Weight Loss - Diet Pills: Benefits and Disadvantages
Wouldn't everyone love to stop stressing about dieting? Just pop a pill once a day and forget about it. The pounds just melt off. Well, nutritional science isn't quite there, yet. But it is making strides. However, anyone considering their use should be aware of both the risks and the potential benefits. Pharmaceutical companies have taken two basic approaches to weight loss pills: those that energize and those that inhibition. Energize what? Inhibit what? Appetite Inhibition In the first class are diet pills that work on the centers of the brain to energize the central nervous system. Several years back these were forms of amphetamine, popularly known as 'speed'. The basic idea was to energize the person, which had the 'side effect' of inhibiting appetite. But, as with any drug, there are real side effects. Speed can produce heart palpitations, insomnia, diarrhea and lowered sexual function. In extreme cases, it may produce psychotic episodes. Over time, even the ability to depress appetite generally fades. Once the effects of amphetamine became more widely recognized, its use was discontinued. 
A more contemporary prescription diet pill in this class is phentermine. It works by stimulating the hypothalamus, a gland that controls certain neurotransmitters associated with appetite. But it also plays a role in the sleep cycle, so sleeplessness can result. Still it is generally safe for short term use and the side effects are much less severe. Over a few weeks time, the desired appetite inhibition is likely to disappear.Fat Blockage The second class of weight loss pill uses an entirely different approach to eating and digestion. Here, there's no attempt to regulate how much food is consumed, only how many calories are retained. Since every digested fat gram yields 9 calories, it is 'energy dense'. So, removing fat from the system can help lower the number of available calories. But, these too have side effects. Stools tend to be oily (a result of the added fat) and defecation is more likely to be spontaneous. That means it's possible to lose control of the bowels and eliminate at undesired moments. Summary For many, the side effects of diet pills are well worth the benefits they give. Many users have tried a number of diet plans and find they don't work well enough or require too much willpower. Others simply prefer to spend less time thinking about meal plans, carb to fat ratios or total calories consumed. A pill helps them diet with greater ease. As with any approach to dieting, it's wise to consult with your physician first before selecting a weight loss pill. Women Over 40 Health |
