| Weight loss pills come in both prescription
and non-prescription forms. Let's talk about some examples of both so you can
make the right decision: Prescription
Diet Pills Prescription diet pills are regulated
by the Food and Drug Administration agency (FDA). They have undergone years of
study and testing before gaining approval as weight loss drugs and have been scientifically
proven to assist in weight reduction. Their side effects are monitored and they
can only be prescribed for weight loss under certain conditions and in certain
pill-dosages. Examples of prescription diet pills include: Phentermine,
Adipex, Bontril,
Didrex, Tenuate,
Meridia and Xenical. Prescription
diet pills are designed primarily for those suffering from clinical obesity. This
includes people with a BMI (Body Mass Index) over 30,
or overweight people with a BMI over 27 combined with other risk factors such
as; high cholesterol, diabetes, or hypertension. Weight
Loss Supplements Unlike prescription diet pills, most "over-the-counter"
weight loss supplements are not approved by the FDA. These products are not scientifically
tested and may or may not have dangerous side effects. Since supplement manufacturers
are not required to have their products tested for safety, quality, effectiveness,
or appropriate dosage, use caution (and common sense) when using these products. Generally,
most over the counter weight loss supplements contain ephedrine
or caffeine as their active ingredient. They are often referred to "fat burners",
which use thermogenic properties to
burn excess weight. There are numerous brand names on the market and many natural
or herbal products such as Ma Huang, Guarana
and Hoodia. These products generally
act as stimulants increasing metabolism and suppressing appetite. There
are also many stimulant-free weight loss
products as well. These supplements use ingredients such Chromium
Picolinate, Green Tea Extract, Ginseng,
L-Carnitine, Choline, Alpha lipoic acid and more. Another stimulant free
product that is showing a lot of promise is conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).
CLA is a nonessential fatty acid that displays powerful fat burning characteristics.
Research has shown that CLA has great potential as a diet aid-- helping to prevent
additional weight gain, and spurring on lean muscle growth. [
BACK TO TOP] | 
