America has long been crazy about weight loss. New diets continue to come up; diet and exercise apps are on the rise. It's no wonder more people are on diets now than were a decade ago and 4 out of 10 Americans consider themselves to be overweight.
While healthy eating and exercise are important to the length and quality of life, too many people think of weight loss pills as a shorter path to removing extra pounds instead of as a sometimes-useful tool for the individuals they've been approved for. There are actually many dangers connected with weight loss pills and it is not recommended that they be taken without seeking advice from the doctor.
For the right person, weight loss pills can be a helpful tool in weight management, but they are usually only suggested for people with extreme fatness and after other weight loss treatments such as diet and exercise have been put into one's lifestyle first.
While there is no shortage in the number of weight loss pills on the market, only six drugs are currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA)for long-term use. All but one of these drugs work to either control hunger or to help one feel full after meals. Such FDA-approved drugs are intended to be used by people struggling with significant extra weight and not by anyone looking to drop a few pounds by chance.
For everyone else, a healthy diet and exercise is usually all that is recommended. It is accepted that we do need to pay much more attention to preventing weight problems early in life through healthy diets and regular physical activities, rather than waiting to respond to developed fatness and illnesses. That's especially true when considering some risks of weight-loss drugs. They are recommended when the benefit of taking them to reduce weight is greater than the risk of side effects or other consequences of these medicines.
These medicines are best used with a complete diet and lifestyle program that can improve results, and when there is a doctor reviewing developing side effects to make adjustments to reduce risk.