Monday, March 10, 2008

Popping the pills

Raise your hand if you are just one of the millions of people who have relied on over the counter weight loss pills?  Well I’m raising my hand right along with you.  For me, it was Metabolife.  Gosh I loved that stuff.  The full feeling I got during a meal, the added energy, the 50 pound weight loss… yep, it was all good!

The appeal of losing weight quickly is hard to pass up. But do they actually work? And are they a safe option for weight loss?  Here’s my answer - Yes, for me it worked.  No, it was not healthy!  (And let’s not mention the fact that I gained the weight all right back as soon as I stoped taking them!!) Nor is the Dexatrim I took or any of the other various ones I tried - oh wait, now its all coming back to me… Chromium, Trim Spa, the one in the green bottle, and Hydroxycut.

Here’s a look at some other non-prescription weight-loss pills and what they will and won’t do for you.

Bitter orange

Increases the number of calories burned Touted as an “ephedra substitute” but may cause health problems similar to those of ephedra
Long-term effects unknown

Chitosan

Blocks the absorption of dietary fat Relatively safe, but unlikely to cause weight loss
Can cause constipation, bloating and other gastrointestinal complaints
Long-term effects unknown

Chromium

Reduces body fat and builds muscle Relatively safe, but unlikely to cause weight loss
Long-term effects unknown

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)

Reduces body fat, decreases appetite and builds muscle Might decrease body fat and increase muscle, but isn’t likely to reduce total body weight
Can cause diarrhea, indigestion and other gastrointestinal problems

Country mallow (heartleaf)

Decreases appetite and increases the number of calories burned Contains ephedra, which is dangerous
Likely unsafe and should be avoided

Ephedra

Decreases appetite Can cause high blood pressure, heart rate irregularities, sleeplessness, seizures, heart attacks, strokes and even death
Banned from the marketplace because of safety concerns, but may still be legally sold as a tea
Despite the ban, many ephedra products are still sold on the Internet

Green tea extract

Increases calorie and fat metabolism and decreases appetite Limited evidence to support the claim
Can cause vomiting, bloating, indigestion and diarrhea
May contain a large amount of caffeine

Guar gum

Blocks the absorption of dietary fat and increases the feeling of fullness, which leads to decreased calorie intake Relatively safe, but unlikely to cause weight loss
Can cause diarrhea, flatulence and other gastrointestinal problems
May cause intestinal obstruction if not taken with enough water

Hoodia

Decreases appetite No conclusive evidence to support the weight-loss claim

Notice that there are no “brand names” in this list.  That is because a name in this case really is just a name.  A lot of the most popular weight loss supplements are the same thing with a different celebrity touting them or a different color bottle - but they have the same ingredients!  Then of course there is Alli, which seems to have the most popular name right now.  It is a reduced-strength over-the-counter (nonprescription) version of orlistat, a prescription weight-loss medication. Alli promotes weight loss by decreasing absorption of fat by the intestines. The capsules are taken with meals, up to three times a day.  Now, if you are anything like me, you have thought about Alli.  Honestly, the only thing that really stopped me was the fact that it is like $46.99 a bottle!! But I’ve always been curious to see if it really works like they say it does.  Of course I would prefer not to have a heart attack or stroke trying to figure it out. 

Alli and so many of these others sounds like a dieter’s dream, but there are no shortcuts to permanent weight loss.

Dietary supplements and weight-loss aids aren’t subject to the same rigorous standards as are prescription drugs or medications sold over-the-counter. Therefore, they can be marketed with limited proof of effectiveness or safety. Vendors can make health claims about products based on their own review and interpretation of studies without the authorization of the FDA. However, the FDA can pull a product off the market if it’s proved dangerous.

For us, it’s hard to know what you’re getting, or even if the list of ingredients matches what’s in the bottle. Many weight-loss pills contain a cocktail of ingredients — some with more than 20 herbs, botanicals, vitamins, minerals or other add-ons, such as caffeine or laxatives. How these ingredients interact individually and collectively with your body is largely unknown. And using them can be a risky venture, especially if you’re taking other medications.

Honestly, the best thing you can do is to not take them at all.  Prescription drugs we’ll talk about another time because I DO know someone that they worked for, and for a lot of people they are able to get the weight off safely.  But as far as those things you find on the shelf of the weight loss section at Walmart?  Skip them and eat healthy.  It may take longer but you at least know you won’t die… or have really bad gas!!