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Dangers of weight-loss pills

Weight loss pills are often marketed as a quick fix for long-term weight loss. TV and magazine adverts promise the pills will boost your metabolism, increase your energy and help you lose weight quickly. PHOTO| FILE

What you need to know:

  • Generally, if you are using or considering using any product marketed as a dietary supplement, check with your health care professional or a registered dietician about any nutrients you may need in addition to your regular diet.

Weight loss pills are often marketed as a quick fix for long-term weight loss. TV and magazine adverts promise the pills will boost your metabolism, increase your energy and help you lose weight quickly. As much as we might wish they were, weight loss pills aren’t a magic solution to losing weight.

And if you’re about to take what you think of as “natural” dietary supplements, you should be aware that these products also contain hidden active ingredients contained in prescription drugs.

It is very important to be aware of the dangers and side effects of weight loss and diet pills. Most weight loss pills are either appetite suppressants or stimulants, and they can have adverse effects on your heart rate, as well as gastrointestinal side effects. And because some weight loss pills hinder the absorption of some fat into your body, they also can prohibit the absorption of vital nutrients.

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Rapid weight loss sure sounds appealing, especially if it can be gained in pill form, but, in reality, rapid weight loss is dangerous and unhealthy. These pills can have severe side effects, and the results often don’t last.

Know the warning signs

 Look for potential warning signs of tainted products, such as:

 - Promises of a quick fix, for example, “lose 10kgs in one week.”

- Use of the words “guaranteed” or “scientific breakthrough.”

- Products marketed in a foreign language.

- Products marketed through mass e-mails.

- Products marketed as herbal alternatives.

- Be skeptical about anecdotal information from personal “testimonials” about incredible benefits or results from using a product.

Generally, if you are using or considering using any product marketed as a dietary supplement, check with your health care professional or a registered dietitian about any nutrients you may need in addition to your regular diet.

As a rule of thumb if it sounds too good to be true, avoid it.

 

Internet sources