![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 2 of 2. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by becksA on July 27, 2004, at 4:48:10
I have been doing a bit of research into this...I'm pretty average for my height and weight....yet I'm a bit interested into maybe just buying one bottle and seeing what happens. I do pushups every day but that is the extent of my exercise. Thus, my only part of my body im trying to trim down is my abs...
I know some of these pills can be highly UNsafe, yet I have been reading and a couple, such as "Lipovarin" and "Thermadrol", that have been reviewed as much safer and effective.
Anybody have anymore insight in this? Also, is this your typical "miracle" diet type thing where once the dosing is stopped, the weight comes right back..
Thanks much.
Posted by Racer on July 28, 2004, at 22:40:45
In reply to Weight loss pills-So many, Safe? Effective?, posted by becksA on July 27, 2004, at 4:48:10
Ordinarily, I don't like to make such unequivocal statements, especially on internet bulletin boards, where it feels rather irresponsible to risk the possible misinterpretations -- and the possible recriminations that might follow from others with opposing viewpoints. This time, though, this is an issue on which I'm willing to break that little rule of mine -- although I will offer some qualifications at the end.
First of all, whether or not a specific diet pill is safe depends very much on what it is -- if you're talking about compounds sold as "dietary supplements", the answer is complicated by the lack of effective regulation and standardization. I don't know if you're old enough to remember L-Tryptophan, but it was sold as a dietary supplement -- until a bad batch killed a few people. The supplemental compound itself may or may not be safe in and of itself. Without any regulation, there's no way to know whether or not the label accurately reflects the contents. There are some reputable companies producing dietary supplements which are subjected to rigorous quality control processes -- but there are a lot of others for which the same cannot be said.
In general, any *effective* compound is not likely to be considered entirely *safe*. Just the nature of the beast: if it has any effect at all on the body, it's got a potential to have a harmful effect. Some of those potential harmful effects are inherent in the substance itself: aspirin, for example, has an anti-coagulant effect. That's part of it's desired effect, but if you have a bleeding ulcer, it's gonna have a harmful effect, too. Other substances might have unintended effects, or might only cause damage in their misuse. The problem is, though, that it requires a lot of information to determine which catagory any particular compound fits into. (That's the basic theory underlying requiring a trained and licensed physician to prescribe drugs, if you think about it.) And, because of the lack of independent oversight, once you've researched the chemical structure itself, you have to have a way to confirm that what you've purchased is in fact what you bought.
The bottom line on the question itself, are diet pills safe and/or effective, is that no chemical compound can be both at the same time.
You didn't ask this directly, but I"m going to address another part of your post, too. There is *no way* to spot reduce. You cannot lose weight from a single area of your body. Period. Which areas of your body shrink and expand first is basically preprogrammed by your genes and your build. There are a few exceptions, such as steroid related weight gain, but in general, if you want -- say -- smaller thighs, you have a choice between losing weight overall or finding a good plastic surgeon. Exercise, though, as well as helping you lose weight by burning calories and by perking up your metabolism -- and your mood, for that matter -- can help specific body parts *appear* smaller. For your tummy, crunches will do more for you than any drug you can buy -- and they're cheaper, too.
Now for my qualification: for safe, medication assisted weight loss there is one avenue I will not condemn -- "See your doctor" There are drugs available which can be used for weight loss, but they are prescription. There are probably over the counter supplements that can be used safely and with a fair amount of effectiveness, for that matter -- but to take them appropriately and safely really does require some expertise. Asking the kid at the vitamin store, or reading the website of the company selling the stuff isn't likely to give you the best, most balanced information. Before taking anything at all, I strongly urge that you discuss the issue with your doctor. Some of those supplements interfere with prescription medications, others might have a very small safety margin, still others might be so toxic that they could cause you permanent harm before any side effects appeared -- and many others are nothing more than marketing campaigns that won't hurt you, except in the wallet.
Don't be misled by claims that something is "All Natural" either -- EVERYTHING is "natural" in some sense. Those prescription drugs? They're all "chemical" right? And they are all made up of naturally occurring atoms, at best combined in new ways. Aspirin is no less natural, in its own way, than willow bark. Which one would you reach for if you had a headache?
Good luck to you.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Health | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.