The bad effects of diet pills

A Ndong

People who are desperate to lose weight often turn to diet pills yet most do not work in the long-term and are dangerous to your health.

From prescription drugs to over-the-counter thermoregulators, the pills are touted as weight loss miracles.

But most only cause the body to lose water which is mistaken for fat loss. Others are depressants that curb appetite to lower your calorie intake. Lower food intake leads to a drop in your metabolism rate, which slows down weight loss. Pills are a short-term solution to weight loss.

Most ominous

But most ominous is that extended use cause stomach and intestinal ulcers, high blood pressure, diabetes, anaemia, nervousness, anxiety, depression, seizure, difficulty in urination, sleeplessness, tremors, dizziness and headache. Other complications include heart, liver and thyroid diseases including palpitations or tingling sensations and strokes. The pills cause nervousness, mood swings and bad temperament.

Most over-the-counter products are a hodgepodge of diuretics — medication that increase urine output —, stimulants and laxatives that may lead to a temporary loss of water weight, and jitters.

The pills can interact with other drugs to produce adverse reaction. When it comes to diet pills, you need to be more than wary. Be smart.

Before you fall for the claims made by makers of the latest anti-obesity drug, read label warnings. You may find that the benefits are not worth their risks and health hazards.

Before deciding to take a pill consult a doctor, nutritionist or pharmacist.