Do Diet Pills Help You Lose Weight?

Can Diet Pills actually Help You lose Weight?

There are several different weight loss ways out there. This includes all sorts of pills, drugs and natural supplements. These are claimed to help you lose weight, or make it easier to lose weight combined with other methods. They tend to work via one or more of these mechanisms:

Reduce appetite, making you feel more full so that you eat fewer calories

Reduce absorption of nutrients like fat, making you take in fewer calories

Increase fat burning, making you burn more calories

Eating less and workout are the basics of weight loss that lasts. For some people, prescription weight loss drugs may help. You'll still need to focus on diet and workout while taking these pills, and they're not for everyone.

Doctors usually prescribe them only if your BMI is 30 or higher, or if it's at least 27 and you have a condition that may be related to your weight, like high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes .

Here's what you should know about the most common prescription weight loss drugs: liraglutide (Saxenda), phentermine (Adipex-P, Ionamin, Pro-Fast), and phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia).

Before you get a weight loss drug prescription, tell your doctor about your medical history. That includes any allergies or other conditions you have; medicines or supplements you take (even if they're herbal or natural); and whether you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to get pregnant soon.

Researching before you buy Diet Pills

It's important to do your homework if you're thinking about trying over-the-counter weight-loss pills. Information about many dietary supplements is available online.

The Natural Medicines database summarizes research regarding dietary supplements and herbal products. Although information from the Natural Medicines database is available only by subscription, you may be able to access it through a public library.

Limited Prescription Options

The Food and Drug Administration/FDA treats obesity pills differently than it does other pills There are only 2 prescription drugs that are FDA-approved for longer-term use for weight loss Several others are approved only for short-term use over a few months. Both of the longer-term drugs are only recommended for people who are significantly obese.

Orlistat (Xenical) has helped people to achieve only mild weight loss in research This diet pills blocks the action of lipase, an enzyme in the intestine that breaks down fat. As a result, 30 percent of fat eaten is not absorbed and is excreted in the stool. It sometimes causes gastrointestinal problems, including a lot of gas, an oily discharge and a frequent need to have bowel movements. The FDA also approved this drug at a lower dose for over-the-counter use by adults (under the trade name Alli).  It was the first and only over-the-counter diet drug to win approval from the agency.

Sibutramine (Meridia) increases metabolism and affects serotonin and other neurotransmitters. People report they feel full and more energetic. Because it can increase blood pressure, it must not be used in people with hypertension, and blood pressure must be regularly monitored while using the medication. People with heart disease, stroke and heart rhythm disturbances must also avoid the medication, and it must not be used in combination with decongestants, bronchodilators (used for asthma) or MAO inhibitors (medications used against depression). It is not particularly effective in the long run. The FDA has found undeclared and unapproved sibutramine in some specific dietary supplements, which has prompted voluntary recalls.

How do weight loss pills work?

Here’s how some of the most commonly prescribed weight loss pills work and how effective they’ve been in clinical trials:

Lorcaserin (Belviq) acts on the binding sites for the chemical serotonin in the brain to encourage you to eat less and still feel full after eating a smaller amount. Combined with a healthy diet and exercise, 47% of those who used the medication lost 5% or more of their body weight compared with 23% of those who used diet and exercise with a placebo pill.

Naltrexone-Bupropion (Contrave) targets a part of the brain called the hypothalamus that helps your body regulate hunger. While it remains unknown exactly how this medication works to promote weight loss, it does lead to a decrease in appetite1.  In one trial2, 42% of people who used the drug along with diet and exercise, lost at least 5% of their body weight in a year, compared with 17% of those who used diet and exercise along with a placebo (inactive) pill.

Phentermine-Topiramate (Qsymia) is a drug combination that can help you eat less with a two-fold mechanism. Phentermine is a medication that decreases the appetite and increases metabolism. Topiramate alone is used as a migraine and anti-seizure medication, and it also decreases appetite and causes feelings of fullness. In a  clinical trial, people who took this medication lost an average of 9% of their body weight, compared with 1.5% of those who took a placebo pill.

Liraglutide (Saxenda) was first approved to treat people with Type 2 diabetes because it helps promote insulin production after a meal to help control blood sugar. It is prescribed as a weight loss medication at a higher dose due to its ability to act in the brain and cause a decrease in appetite.  It also slows down the emptying of the stomach causing you to feel full for a longer time after a meal and eat less during the day.  Liraglutide is the only weight loss medication that is not a pill; it is injected daily from a pen. A study found that 63% of people who took Liraglutide lost 5% or more of their body weight in a year, compared with 27% who took a placebo.

Orlistat (Xenical and Alli over-the-counter) is the only weight loss medication that works in the intestines.  It blocks 1/3 of the fat (and the calories that come with it) in meals from being absorbed by the body, which led to >5% weight loss in 65% of patients taking orlistat when combined with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise in a clinical trial,6  compared with 43% of patients on a placebo pill with diet and exercise alone.  While these studies show that diet and exercise are important, medications can help increase the amount of weight that you lose and may be a helpful addition to your weight loss program.

Including your doctor in your weight-loss plans

If you're considering weight-loss pills, be sure to talk with your doctor, especially if you have health problems, take prescription drugs, or are pregnant or breast-feeding. It's also important to get advice on possible interactions with your current use of medicine, vitamins or minerals.

Your doctor can also offer advice on losing weight, provide support, monitor your progress or refer you to a dietitian.

Summary

When it comes to the best weight loss pills, it appears there is no magic bullet. Although some of the diet pills and supplements mentioned above may contribute to weight loss, the amounts are usually modest.

Weight loss pills aren’t for everyone.  Your Body Mass Index (BMI), a measurement based on your height and weight, which is used to estimate body fat, can help you figure out if medications may be an option for you. (Find your BMI with this BMI Calculator).  If you have a BMI of 30  or higher, or if you have a BMI between 27-30 and have also developed health conditions brought on by weight, like high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease, then weight loss medications may make sense as part of your weight loss strategy, along with a healthy diet and exercise.

It’s important to remember that everyone is different and will lose weight in different ways.

The best bet for people trying to lose weight is to reduce portion size, eat lean protein and veggies, and get regular exercise.

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