It seems nearly all diet pills claim superiority at helping you lose weight.  Yet, each brand also claims to work differently, in helping you achieve your weight loss goal.  Let’s look at how diet pills work.

The majority of diet pills claim to work in one of four ways.  Most diet pills work as:

• Appetite Suppressants;
• Fat Burners;
• Fat Blockers; or
• Carbohydrate Blockers.

Appetite suppressants affect your central nervous system, making you feel less hungry.  Basically, these pills disrupt your body’s metabolism.  Doctors prescribe appetite suppressants as a treatment for obesity, usually for a short period of 12 weeks or less.  These pills tend to lose their effectiveness after a couple of weeks.

Fat burners work on the stored fat in your body.  They work on the theory of breaking down and metabolizing the energy stored in your body’s fat, as well as the fat in the food you eat.  Both actions are thought to help you lose weight and keep it off.

Fat blockers operate by binding to the fatty acids in the food you eat.  This action supposedly helps dietary fat pass through your digestive system,  helping you to lose weight.  Fat blockers often claim you can eat whatever you desire, and still lose the extra pounds.  The primary danger with fat blockers is that they also hamper proper absorption of fat-soluble vitamins by your digestive system.  Thus, important vitamins such as A,D,E, and K are hindered from performing their functions in your body.  Also, absorption of  beta-carotene is affected as well.

Carbohydrate blockers prevent starchy foods such as bread, pasta, and potatoes, from absorbing in your digestive system.   The carbohydrates just pass through your digestive tract, and are eliminated through your bodily waste.

So, each of the primary methods by which diet pills work, have pros and cons in their usage.  Also, diet pills may have adverse interactions with prescription medications you are taking.  These concerns make it important for you to consult your doctor before taking any diet pills.  Your total health status must be considered before using any of these products.

I found the major issue with diet pills of any type, is that they are short-term solutions to obesity problems.  Most of these pills should only be used for 6 months or less, according to their makers.  Additionally, most brands fail to tell you that diet modification and exercise, are still necessary for you to effectively lose weight.

One of the better articles I’ve seen on the effectiveness and safety of diet pills, can be found at the MayoClinic.com site.  I suggest you read this article as part of you homework, before taking any diet pills.

My next post will cover a great, total approach to losing weight.  It’s a must read item!  See ya then.

It’s your life, live well.