The Truth About Weight Loss Pills
by Gidon Gabbay
Ever wonder if those weight loss pills you see everywhere actually work?
Have you ever been wowed by a before and after photo in a magazine or television ad selling pills that help you lose weight? Even I can admit that those pictures are sometimes quite impressive. It is amazing to see the dramatic difference a little pill can make in a person’s life—or is it?
If you’ve ever taken the time to read one of those ads, you might have noticed that there’s usually some small print somewhere in the ad stating “results not typical.” So the question is: do they really work? Let’s first look at what these pills are so that we can better answer that question.
How Do These Pills Work?
There are a multitude of weight loss pills out there that have various combinations of drugs such as ephedra, caffeine, HCA, chitosan and pyruvate. Pills called “fat burners” are pills that supposedly increase your energy or stimulate your metabolism. Other diet pills suppress your appetite, block the absorption of fat, expand in your stomach to create a feeling of fullness or cause your body to eliminate waste or fluid through a laxative or diuretic.
Do These Pills Work?
At the end of the day, it’s hard to say whether or not these pills work. Most studies on just about any dietary supplement are inconclusive. What I can say for sure is that most of the ingredients used in weight loss pills require further study and the purity and consistency of the amount of ingredient in each pill is questionable. Weight loss pills are not regulated in terms of the quantity and quality of their ingredients, so you never can be sure as to what you are getting in any given pill (even within the same bottle!).
The people that do get results from diet pills usually do exercise and/or change their eating habits along with taking the pills, so the true cause of the weight loss is often difficult to establish. In a nutshell: weight loss pills may or may not work.
Also keep in mind that taking weight loss pills without changing your eating and exercise habits will cause you to regain the weight you lost once you stop taking the pills. So if you've ever asked the question, “Are weight loss pills an effective way to lose fat permanently?” be assured that the answer is a resounding, “no.”
What Are The Side Effects?
To put things in perspective, understand that weight loss pills are drugs and like most drugs, they become less effective over time. That means that you need to take more of the drug as time progresses, which can lead to addiction. It is imperative that you get the okay from your doctor before you take any kind of weight loss pill and be sure to follow the directions. If you experience any of the following side effects, stop taking the pills immediately {and seek medical assistance - added by NicNak} :
The Drugs:
Chitosan
Chitosan is a substance derived from the external skeletons of marine animals. It binds to fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K), which prevents the body from absorbing them. The side effect of taking chitosan is that it impairs absorption of carotenoids, which the body converts into vitamin A. In general, most experts agree that chitosan simply doesn't work.
Ephedra
Ephedra is a powerful herb grown in Asia. Ephedrine (an extract of ephedra) is an amphetamine-like compound that stimulates the nervous system and heart, which apparently increases your metabolism and enhances your performance. Ephedra, especially when combined with caffeine, has been shown to cause many of the adverse side effects listed above. Many companies have now backed away from making products with ephedra because of its bad reputation.
Caffeine
Caffeine is derived from a variety of plant sources. It can enhance weight loss, suppress your appetite and cause you to lose water through your urine. However, the weight loss effects of caffeine are caused only by extremely large dosages (the equivalent of six cups of coffee a day). None of the effects of caffeine result in significant or permanent weight loss.
Pyruvate
Pyruvate is a product of sugar metabolism and marketers claim that it can increase fat and weight loss, reduce cholesterol and improve endurance. Unfortunately, the tiny doses available in commercial supplements have not been proven effective in any available research. Basically, the research that has been done doesn't support marketers' claims. It seems safe right now, but like everything else, it needs further study.
HCA (Hydroxycitrate)
HCA is extracted from the fruit of the Garcina cambogia tree grown in southern India. It supposedly curbs appetite and increases glycogen storage without affecting muscle or energy levels. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, HCA is ineffective for weight loss.
No Shortcuts
As you can see, the research on weight loss pills is sketchy at best. People who take these pills tend to “pill hop,” trying one new pill after the other, looking for the magic cure that will allow them to keep eating what they want. However, it is only through a balanced, sensible diet combined with exercise for the rest of your life that will keep weight off.
Translation: there are no shortcuts to permanent weight loss.
Source: GForce Training: Onsite or In Home Fitness Training in Toronto
by Gidon Gabbay
Ever wonder if those weight loss pills you see everywhere actually work?
Have you ever been wowed by a before and after photo in a magazine or television ad selling pills that help you lose weight? Even I can admit that those pictures are sometimes quite impressive. It is amazing to see the dramatic difference a little pill can make in a person’s life—or is it?
If you’ve ever taken the time to read one of those ads, you might have noticed that there’s usually some small print somewhere in the ad stating “results not typical.” So the question is: do they really work? Let’s first look at what these pills are so that we can better answer that question.
How Do These Pills Work?
There are a multitude of weight loss pills out there that have various combinations of drugs such as ephedra, caffeine, HCA, chitosan and pyruvate. Pills called “fat burners” are pills that supposedly increase your energy or stimulate your metabolism. Other diet pills suppress your appetite, block the absorption of fat, expand in your stomach to create a feeling of fullness or cause your body to eliminate waste or fluid through a laxative or diuretic.
Do These Pills Work?
At the end of the day, it’s hard to say whether or not these pills work. Most studies on just about any dietary supplement are inconclusive. What I can say for sure is that most of the ingredients used in weight loss pills require further study and the purity and consistency of the amount of ingredient in each pill is questionable. Weight loss pills are not regulated in terms of the quantity and quality of their ingredients, so you never can be sure as to what you are getting in any given pill (even within the same bottle!).
The people that do get results from diet pills usually do exercise and/or change their eating habits along with taking the pills, so the true cause of the weight loss is often difficult to establish. In a nutshell: weight loss pills may or may not work.
Also keep in mind that taking weight loss pills without changing your eating and exercise habits will cause you to regain the weight you lost once you stop taking the pills. So if you've ever asked the question, “Are weight loss pills an effective way to lose fat permanently?” be assured that the answer is a resounding, “no.”
What Are The Side Effects?
To put things in perspective, understand that weight loss pills are drugs and like most drugs, they become less effective over time. That means that you need to take more of the drug as time progresses, which can lead to addiction. It is imperative that you get the okay from your doctor before you take any kind of weight loss pill and be sure to follow the directions. If you experience any of the following side effects, stop taking the pills immediately {and seek medical assistance - added by NicNak} :
- Anxiety or nervousness
- Irritability
- Insomnia and a feeling of restlessness or hyperactivity
- High blood pressure
- Tightness in the chest
- Heart palpitations
- Heart attack
- Stroke or congestive heart failure
- Digestive tract problems like vomiting, diarrhea, constipation or other stomach pain
- Fever
- Dry mouth
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Profuse sweating
- Hair loss
- Menstrual cycle and sex drive disturbances
- Urinary tract problems
The Drugs:
Chitosan
Chitosan is a substance derived from the external skeletons of marine animals. It binds to fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K), which prevents the body from absorbing them. The side effect of taking chitosan is that it impairs absorption of carotenoids, which the body converts into vitamin A. In general, most experts agree that chitosan simply doesn't work.
Ephedra
Ephedra is a powerful herb grown in Asia. Ephedrine (an extract of ephedra) is an amphetamine-like compound that stimulates the nervous system and heart, which apparently increases your metabolism and enhances your performance. Ephedra, especially when combined with caffeine, has been shown to cause many of the adverse side effects listed above. Many companies have now backed away from making products with ephedra because of its bad reputation.
Caffeine
Caffeine is derived from a variety of plant sources. It can enhance weight loss, suppress your appetite and cause you to lose water through your urine. However, the weight loss effects of caffeine are caused only by extremely large dosages (the equivalent of six cups of coffee a day). None of the effects of caffeine result in significant or permanent weight loss.
Pyruvate
Pyruvate is a product of sugar metabolism and marketers claim that it can increase fat and weight loss, reduce cholesterol and improve endurance. Unfortunately, the tiny doses available in commercial supplements have not been proven effective in any available research. Basically, the research that has been done doesn't support marketers' claims. It seems safe right now, but like everything else, it needs further study.
HCA (Hydroxycitrate)
HCA is extracted from the fruit of the Garcina cambogia tree grown in southern India. It supposedly curbs appetite and increases glycogen storage without affecting muscle or energy levels. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, HCA is ineffective for weight loss.
No Shortcuts
As you can see, the research on weight loss pills is sketchy at best. People who take these pills tend to “pill hop,” trying one new pill after the other, looking for the magic cure that will allow them to keep eating what they want. However, it is only through a balanced, sensible diet combined with exercise for the rest of your life that will keep weight off.
Translation: there are no shortcuts to permanent weight loss.
Source: GForce Training: Onsite or In Home Fitness Training in Toronto
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