The First Non-Prescription Diet Pill For Obesity Has Arrived

At long last the US Food and Drug Administration has finally approved a diet pill which can be bought over-the-counter and which is aimed at adults suffering from obesity. But just how effective will this new drug be and is it going to be the answer for the many thousands of obese individuals who find that losing weight is extremely hard work?

To some extend we already have the answers to these questions because this is not a new drug at all but one that has been widely used in the United States since 1999. The drug, known as Orlistat, is in fact nothing more than a half-dose version of the prescription drug Xenical.

The traditional route for weight loss in cases of obesity is for doctors to start by recommending a regime of diet and exercise and, where this doesn't work, to move on to assist the dieting process with drugs such as Xenical. Finally, if this still proves unsuccessful, patients may be offered gastric bypass surgery as the ultimate weight loss solution. This background gives a clue to just how this new diet pill is designed to be used.

This is certainly not a case of taking a pill once a day and magically losing weight. Orlistat works by partially blocking the absorption of fat that is eaten and is most effective when it is taken three times a day with meals containing about fifteen grams of fat. If taken will meals containing more than the recommended fifteen grams of fat Orlistat can lead to bowel problems which, depending on who you talk to, may or may not be harmful.

Use of Orlistat can also interfere with the absorption of some vitamins and users should therefore take daily multivitamin tablets. The drug is not recommended for people taking any form of blood thinning medication or being treated for thyroid problems or diabetes.

Without an accompanying program of diet and exercise Orlistat will have little if any effect at all and you are only likely to derive any benefit from its use alongside a strict diet and exercise program. However, even here the results are likely to be marginal and many question whether the likely results (predicted from the known results from Xenical) make the use of Orlistat worthwhile.

Perhaps one further question we should ask is just why the FDA has approved this drug for over-the-counter use at this time. Obesity rates are now growing at epidemic proportions and there is mounting pressure to find a solution to this problem before it literally runs out of control. Many people would argue therefore that the licensing of Orlistat is nothing more than the FDA bowing to public pressure.

If, as many predict, Orlistat proves to be of little or no use at all it could actually do more harm than good as people suffering from obesity turn their attention towards the drug as the answer to their problem and away from the need to set themselves a strict program of diet and exercise.

GastricBypassFacts.info is a growing resource center providing a wealth of information on obesity and morbid obesity as well as on various forms of gastric bypass surgery.

The Best Diet Pill in the World

I lived with an obese person for over 20 years. So I know a bit about dieting. Although I am not overweight, I was witness to my wife’s battle with overeating and her addiction to food. She tried most of the more common diet fads of the day. Together, we tried them all as I attempted to be the supportive husband. We ate diets consisting of grapefruit, eggs, low-cal foods, high-protein foods, Slim-fast shakes, Lean-Line foods, and so forth. Then came Jenny Craig and Weight-Watchers. This was followed by Dr. Atkins and his revolution. A short time later, “The Zone” raised it’s head. Then there was the South Beach Diet.

Fast-forwarding to today, we have the little Hoodia pills. In the past, appetite suppressants were always plentiful. After all, there had be something that did the trick, right? My wife never had the will-power necessary to cut portions and calories or eliminate sweets and snack foods. She was heavy, so exercise did not come easily. It was a vicious cycle. She was overweight, which made simple exercises less appealing and she balked at the thought.

So we explored other options. She actually wasn’t much of a pill-popper, except for dealing with the pain in her legs. But the diet programs always ended up about the same. She would be excited for the first few weeks and actually lost some weight. Bolstered by the results, she was anxious to tell anyone and everyone about her success. But, eventually, she reached a plateau where she languished without losing for several weeks. It was during this period she began doubting the program. After all, she was doing the same things, but the weight remained constant. She would get discouraged and began cheating. This was the crack in the dike. Within a few weeks, the whole dam burst and she was back to her old habits, diet forgotten.

With the failure apparent, she quickly regained the lost poundage twice as fast as it came off. Now she was distraught, disillusioned, and heavier than when she began. I knew that I couldn’t even bring up the “d” word for the next six months, until the bitterness of defeat wore off. So, how is she doing now, you may ask? Well, upon a doctor’s recommendation, she had gastric bypass surgery and was into her fourth month of recovery when she suddenly died of a heart attack, apparently brought on by decades of obesity. But this is not about her, this article is about you.

If you have read this article hoping to read about a miracle pill to lose weight, then you’ve still come to the right place. That means you’re desperate. Great. You have already realized that (a) obesity can kill, as I explained with my wife, (b) diets don’t work because you have also probably tried them all, and (c) nothing in this world comes easily. The only pill I know of that really works is a sleeping pill. That’s because if you’re asleep, you’re not eating. There, that’s the answer. Of course it won’t cause you to lose, but then again, you won’t gain anything either.

In harsh reality, the hardest pill to swallow is the one that you don’t want to hear: eating less and having lower caloric intake while properly exercising, is the only viable solution that is guaranteed to work every time. So make your decision right now. Live as a fat person or take charge before you either die or suffer poor health. Just like a cigarette smoker, you are doomed. But, unlike them, you are not scarred for life. You can change and should change for the sake of your family and friends and loved ones. They really want you to succeed and that’s a prescription for the best outcome of all; longer life.

Currently, he is the Marketing Director for The Nurses Choice, LLC a Health Information and Doctor Referral site: http://www.thenurseschoice.com

Jeffrey Hauser was a sales consultant for the Bell System Yellow Pages for nearly 25 years. He graduated from Pratt Institute with a BFA in Advertising and has a Master's Degree in teaching. He had his own advertising agency in Scottsdale, Arizona and ran a consulting and design firm, ABC Advertising. He has authored 6 books and a novel, "Pursuit of the Phoenix." His latest book is, "Inside the Yellow Pages" which can be seen at his website, http://www.poweradbook.com

What Can a Weight Loss Diet Pill Do For You?

No doubt you have seen at least one ad for a weight loss pill today. They come in all forms and make all sorts of promises. But is there really any point in taking a pill to help you with weight loss? Are there really any advantages to getting on a program with these types of pills?

When it comes to any type of oral support for weight loss, one of the main components is invariably caffeine. Part of the reason is to give you an extra boost of energy so you will be able to replace the quick energy you usually get from snacking on sweets and other items that may now be forbidden on your diet. While this may work fine for some people, the extra caffeine only serves to invoke an outbreak of nerves. All of a sudden every little sound irritates you. That may be fine if you can lock yourself in your home all alone, but most of us are not able to achieve that level of withdrawal when embarking on a diet. If you have sensitivity to any type of pill that contains a good jolt of caffeine, then you should pass on oral supplements for weight loss.

Another aspect to consider is the weight suppression properties of most of the oral supplements on the market today. While they may use various combinations to achieve this curtailed desire for something to eat, many of them do have some minor side effects. You may experience cramping, nausea, or a headache as a result of taking a weight loss diet pill. Should you try one of these pills and find that your side effects are more severe than a minor and temporary condition, you will need to stop using the pills and think about some other support mechanism for controlling your appetite.

Of course, the smartest thing to do before you begin to take any type of supplement for helping with your diet is to consult your physician. No one understands the state of your health like your doctor. From that perspective, you can get professional advice about what over the counter weight loss products would be less likely to create any type of discomfort or problems for you.

Your doctor can also give you advice as to whether or not you need to be using any of these products in the first place. When it comes to the state of your health, and especially with something like weight loss, the input of your primary care physician is absolutely invaluable.

There is something to be said for the use of oral weight loss products. They can help some people curb their desire for food, as well as provide you with some energy as your body adjusts to the change in caloric intake. Just make sure the weight loss diet pill you choose has the blessing of your physician and creates only minor side effects, and you will be fine.

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