Over-The-Counter Weight Loss Pills – Can They Be Effective?

Health & FitnessNovember 14, 2017

Over-The-Counter Weight Loss Pills

Setting Realistic Expectations Is Essential When Trying to Lose Weight

No Magic Remedy Exists For Losing Weight Fast And Therefore Realistic Expectations Must Be Set.

The magic remedy to lose weight fast has yet to be discovered but the most effective way of losing weight and keeping it off is definitely available. Having a low-calorie diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables and being physically active is considered as one of the best ways to lose weight fast and keep it off.

Prescription medications, nonprescription medications, over-the-counter weight loss pills are at best just tools that may assist with weight loss. However, the research conducted on these products is limited with the best studies being conducted on prescription weight loss drugs.

According to a research conducted in 2014, reviewed 21 lengthy trials of prescription drugs for the treatment of obesity. The research led the researchers to believe that people can achieve clinically meaningful weight loss within a year only if they are willing to make appropriate lifestyle changes along with the prescription drugs which were provided. Clinically meaningful weight loss was defined as significant enough to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other conditions which people suffering from obesity are susceptible to.

Information was also provided by the researchers that any weight loss achieved in settings of a research may be higher than in actual practice and that the results of the treatment can be affected by the potential side effects and negative reactions to weight loss pills.

The researchers finally concluded that prescription weight loss pills have the potential to be beneficial but cannot deliver any magical results. The pills prescribed may not work for everyone and the benefits they deliver could be modest in some cases. The researchers, however, mentioned they had even less information about the potential risks and benefits of over-the-counter weight loss pills.

Understanding Over-The-Counter Weight Loss Pills

Most Over-The-Counter Weight Loss Pills Are Not Approved By the FDA For Safety And Effectiveness.

People looking for over-the-counter weight loss remedies will come across two varieties of products which will be available to them. They can either purchase nonprescription drugs or alternatively choose dietary supplements. Makers of nonprescription drugs are required to provide the FDA with results that have been conducted on humans to provide evidence about the safety and the effectiveness of the drugs.

Dietary Supplements Are Just Required To Make Honest Claims And Not Subject To the Regulations Set by The FDA.

Makers of dietary supplements are just responsible to ensure the safety of the product and make honest claims about the possible benefits. However, the claims made by the manufacturer are not subject to the regulations set by the FDA either during the manufacture or the marketing. It is seen that manufacturers have been unable to provide enough evidence to support the claims they are making. The FDA is authorized to withdraw any product which is considered unsafe and even ban the product by asking the manufacturers to withdraw it from the market voluntarily.

The differences observed during the research, production and marketing can make it a challenge for people to make proper decisions about over-the-counter weight loss pills. With the scientific fraternity unable to provide any evidence to support the claims made by products which are being marketed, it can become extremely difficult to verify the authenticity of the pills and therefore the option of choosing prescription weight loss pills and making lifestyle changes which also includes physical activity that should be the one chosen by people.

It is quite possible that people will be required to spend a higher sum of money when choosing this option. However, they will also be able to witness some results which will be better than gambling on a product which cannot offer any guarantees about the ultimate outcome.