There are almost as many Weight Loss products at this point as there are stars in the heavens. But is that Fast Weight loss that they promise really guaranteed? Can these products live up to the promise of a healthy, fit body?
In the US today, an estimated 50 million people try to lose weight annually, but unfortunately only about 5% are successful. The promise of a “magical way” to lose weight is too enticing for some and the result is plenty of money spent on products with little result. Some of the more bizarre methods have included magnetic Diet Pills, guar gum, electrical muscle stimulators and eyeglasses that suppress appetite by projecting images on the retina!
Here are some of the examples of weight loss products on the market today:
- Herbalife Program. Dieters rely on shakes with two meals per day and herbal supplements. The Diet is not sustainable as normal healthly eating patterns are not incorporated into the diet.
- Nestle’s Sweet Success. Recommended to take three times per day. The inital Quick Weight Loss is difficult to maintain once the product is stopped.
- Ultra Slim Fast. A diet drink or powder to mix with beverages that is a meal substitute. Once again, good eating habits are not taught nor maintained. Weight loss is usually regained after stopping the drinks.
- Diet pills containing Ephedra and/or PPA (phenylproanolamine hydrochloride). These products have been proven to raise blood pressure and heart rate with even one dose. Many body builders have made the mistake of taking these products just before working out and the results have ranged from heart palpitations to hypertensive crisis (dangerous blood pressure levels).
- Chitosan products. These contain fibers from shellfish and can cause diarrhea and gas. Once again if a Healthy Diet is not in place, with exercise, these pills have little effect.
- Chromium supplements. Claims have ranged from lowering blood sugar levels and Body Fat but in reality the doses that could cause this are too high to be tolerated. Those doses have the potential for anemia and most studies have shown minimal or no beneficial effects.
- Green Tea Extract. This is a well known anti-oxidant which in sufficient quantities could benefit the immune system, but there is no evidence that it could cause significant weight loss.
- St. John’s Wort. A mild anti-depressant that has known interactions with many medications and several foods such as preserved cheeses and tyramine. Therefore, it is difficult to work into a healthy diet regimen.
- Xenical. Proven in clinical trials and FDA approved for weight loss. This product binds To Fat in the gastrointestinal system but may result in bloating and gas. It tends to work best when worked into a sensible Diet And Exercise program.
Well, that covers some of the more popular products. The final verdict is that no matter how much “magic” you are looking for, there just isn’t any. It took awhile to gain the weight after all, and it will take some time to lose it. You will still have to heat fewer calories than you burn on a daily basis. If you do decide to choose a particular Weight Loss Product or program, be sure to research it thoroughly first.
Understanding the Risks and Benefits of Weight Loss Pills
It is often a surprising thing for people to learn that others they consider fit and attractive are concerned with carrying around excess weight. Often, the expression is one of disbelief, though some have been known to act in a slightly more hostile manner. As unbelievable as this may be, this does reflect the reality that the media has permeated the popular consciousness to the point that everyone believes they need to lose weight.
This prevalence has lead to, and can lead to, a multitude of nutritional and medical problems. Anorexia and bulimia are the ones that are getting the most attention, but another big concern would be the excessive use of weight loss pills.
Despite the desire to lose weight, it is a well known fact that a vast majority of people simply do not have the patience or dedication to stick to a long-term Diet Plan. Others lack the willpower, allowing themselves to succumb to the temptation of that chocolate cake from the cake shop down the street, or that delectable Italian confectionery your neighbor is making.
So things like weight loss pills are taken as substitutes, simply because you pop the pill and virtually do nothing else. There might be a warning or reminder that needs to be kept in mind while taking the pills, but overall, the simplicity of using weight loss pills has led to increasing worries in the medical community of the pills being abused.
The primary benefit of using weight loss pills is their ease of use. You pop the pill and generally forget about anything else related to weight loss. The pills come with advice stating that it is better to combine their use with things like exercise and a proper diet, but there are no concrete guidelines on what should be followed. The fact that taking a pill regularly only takes a small amount of time out of a busy day also holds quite a bit of appeal for the busybody that can’t be bothered to have a regular exercise routine interrupt his schedule.
Most Weight Loss Medications are effective in what they do, with the more common approaches being suppressing the appetite to reduce the amount of food eaten and increasing the metabolic rate to burn through food nutrients faster and more efficiently. Even without a proper diet plan or regular exercise, both functions can help achieve weight reduction with minimal effort on the part of the person.
However, there are potential consequences. It doesn’t take a genius to realize that the ease by which weight loss pills can be obtained and used makes them prone to being abused. There are some people that believe that they can eat even more food since the pill will compensate for the increased intake, not realizing that the medication does have limitations and that they are likely putting their health at risk.
Another possible problem stems from a combination of the pills and psychology. In the event that a person becomes incapable of recognizing that they no longer need to lose weight, the medications suddenly become health hazards. Finally, there is the possibility of the medication hitting a Weight Loss Plateau, which is the point where the body develops a tolerance for the drug’s effects and renders it useless.
