By Terrie Johnson| UAB Community Health & Human Services Intern

Regarding losing weight, nutritionists and physical therapists usually recommend sustained periods of healthy eating and exercising. Notably, such activities require patience, discipline, and hard work. However, many people are unwilling to stay committed to the course. Instead, some individuals purchase unauthorized and unapproved slimming pills online, swayed by the “miracle” of quick weight loss. Nevertheless, these diet pills are unsafe and contain dangerous components. Although diet pills are unsafe, the desperation to lose weight makes people become reckless and risk their lives by taking the medications.

Diet pills cause more harm than good. Many weight loss pills have contaminated ingredients, are dangerous, and result in health complications. For example, in recent years, investigations into many weight loss products sold in the United States have found that they contain antidepressants, seizure medications, and laxatives. In addition, some slimming pills contain sibutramine, a stimulant that equally acts as an appetite suppressant. Dedov et al. (2018) reveal that sibutramine affected people’s blood pressure and did not help individuals to lose weight. In addition, fluoxetine is a prescription antidepressant; however, it is a key component in some slimming pills. Overall, the medications are dangerous and rarely work.

Although some people may still use diet pills regardless of their risks, the safest methods for losing weight include eating healthily and exercising. Consuming a high-fiber diet, eating fruits and vegetables, drinking plenty of water, avoiding unhealthy foods, and reducing alcohol intake can help one reduce weight (Miketinas et al., 2019). In addition, being active and exercising enables one to burn many calories, thereby reducing weight. Generally, eating healthily and exercising allow one to lose weight safely.

In summary, diet pills have become popular since they promise miraculous weight loss; however, they are unsafe. Most slimming pills are not approved by the FDA and contain dangerous ingredients. The only safe strategies for losing weight include healthy eating and exercising. People must not look for the easy way to lose weight but should put in the hard work and discipline.

References

Dedov, I. I., Melnichenko, G. A., Troshina, E. A., Mazurina, N. V., & Galieva, M. O. (2018). Body weight reduction associated with the sibutramine treatment: Overall results of the PRIMAVERA Primary Health Care Trial. Obesity Facts, 11(4), 335-343. https://doi.org/ 10.1159/000488880.

Miketinas, D. C., Bray, G. A., Beyl, R. A., Ryan, D. H., Sacks, F. M., & Champagne, C. M. (2019). Fiber intake predicts weight loss and dietary adherence in adults consuming calorie-restricted diets: the POUNDS lost (Preventing Overweight Using Novel Dietary Strategies) study. The Journal of Nutrition, 149(10), 1742-1748. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxz117.

The Washington Post. (2019). The trouble with diet pills. They don’t work, and they can be unsafe. (Online Image). Health & Science. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/the-trouble-with-diet-pills-they-dont-work-and-they-can-be-unsafe/2015/02/02/d3995022-7f1f-11e4-8882-03cf08410beb_story.html