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Add to FavoritesDIET PILLS: ANSWER TO WEIGHT LOSS?
Amidst a saturated world of the weight loss industry, out comes the next "hero" drug to save the day, by unleashing super-powers in order to shrink the obese population. Is this real, or are we just watching a re-run of past failed attempts to render a quick fix for a decade-old epidemic? In my opinion they all should be banned, including the newest one currently on the market now called, ALLI.
Alli, Xenical or (orlistat) is being marketed as the only FDA approved drug that will help you lose the weight and change your life. Both of these are true statements, but just like the drug itself; it's not what you think it is. This drug works by acting as a fat blocker. The ingenious, strategic marketing makes it sound so glamorous that it could very easily be your next choice for a quick fix to get thin. So let's separate fact from fiction:
Fiction: You can use this drug safely for as long as necessary to promote on-going and lasting weight loss.
FACT: Since no long-term studies have been conducted on humans, there is currently NO safety data on the use of this drug beyond two years. Studies do show however, that once you stop taking the drug you will regain the weight.
Fiction: There are no "known" significant risks to overall health from taking the drug.
FACT: The Non-Profit Group Public Citizen says ALLI has been shown to cause pre-cancerous lesions in the colons of mice. The director of Public Citizens Health Researcher, Dr. Sidney M. Wolfe says, "What we do know is that these lesions occur much more frequently in people who do get colon cancer", he said.
Fiction: The ALLI drug is FDA approved, so of course the public would be protected against any harmful drugs on the market.
FACT: The FDA has a long running history of approving drugs that later has been factually proven to cause the deaths of thousands outright and contribute to the deaths of thousands more. Roche Pharmaceuticals (the maker of Xenical) in its own study called the FDA's approval for over-the-counter use as the, "height of recklessness," according to Public Interest.
Fiction: Anything that helps you to "block fat" must be able to help you lose weight quickly and stay healthy.
FACT: It may block fats as well as interfere with the absorption of good fats and fat-soluble vitamins A, D, K and E. Even if you supplement your diets with a multi-vitamin as they recommend, these vitamins won't work without good fats. Far from being a quick fix, there is only an average weight loss of 2-4 pounds a month.
Some other rather uncomfortable side effects cited by those that have already tried and failed with the wonder drug are the oily stool accompanied with uncontrollable oily discharge. It appears that the Alli drug wants to put everyone in Depends - before their time, in order to take off a few pounds.
It is advised that while the rest of the world may continue to allow weight loss drugs, diets and gimmicks to be at the center of heated debate, that we use caution and discretion over what we put into our bodies.
Life is too short to leave up to chance to decide. Natural and safe is still the best!
Learn more about this author, Makeisha Lee.
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No
I don't think that diet pills as a whole, should be banned... I think diet pills that are proven unsafe or ineffective should be banned.
We banned Ephedrine products, due to a high incidence of stroke and heart attack, and numerous other health problems as a result of taking ephedrine. The question remains, was ephedrine truly unsafe? Or was it more a matter of people not being educated in the proper use of Ephedrine products?
I think people should be better educated on the proper use of diet pills and other supplements. This would go a long way towards some of these products actually being effective and not being harmful to one's health in the long run.
It's really sad that there are so many companies out there that tout their products as a cure-all for weight loss, marketing to people who don't have the knowledge or understanding to know that, just supplements or diet pills alone, will not help them to lose the weight or keep it off! And, most of these companies, in their fine print on their products, DO say something along the lines of "This product alone will not be effective for weight loss, a healthy diet and exercise is also needed for this product to work effectively."
It's so common in our society, that we have become so addicted to taking supplements and other pills, over-the-counter products, just because we see them advertised or hear that they may work for something that ails us... Most of us don't realize just how unsafe or how ineffective these products really are!
No, diet pills shouldn't be banned... But we really need better education towards the proper use of these products! Pills that are proven to be dangerous or ineffective should be banned, and those companies that make them, shut down.
With proper education, proper diet and exercise.. Yes, there are many diet pills that are effective to help someone lose weight. But, always ask your doctor first! Education is more important in the use of supplements, in my opinion, than the supplements themselves.
Learn more about this author, Samantha Vincent.
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