Are Weight Loss Pills Effective?

Losing weight is a popular topic anywhere you might be. From teenage girls to adults, losing weight is on the agenda. More so when you turn on the television, you’ll be barraged with advertisements of slimming teas and tv shows like The Biggest Loser.

Because of this awareness, more and more people are eager to lose weight. But while there are those who don’t mind working out, there are also those who want to lose weight even without the work out. The solution that comes to mind is weight loss pills. The question is, are they effective? Yes they are - if you use the right one.

If the product is from a reputable company and it underwent clinical trials, then it could really work. However, there are also weight loss pills that are merely out for the money. But the principle itself or the mechanism of weight loss pills are effective. They make you lose weight. Popular weight loss pills are Xenical and Meridia. These two are FDA approved, prescription drugs. According to FDA the use of weight loss pills make you lose 5-10% of your body weight.

Mechanism of Action

Weight loss pills aren’t all similar. They do have a similar goal which is to make you lose weight, but each pill goes about it in a different way.

• Lipase Inhibitor

When you are taking in fat, an enzyme called Lipase breaks down the fat so that it can be absorbed and used by the body. This leads to increased calories for your body. Weight loss pills that are classified as Lipase inhibitors (Xenical) block the lipase. Thus, the fat is not absorbed by the body. It is lead directly to the large intestine (colon) to be eliminated. You’ll see visible result (apart from losing weight) from the oily consistency of your stool.

• Appetite Suppressants

Instead of targeting the digestive system, appetite suppressants target the brain. Our brain is responsible for the feeling of hunger, satiety, and thirstiness. Weight loss pills classified as appetite suppressants trick the brain into feeling full. These pills increase the number of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and serotonin. These are our “happy” neurotransmitters. They are responsible for the feeling of fullness or satiety. As a result, you don’t eat as much. This means less calories which over time leads to weight loss.

• Increases Metabolic Rate / Increases Burning of Calories

This mechanism is usually seen in over the counter weight loss pills. Most of these weight loss pills are composed of natural ingredients like green tea and dietary fibers. Green tea is popular for increases the metabolic rate. 3-5 cups of green tea can burn 7o calories a day. Green tea extracts is stronger – it can speed up your metabolism up to 4 times. What does an increased metabolic rate mean? This means that you are burning / utilizing the calories stored in your body at a faster rate. As a result, less unused calories (disguised as your love handles) remain in the body leading to weight loss.

 Weight Loss pills are effective. However, you have to be careful in choosing one. There are those extremely effective but incidentally, these are the ones that need prescription. When you choose to use weight loss pills, get to know the pill from the inside and out. Find out its side effects, its adverse effects, and its contraindications. This way, you are prepared. You know what to expect when you take the drug.

So what do you think? Are you prepared to try weight loss pills?