Ok so crazy diet Number 3………… This time we will not review a DIET as such but an extensive list of Diet/Slimming Pills
Who endorses these Diet Pills??
A lot of these products are actually considered “nutritional supplements,” so they are very poorly regulated and do not need to go through the same rigorous testing that applies to prescription medication. Unfortunately you cannot be certain that it says what it does on the label. As well as that, most of these diet pills claim to be “herbal”, however are not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Surely this should ring alarm bells!!
So let’s dig a little deeper, what’s it all about
There are thousands of slimming pills available on the market today that can be bought either online or over-the-counter. These slimming pills claim to affect the body’s metabolism and digestive system by a number of mechanisms – firstly by blocking the absorption of fat, secondly by increasing or speeding up the metabolism and thirdly by suppressing the appetite.
Benefits/Results
These slimming pills may result in weight loss but it’s unlikely that the results will be long lived unless the pills have been prescribed or are taken under medical supervision. There is no ‘magic’ pill for weight loss, when using these products a lifestyle change is required.
Risks of Diet Pills
There are a number of risks associated with taking slimming pills, particularly if they are being taken without medical supervision. First and foremost the ingredients of these pills can interact with drugs and reduce their bioavailability, such as the contraceptive pill. Some pills will reduce absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (i.e. A, D, E, and K) and can lead to deficiencies.
Secondly the use of amphetamines such as caffeine to control appetite can have numerous side effects. They can raise blood pressure, affect heart rhythm, and in some cases cause hearts attacks and stroke. Some more serious side effects have been noted from supplements containing ephedrine. To give you an idea of the scale of this issue there were 290,240 weight loss-related products seized in 2010.
Social Restraints
A lot of the time these ‘magic’ slimming pills have unwanted and often quite embarrassing side effects. Slimming pills often come with the side effects of nausea, diarrhea, faecal urgency, vomiting and jitters so can begin to impact significantly on your day to day living.
Cost
The cost of these pills can range from anything between €30-€200 per month.
Conclusion
It’s very easy to get sucked in to this mass market – it’s everywhere we look but we need to think twice about what we put into our mouth. The Irish Medicines Board released a list of online slimming pills to avoid which contain an ingredient which was withdrawn from the market in 2010– see link below.
