How Slimming Pills Work

Types of Diet and Slimming Pills

Most diet pills fall under two categories: natural and pharmaceutical. The natural pills utilize herbal ingredients such as hoodia, green tea and chromium; pharmaceuticals include brand name formulations, like Alli and Dexatrim, that contain man-made drugs. Some pills claim to suppress the appetite, while others supposedly enhance the body's natural functions in order to increase weight loss.

How Do Weight Loss Pills Work?

Weight loss pill ingredients do everything from inciting hyperactivity to changing the way fats are processed by the digestive system. Pills like Hydroxycut often have a high amount of caffeine, which acts to energize the user and increase energy during workouts. Caffeine is also a diuretic, purging excess water from the system along with extra water weight. Guar gum, another popular pill additive, can block the absorption of fats, with the possible side effect of diarrhea or intestinal obstruction. Chitosan and CLA have similar risks, but are also fat blockers.

Do Slimming Pills Work?

For the most part, diet pills don't lead to permanent weight loss. According to the Mayo Clinic, "keep in mind that even if you take a weight-loss pill, you still have to eat fewer calories than your body uses in order to lose weight. Even if these products were to help you lose weight initially, you'd have to continue taking them for the weight to stay off, which may not be practical or safe." These pills might help boost an exercise regimen or cut cravings for snacks, but they do very little on their own. Diet pills may even be dangerous, with some users developing addictions and health problems from long-term use. Before using any sort of weight loss drug - even an herbal supplement - it's best to consult a doctor or nutritionist for advice of safe utilization.

References

• Mayo Clinic: Over-the-Counter Weight Loss Pills

Resources

• Redbook: Do Diet Pills Really Work?