Weight Loss Drugs: 7 Things You Need To Know
If you are someone who has constantly been fighting with obesity that can result in serious health risks because of your weight, you might have considered taking weight-loss drugs. You take a pill and you lose weight – it does sound like magic, doesn’t it?
The unfortunate truth, though, is you cannot get your desired results only through taking them – you must supplement that with changes in your lifestyle and diet habits.
However, this does not mean that you have to cancel the entire weight loss drug as an option. But if you maintain your diet and dose routines, this can be the perfect solution for your weight-loss. First here are some important points you should know about weight loss medication.
1. It Is Not For Everyone
Your doctor will only prescribe these medications if your Body Mass Index (BMI) is greater than 30 and you have medical issues like high blood pressure or diabetes. If you are pregnant or trying to conceive, it is advised not to use such drugs.
Also, your medical history, potential drug side effects, and the possibility of interaction with your current medications will be analyzed first by your doctor before he/she can prescribe you weight-loss drugs.
2. Prescription vs. OTC Pills
Prescription pills, in general, are approved by the local government bodies, such as the FDA in the USA. For weight loss, certain pills can only be prescribed by your doctor. And without a valid prescription, you will not be able to purchase it from the pharmacy.
Over the Counter (OTC) pills, on the other hand, may not always be approved by the government bodies. However, you can buy them from your local pharmaceutical store. That said, it is highly recommended that you speak to your weight-loss program coordinator or a physical trainer who can help you choose the right pill or supplement for you.
3. The Newer The Better
With technological advances and increased scope for research, newer and naturally-derived weight burning formulas are being invented. One of them is Sinetrol, which is made from the polyphenol extracts from oranges, grapefruits, and caffeine from guarana. If you’re looking for fat burning pills that are made from natural fruit and plant extracts and work efficiently without any significant side effects, ThermAccel is the answer.
4. How Does it Work?
All weight loss pills work in a different manner by interacting differently with your body. But if we are to put it in simple terms, there are essentially three broad ways.
- Some drugs help our body to break down the fat stored in our body faster, thus helping us lose weight.
- Some drugs try to stop excess fat in our food from being absorbed by our bodies.
- Some drugs make you lose your appetite, so you eat less and thus lose weight.
Which of these is the “right” way? Well, there is no right way. Different kinds are required for different people, so it is advised that you seek the opinion of a medical or fitness professional who can point you in the right direction depending on your body’s needs and conditions.
5. A Good Lifestyle Is Essential
Even though long-term use doses show significant weight loss results, it is worth mentioning that additional lifestyle changes can result in greater weight-loss than the drugs alone.
In a year, if you do nothing except changing your lifestyle, you will likely lose 3-7% of total body weight. This includes everything such as eating healthy and taking fewer calories, engaging in more physical activities, sleeping for at least 8 hours a day, and staying stress-free.
Over the course of 12 months, that can mean a weight loss of 3 to 7 percent of total body weight achieved only with lifestyle changes alone. That may seem like a modest amount, but a sustained weight loss of 5 to 10 percent of total body weight can have big health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure, blood sugar, and triglyceride levels.
It’s worth mentioning that weight loss pills could be an effective tool for your weight loss program, but it shouldn’t be the only element. A proper balance of lifestyle habits, exercise, and pills would get you the optimum results you’ve been looking for.
6. There Might Be Side Effects To It
Although initially, you might face mild side effects like nausea, constipation, or diarrhea, for some it might get severe. You can also get dizzy or have a dry mouth. Therefore it is crucial to have a thorough discussion with your doctor before you start weight-loss medications.
You also need to stay cautious so as not to get addicted to them. This is often caused by eating disorders or undetected mental health issues. You may feel a false sense of control by taking them. Since they are readily found in drugstores, the addiction can develop very quickly.
7. If It’s For The Long-Term, Be Patient
Often weight loss drugs are prescribed for long-term use since obesity is a chronic disease. At least a year or half is recommended by doctors to see a significant change in weight from the drugs, considering that the patient is maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
When discontinued, people often gain back the lost weight. However, this should not let you down. If it does not work the way your doctor intended to (at least 5% weight loss is expected), he/she may prescribe you another medication or change the dosage. If your doctor notices you are not having any sort of serious side effects to the medication and losing enough weight to keep you healthy, he/she might suggest staying on the medication for a longer period of time if possible.
The Bottom Line
Even though weight loss drugs are a quick solution, they will not help you in the long run alone. Furthermore, relying solely on them might have harmful consequences. If they do not help you directly in losing weight, they may help you find the perfect lifestyle changes you need to adapt to improve your health.
Finally, remember that it takes a good diet, rigorous exercises, and a stable long-term plan curated by your doctor that will help you to lose weight and maintain the perfect number.