The allure of diet pills can make them very tempting,
especially at times when you're getting frustrated with your weight
loss progress. The idea of a pill that can cause weight loss can be
hard to turn down. However, do diet pills really achieve the results
that they claim are possible?
While different diet pills have been studied extensively around the
world, the research is rarely put together in such a way that allows
you to compare different diet pills easily and conveniently. Doing
so would certainly help you to make an intelligent decision about
which product to purchase.
According to one report by Lisa Colles, Americans spend upward of
$50 billion on weight loss products each year. She estimates that
at least $6 billion of that money is spent on products that are not
only ineffective, but downright fraudulent.
This report compares six different products and active ingredients
related to weight loss. It will help you make an informed decision
about which diet pills to put into your body. You will find that some
products on the open market are not only ineffective but can be dangerous
as well.
Top Diet Pills Rated By Safety And Effectiveness
Xenical - #1 Prescription Only Diet Pill
 |
Effectiveness: |
 |
| Side Effects: |
Mild |
| Clinical Backing: |
|
| BMI Ranges: |
30+ |
| User Feedback: |
 |
| Cost/Month: |
N/A |
Xenical has been used as a weight loss aid for many years. Using
an inhibitor of lipases called Orlistat, it interferes with the activity
of lipases used to break down fat and absorbed it into the body. Clinical
studies show that it inhibits dietary fat absorption by around 30%.
Xenical has some bowel-related side effects on most patients, especially
who don't keep their recommended diet. The side effects are usually
mild but will increase when you eat more fat. Please consult with
your doctor on any side effects you care about.
Xenical is a prescription only drug for the long-term treatment of
clinical obesity. It's medically proven to be effective, and no significant
problems have been found yet.
Proactol - #1 Non Prescription Diet Pill
 |
Effectiveness: |
|
| Side Effects: |
None |
| Clinical Backing: |
|
| BMI Ranges: |
25~39 |
| User Feedback: |
|
| Cost/Month: |
N/A |
Relatively new to the open market, Proactol has proven to be a highly
effective over the counter alternative to Xenical. The active ingredient
is a patented fibre complex made from Opuntia ficus-indica cactus,
which consists of a non-soluble fibre and a soluble fibre.
The non-soluble fibres work by binding to dietary fats with a fluid
gel, making it impossible for the fats to be absorbed into the body.
Clinical tests have proven it to reduce fat intake by up to 28%.
When the soluble fibers bind with bile acids it forms a viscous solution
to slow down digestion and the absorption of glucose. Which is proven
to decrease food cravings and lower cholesterol absorption.
Due to the mechanical fat binding action, Proactol is a certified
medical device product (MDD 93/42/EEC) for weight management.
Diet Pills That Have Serious Side Effects
Ephedra - Appetite Suppressant
Ephedra is an active ingredient in a number of diet pills. It is
a stimulant that acts as an appetite suppressant and has been the
subject of almost constant FDA warnings since its introduction into
the market in 1990.
Ephedra is composed of amphetamine-like compounds and has a powerful,
if not adverse, effect on the nervous system. It can be especially
dangerous to the heart, causing irregular or rapid heart contractions.
Many have reported strange psychological side effects as well, including
depression and insomnia.
If you are taking ephedra in any form, you should be very careful
what other stimulants you put in your body. If taken in conjunction
with caffeine or certain herbal supplements, the product can stimulate
the central nervous system to a potentially life-threatening extent.
Although the product has shown weight-loss results, its dangerous
side effects do not justify using the product.
Phentermine - Appetite Suppressant
Phentermine works similarly to amphetamines, but is a prescription
medication unfortunately available over the internet in a number of
different doses and strengths. It suppresses the appetite by working
through your central nervous system in the brain as well as by increasing
the amount of adrenaline in the body.
Phentermine has been shown to be effective, especially in the short
term. Many experts believe that Phentermine can be a good initial
product to use in a weight loss regimen but should not be used in
the long term. While side effects such as blurred vision, insomnia,
rapid heart beats, and chest pain were generally mild, they often
increased in seriousness if the product was used for an extended period
of time. You should also make sure you get the product through a doctor's
prescription, not through one of the online avenues.
Diet Pills That Lack Proof of Effectiveness
Conjugated Linoleic Acid - Fat Burner
CLA is the active ingredient in many fat burning pills. It is a
fatty acid produced in the gut of a number of mammals, some plants,
and possibly even humans. It works to transport, store, and metabolize
fats effectively.
While CLA has not been shown to have any serious negative side effects,
it has been primarily tested on animals thus far. In a few very limited
tests on humans, CLA has shown incredibly varied results. Some test
patients did lose weight, but others saw very little change and a
few even saw an increase in weight.
Because so little is known about CLA, pregnant and breast-feeding
mothers should avoid using the product all together. Even regular
consumers might be well-advised to avoid CLA for the time being. It
would be pointless to spend your money on a product that will be shown
to be ineffective in just a few years.
Chitosan - Fat Blocker
Chitosan is a fiber found in the skeleton of some marine animals.
Sellers, primarily on the internet, have made increasingly confident
claims that products containing chitosan have a fat blocking ability
and will help consumers lose weight. Unfortunately, there is very
little evidence to support this conclusion.
Most Chitosan testing has been conducted using animal test subjects,
and these tests did show that the product might have some weight loss
capabilities. However, in limited testing on human participants, the
product showed no conclusive evidence in terms of losing weight. Tests
did, however, conclude that Chitosan was effective in reducing cholesterol.
Consumers looking to lose weight, however, have a number of other
more promising choices to pick from.
