Enjoy Optimum Health

With so many diet pills available you may wonder, what diet pills actually work for weight loss? The answer is there are a few diet pills that actually work, but there are no magic pills. You can’t take any kind of diet pill, continue to eat everything in site, lead a sedentary life and expect to lose weight. Shrinking your waist requires a change in lifestyle. This means making healthy changes in your diet and getting your body up and moving.

Diet drugs have changed a lot over the past fifty years and while they are safer, they all come with their own risks. You shouldn’t start taking any diet pill before you are educated on how it works and what health risks and/or side effects you may experience while taking the drug. Most importantly, you should always consult with a doctor before taking any diet pill or supplement. Here is a rundown of a few of the most popular diet pills available today.

Meridia (sibutramine)

Meridia works on norepinephrine and serotonin, the brain’s appetite-control center. Meridia alters these chemicals in a way that makes a person perceive they are full. People who feel full will eat less. It is available by prescription only and is used for very overweight and obese people only.

This drug is only used by people who are very overweight or obese. It is not prescribed to someone who thinks that five or ten pounds is a problem! This drug is for the individual who needs to lose some serious weight and who wants an aid that will help do away with that ravenous hunger feeling.

Before you start taking Meridia you should talk to your doctor about what to expect on the drug. Meridia has a bit of a reputation. It can increase the risk of stroke or heart attack and it can raise your blood pressure. Meridia has been banned in Italy due to people suffering bad reactions after taking the drug. There have been groups requesting that it be banned in the United States. While it hasn’t been banned in the U.S., the pill’s safety is being monitored by the FDA.

Byetta (exenatide) and Glucophage (metformin)

If you are a type 2 diabetic and overweight or obese, your doctor may prescribe Byetta and Glucophage. Both are diabetic drugs used to manage blood sugar levels.

If you are a type 2 diabetic, or if you suffer from hormonal conditions that are linked to insulin resistance, your doctor may prescribe Byetta or Glucophage to help you lose weight. Unlike other weight loss drugs, insurance companies will more than likely pick up the tab on these medications as they are classified as “diabetic medications.”

Zimulti (rimonabant)

Rimonabant is an anti-obesity drug. While pegged a potential blockbuster by industry analysts, it hasn’t been approved by the FDA over concerns that it has been shown to increase the risk of suicidal thoughts. If, and when, the FDA approves this prescription drug, it will be marketed as Zimulti. However, it has been available in the European Union since 2006 under the name Acomplia.

Alli (orlistat)

Alli is a weight loss supplement available over-the-counter. It is a reduced-strength version of Orlistat, a prescription drug used to treat obesity. It decreases the amount of fat you ingest from being absorbed by the intestines. The undigested fat is excreted from the body in the bowel. By decreasing fat absorption, you decrease the amount of calories you absorb.

It is very important that you do not eat too much fat when taking Alli. Some users of this diet pill have reported loose stools and leakage when they have eaten too much fat. Many have resorted to taking extra clothing with them when they leave home! It is recommended that you consume no more than 15 grams of fat per meal after taking Alli to prevent these unwanted side effects.

Supplements

Many people think that if a weight loss supplement is natural, it is safe. This is not necessarily so. For instance, some companies looking for a replacement of ephedra (the drug that was banned due to its adverse reactions, including strokes and death) are now using bitter orange extract in its place because it affects the body in a similar way as ephedra. This is a perfect example of how a supplement may be “natural” but not necessarily safe.

There are two supplements, however, that many agree are safe and may be effective in weight loss. They are green tree extract and hoodia gordonii. EGCG, an antioxidant found in green tea, may help boost the body’s metabolism. Hoodia gordonii is a natural appetite suppressant. It tricks the brain into thinking you are full. The idea behind hoodia diet pills is that if you feel full, you’ll eat less. Thus, you’ll lose weight.

What diet pills really work for weight loss? Well, that depends. Some of the pills mentioned here may or may not be suitable for you - and even though they work for one person, they may not do a thing for you. Supplements may be a safer alternative but they come with certain risks as well. That’s why it’s important to make diet and exercise the main components of your weight loss program. Diet pills and supplements should only be used as a temporary aid and you should always consult with a doctor first before taking them!

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