Risky Weight Loss With Diet Pills

Risky Weight Loss With Diet Pills

One of the most common health problems in the United States today is obesity. Most of us, at one point in our lives, have become conscious about our weight. Some of us, however, have experienced social trauma brought about by embarrassment due to weight matters and have turned to drastic measures to get rid of the unwanted fat.

Apart from expensive and risky surgery and rigid exercise, one of these drastic measures is the use of diet pills. There are many numerous kinds of diet pills available in the market today. These diet pills offer different promises, from being made from all-natural ingredients to making you lose a lot of weight in a matter of days. These promises can be overwhelming and, if you're not careful, you might become victim of a fake claim.

Over-the-counter diet pills usually utilize the same ingredients, namely phenylpropanoline (PPA) and caffeine, both of which reportedly can manage one's appetite. PPA works to stimulate the nervous system and curbs or decreases the desire to eat. Meanwhile, caffeine also works as a stimulant and increases alertness and suppresses appetite.

However, studies have been made to research on the effectiveness of these kinds of over-the-counter diet pills and, unfortunately, results have shown some questionable risks. While PPA and caffeine do control appetite by sending signals to the brain to avoid food, the decrease in appetite is only minimal and barely helpful. Moreover, these elements leave negative side effects that, when left unchecked, may lead to a serious medical condition.

For example, PPA has been proven to produce as side effects the following symptoms: high blood pressure, nausea, restlessness, anxiety, insomnia, irritability, and hallucinations. On the other hand, caffeine intake causes defects in circulatory function and irregular blood pressure that borders on dangerous levels.

Another (perhaps the most) controversial ingredient that can be found in diet pills is ephedra. In 2004, the Food and Drug administration (FDA) has banned the sale of diet pills that contain ephedra or ephedrine alkaloids. This is because research proved the adverse effects of this ingredient; ephedra causes serious illnesses and is not an effective diet treatment. To this day, however, there are still ongoing debates as to whether the ban was fair and should be lifted. There are others who claim that a small dosage of ephedra will not produce the medical harms so popularly attributed to it. There have also been statements that report the efficiency of ephedra compared to placebos.

Diet pills are widely advertised. Makers of diet pills capitalize on the growing number of obesity cases and the younger generation's exaggerated desire to be skinny. Furthermore, diet pills are usually promoted as supplements so that you can readily buy them at drugstores for a cheap price. Before you avail of one, be sure to get the right information. It's best if you consult with your family doctor or a health care representative if and which diet pills are safe and right for you.