement.
Similarly, Ephedra, another natural supplement, was fairly recently banned in the US. Its effectiveness wasn’t in doubt; it worked minor miracles but again, it has the potential to cause serious and severe heart and neurological disease.
Furthermore, many of the supposedly natural supplements that are advertised on the internet are in fact counterfeit tablets and may contain just about anything other than the ‘real’ ingredient.
Diet and weight loss pills are readily available from healthcare professionals too but again, caution must be exercised before using these medications. Many can cause distressing symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and/or constipation.
They can also have an adverse effect on the kidneys and liver. For those who are morbidly obese, it’s often considered that the benefits of taking such medications outweigh the risks but this should only be decided after consultation with a healthcare professional.
The fact is, there is no such thing as an entirely ‘safe’ tablet. Anything we ingest, regardless of whether it’s a prescription medication or a ‘natural’ over the counter preparation, you should always research both the drug and the supplier.
Take into consideration all the known side-effects and then decide with your doctor whether the potential gains in terms of weight loss are worth putting yourself at any risk.
The fact remains, though we often don’t want to hear it, the only safe and effective means of permanent weight loss is through a reduction in calorific intake and an increase in physical activity levels. Yes, it can be slow and boring but is short-term dramatic weight loss worth risking your long-term health for?
Weight loss medications – or supplements – tend to fall into one of two categories; prescription or ‘natural’ over the counter medications and while many diet pills have been proven to be effective, they aren’t necessarily safe, even when they are prescribed by a health care professional.
Natural supplements are presumed to be safe simply because they contain herbal elements and we tend to assume herbal anything is safe, however that’s not always the case.
For example, some very effective diet drugs have historically been based on what are called ergot derived dopamine receptor agonists, that is, they are derived from mushroom type fungi and work on dopamine activity within the brain and liver as well as other organs.
One such drug was the now banned Fen-Phen, a notoriously over-prescribed and dangerous drug that has caused a number of severe cardiac conditions and deaths. This was marketed as both prescription medication and was freely available on the internet at one time, where it was promoted as a natural supplement.
Similarly, Ephedra, another natural supplement, was fairly recently banned in the US. Its effectiveness wasn’t in doubt; it worked minor miracles but again, it has the potential to cause serious and severe heart and neurological disease.
Furthermore, many of the supposedly natural supplements that are advertised on the internet are in fact counterfeit tablets and may contain just about anything other than the ‘real’ ingredient.
Diet and weight loss pills are readily available from healthcare professionals too but again, caution must be exercised before using these medications. Many can cause distressing symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and/or constipation.
They can also have an adverse effect on the kidneys and liver. For those who are morbidly obese, it’s often considered that the benefits of taking such medications outweigh the risks but this should only be decided after consultation with a healthcare professional.
The fact is, there is no such thing as an entirely ‘safe’ tablet. Anything we ingest, regardless of whether it’s a prescription medication or a ‘natural’ over the counter preparation, you should always research both the drug and the supplier.
Take into consideration all the known side-effects and then decide with your doctor whether the potential gains in terms of weight loss are worth putting yourself at any risk.
The fact remains, though we often don’t want to hear it, the only safe and effective means of permanent weight loss is through a reduction in calorific intake and an increase in physical activity levels. Yes, it can be slow and boring but is short-term dramatic weight loss worth risking your long-term health for?
