Weight Loss Drugs
Recent studies have shown that more
people are getting overweight every year. This happens not only to
adults but even to kids who have just started in school.
A lot of factors cause this to happen such as genetics, overeating, the
type of food taken into the body and as people age, the metabolism
slows down making it harder than before to burn the food that was just
consumed.
There are many ways to solve this problem. Some have decided to undergo
surgery, while others have decided to change the dietary intake and
exercise.
Since this takes time and most people can’t wait to get rid of the
extra weight, these people have decided to take the fastest way out
which is through the use of weight loss drugs.
In the 1950’s until the late 90’s, doctors prescribed drugs for weight
loss. The drug works by increasing the serotonin levels in the brain
that makes the brain believe that the stomach is already full and thus,
increases the person’s metabolic rate.
It was only after scientists discovered that these drugs had side
effects and were related to cause heart valve disease that these were
taken off the shelves.
Later on, new drugs were developed and prescribed by doctors and many
of which are still waiting for FDA approval.
Most people have known friends or family members who have tried using
diet pills and have seen tremendous improvement. The idea that a simple
drug can change everything without the need to change the diet or
sacrificing anything is very tempting.
This has made consumers spend millions of dollars every year and has
given drug companies a lot of money making and selling the drug.
Diet pills can be purchased either over-the-counter or prescribed by a
doctor. Even with the advances in medical technology, these drugs can
still cause a lot of health related problems which can be unpleasant
such as diarrhea and vomiting, harmful such as tightness in the chest
and urinary tract problems and fatal such as a heart attack or a stroke.
An overdose of the diet pills can cause tremors, confusion,
hallucinations, shallow breathing, renal failure, heart attack and
convulsions.
The side effects vary depending on the lifestyle and health of the
person and can be minimized as long as one consults the doctor first
before buying it.
Should one decide to stop using the drugs, studies have shown that
there are also side effects. These include noticeable mood swings,
hyper-activity, and pain in the stomach, insomnia and nightmares,
severe irritability, extreme fatigue, depression, nausea, vomiting and
trembling.
A lot of clinical tests will show that the drugs taken to lose weight
really work. But this can only work if it is done with a low calorie
diet and an exercise plan.
A good diet should have food from all the food groups. This should have
vitamins, minerals and fiber. A lot can come from oats, rice, potatoes
and cereals. The best still come from vegetables and fruits since these
have phytochemicals, enzymes and micronutrients that are essential for
a healthy diet.
A person can jog every morning or sign up and workout in a gym. Just
like taking any medicine, one should first consult the doctor before
undergoing any form of exercise.
The best exercise plan should have cardiovascular and weight training
exercises. This helps burn calories and increase the muscle to fat
ratio that will increase ones metabolism and lose weight.
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