Weight Loss Drugs - are they OK?

Recent studies have shown that more and more people are becoming overweight every year.  This happens not only to adults but even to kids who have just started school.

A lot of factors cause this to happen such as genetics, overeating, the type of food taken into the body and, as people age, the metabolism slows down making it harder and harder to burn the food that was just consumed.

Luckily, there are many ways to solve this problem and, like everything with lots of options, some are good, some are not so good and some are downright bad.

Many people have decided to change their dietary intake and exercise.  Since this takes time and most people can't (or don't want to) wait to get rid of the extra weight, many decide to take the faster ways out - through the use of surgery or weight loss drugs.  In this report we will look at the drug solution.

In the 1950's and until the late 90's, doctors frequently prescribed drugs for weight loss.  Weight loss drugs work by increasing the serotonin levels in the brain making the brain believe that the stomach is already full as well as increasing the person's metabolic rate.  It was only after scientists discovered that these drugs had many unwanted 'side effects' as well as being found to be a factor in heart valve disease that they were no longer prescribed.  As is always the case with any popular market, new drugs were developed and doctors again began prescribing these 'quick cures'.  However, many are still waiting for FDA approval.

Most people know friends or family members who have tried using diet pills and, in some cases, the results have been tremendous.  The idea that a simple pill can change everything without the need to change the diet, exercise or sacrifice anything is very, very tempting to many.  And, it's this fact that has led consumers to spend millions of dollars every year on such products, filling the coffers of the drug companies selling these drugs.

But, just remember the old saying - if it seems to good to be true, it usually is - and diet pills are no different.

Diet pills can be purchased either over-the-counter or prescribed by a doctor.  Even with the advances in medical technology, these drugs can still cause a lot of health related problems which can be extremely unpleasant.  Side effects such as diarrhea and vomiting, harmful ones such as tightness in the chest and urinary tract problems and fatal ones such as a heart attack or stroke.  An overdose of diet pills can cause tremors, confusion, hallucinations, shallow breathing, renal failure, heart attack and convulsions.

The side effects can vary depending on the lifestyle and health of the person but they can be minimized as long as one consults their doctor first before buying and using them.  Many people don't and have to face the consequences of their oversight - either unknowingly or on purpose.

Should one decide to stop using these drugs (especially after a lengthy period of time), studies have shown that this can also cause many 'not so pleasant' side effects.  These include noticeable mood swings, hyper-activity, pain in the stomach, insomnia and nightmares, severe irritability, extreme fatigue, depression, nausea, vomiting and trembling.

A lot of clinical tests will show that the drugs taken to lose weight do actually work.  But this can only work over the longer term if it's done in conjunction with a low calorie, balanced diet AND an exercise plan.

A good diet should have food from all the major food groups and include vitamins, minerals and fiber obtained from oats, rice, potatoes and cereals.  The best options are, and always will be, vegetables and fruits since these have phytochemicals, enzymes and micro nutrients essential for a healthy diet.

Regarding the exercise bit - a person can jog every morning, workout in a gym or do workouts at home using the right equipment on a regular basis.  Just like taking any medicine, one should first consult a doctor before undergoing any form of exercise - especially if you either haven't exercised before or if it's been a long time since you last exercised regularly.  This is particularly important for anyone over 40 or if you have some sort of medical 'history'.

Without a doubt, the best exercise plan should include cardiovascular AND weight training exercises.  Used together, these help burn calories and increase the muscle to fat ratio that, in turn, will increase one's metabolism resulting in a loss of weight.

Diet Pills - so are they worth it?  Well, for some they are but others are a bit more cautious.  To help you make up your mind, ask yourself this simple question: "Is using these drugs worth the risk and the possible side effects?".  I know what my answer would be.