The first thing to consider when you want to go for a diet pill is that most of the herbal diet supplements on the market haven’t been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). That means anything you buy over-the-counter (OTC) that promises weight loss results hasn’t been proven to be effective, nor has it been tested for health risks. This has become a problem in the world of weight loss supplements, recently ephedra was taken off the market because it was linked with serious side effects including high blood pressure, anxiety, stroke, seizures, heart disease and death. The ephedra controversy showed that just because something is sold in the pharmacy, it doesn’t mean that it’s safe to use.

Lots of other diet pills promise specific results—such as blocking fat absorption, suppressing appetites or speeding up your metabolism. The reality is that pills that promise these types of effects are probably doing more harm than good for your body. Most diet pills have caffeine, and many act as a diuretic or a laxative. Diuretics and laxatives promote urination and defecation and result in temporary weight loss. But that’s just because you’re losing body fluid, not because you’re losing fat. In the end, these diet pills can be very dangerous because they can cause serious side effects such as nausea, cramps and diarrhea, dehydration and chemical imbalances. Many OTC diet pills promote a caffeine-like “up” and can become addictive. If your doctor prescribes a diet pill for you, do research and ask questions before you comply. Even prescription diet pills can be dangerous for your health, particularly because they can become addictive, limit your appetite, increase risk of disease and prevent you from getting the important nutrients you need from a well-balanced diet. When it comes to diet pills, they are just another get-skinny-quick scheme that won’t pay off as much as the effort, patience and practice of maintaining a healthy weight-loss diet.

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Introduction
Eating for Weight Loss
Eating for Weight Gain
Fad Diets
What You Should Know about Diet Pills