ATD: Are Diet Pills a Good Idea?
Question:
I weigh 180pounds and I’m interesting in trying to lose a good deal of weight. I would like to know if any pills are the real deal and what side effects I should to look out for. Sherma
Answer:
Dear Sherma,
Right now there are two FDA approved weight loss medications, Meridia and Orlistat, and one FDA approved over-the-counter diet aid, Alli (which is actually the same medication as Orlistat but in a lower dose). Any other diet aids are not the “real deal” as you so nicely put it, and have unsubstantiated claims to burn fat, melt off the weight, reduce your cravings or suppress your appetite.
The guidelines for taking a prescription medication suggest a person have a significant amount of weight to lose, have a BMI of 30 or greater, and have some health improvement to be gained from weight loss, such as reducing elevated blood pressure, blood sugar, or blood cholesterol levels to be sure the benefits out weigh the risks of putting any drugs in your body.
Any other pills have combinations of herbs and other ingredients that may or may not do a thing… they virtually all come with a diet plan insert in the package that provides a low calorie diet (about 1200-1300 calories) and suggest you also exercise in order to promote weight loss! With a low calorie diet and an increase in activity you won’t find any benefits from most of the pills on the market.
Alli works by blocking about 25% of the dietary fat you eat, saving your body from absorbing just about 200 calories a day when you follow a low fat diet. Most people lose weight because of the low fat diet, not the 15 grams of fat being blocked from absorption. If you over eat on the fat, you’ll find an unwanted side effect of oily stool excretion that is not easy to control. This puts many people off the Alli plan.
Like I always say, if there is a magic pill out there one day that lets us eat and magically lose weight, you can be sure Oprah will be skinny and will let us know all about it right away!
Have a question about your diet? Ask the Dietician
Written by Laurie Beebe
|
About The Author: Laurie Beebe has been a registered dietitian for 25 years and is certified in adult weight management. Laurie currently serves as a Related posts:
Add A Comment