People often wonder about weight loss pills. They seem too good to be true. A pill that can help you lose weight just by taking it? Could such a thing be real, let alone safe to take?
Today we’re going to look at those questions and answer whether weight loss pills are the real thing or a bunch of snake oil.
Weight Loss Pills
How They Work
The most common forms of weight loss pills work using one of three mechanisms. Primarily, they reduce your appetite, making it less likely you’ll overeat. Additionally, these pills will often include compounds that make your body absorb fewer calories. This results in your food giving you fewer calories per meal.
The third and final way that common weight loss pills tend to work is by making your body burn calories more quickly. Essentially, these pills target your metabolism and make it work overtime. How effective these strategies depend a lot on the person.
Are They Safe?
Generally speaking, commercially available weight loss pills aren’t dangerous. Many of them do have some pretty notable side-effects, though. Jitteriness and shakes from the high caffeine content of some pills are often reported. Likewise, digestive problems of many varieties are reported by people who take these pills.
Problems ranging from nausea, upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea have all been reported of various popular weight loss pills. Caffeine is a major component of most, if not all, weight loss pills, so keep that in mind if you have caffeine sensitivities.
Do They Work?
We’ve discussed how these pills work and what their side effects are. Given the numerous side effects, it sounds like these would be a product to avoid. They sound too good to be true, after all. But do they actually work? Can you take a few pills and watch the fat burn off?
In short, no, of course not. If such a pill existed, it would be the highest-selling medication in the history of the human race. Caffeine is a very common psychoactive substance, and resistance to its effects develops rapidly. Similarly, the other functions of weight loss pills are dubious at best and disputed by most scientists.
Bottom Line
There is no magic pill to burn off fat. If you want to lose weight, then you should just try to eat healthily and exercise. There’s no secret to how to get fit, it just requires a little bit of hard work. Don’t buy into the hype!