It’s nice to think that a magic pill exists for all of our problems. Instant money, careers, fame. Automatic stress relievers. A magnet to attract our soulmate. And of course, effortless weight loss. No more devoting hours to healthy eating and exercise. Just take this pill and watch the pounds disappear like magic! If this sounds too good to be true, that’s because it is. We’re always in search of the easy way. Unfortunately, we just can’t escape the reality that the best things in life are worth working for. But I get it- you want to know a miracle pill does exist, and whether or not they truly work. Come along with me as I explain what these pills are, their side effects, and what the real solutions are for achieving your goal weight. Are you ready? Then let’s get started! 

The History of Weight Loss Drugs

Weight loss was a problem that even our ancestors dealt with. The ancient Greek physician Soranus of Ephesus would prescribe laxatives, concoctions, and purgatives his patients that struggled with their weight. [1] Other cultures had a similar approach, using bitter herbs as well as practices like massage, fasting, and, believe it or not, exercise. However, it wasn’t until the late 1800s when things started to evolve, with herbal remedies transforming into modern drugs. These included animal-based thyroid gland extracts, amphetamines, and dinitrophenol (DNP). [2]

The new age of weight loss pills was not without its risks, though. Thyroid extract caused symptoms of hyperthyroid, such as rapid heart racing, cardiac stress, insulin suppression, and insomnia. Amphetamines gave an enormous list of side effects, ranging between “alerted sexual behavior” to convulsions, coma, and death. (The kicker here? Despite being banned in the US in the late 60s, it’s been “rediscovered” in nine different supplements as recent as 2013.) [2] With DNP, a similar thing had happened. Which was why it became discontinued in 1938 after being confirmed for toxicity, along with causing death as a result of fatal hyperthermia. The pill would literally make the body to overheat itself to death! [2] [3] [4]

Sadly, just as soon as a dangerous drug was removed from the market, another one would take its place, with the cycle repeating itself. And in our current obesity crisis,  many new “solutions” (aka, drugs) have popped up.

These drugs, as well as their side effects, include:

• Fenfluramine (Pondimin): Withdrawn in 1997 due to causing a variety of mental changes (from hallucinations to uncontrollable anger), weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, and in some instances either fatal lung or heart complications
• Dexfenfluramine (Redux), also withdrawn in 1997 and shown to cause a variety of symptoms- heart valve disease, abnormal heart rhythm, heart-throbbing, faintness, drowsiness, insomnia, weakness, eyesight problems, dry mouth, excessive thirst, vomiting, and spinning sensations
• Sibutramine (Meridian, Reductil, Sibutrex): Pulled almost a decade ago for increasing “major adverse cardiovascular events” which included heart attack, cardiovascular death, and stroke; not to mention it also caused suicidal thoughts, non-menstrual bleeding, thyroid imbalances, blood sugar imbalances, UTIs, yeast infections, inflammation, and a whole host of other complications
• (Old) Hydroxycut Supplements: Back in 2009, the FDA had to remove Hydroxycut supplements from the market after 23 reports came out showing that several users had experienced, “…serious health problems ranging from jaundice to elevated livers… to liver damage requiring liver transplant.” While Hydroxycut has since reformulated their supplements, a number of side effects continue to be reported, such as jitteriness, elevated heart rate and blood pressure, dizziness, headaches, swelling, and loss of appetite
  [2]

A number of weight-loss drugs continue to be prescribed, and they are known for causing many of the side effects I listed above. Even under doctor supervision, you have to wonder if a laundry list of potential “side effects” is worth the risk when it comes to losing weight.

Cheater Pills

Yet another generation of pills has appeared in the form of weight loss “assistants”. One such medication is Plenity, which is a non-stimulating combination of cellulose (plant fiber) and citric acid (which is found naturally in citrus fruits like lemons and oranges). Plenity is an appetite suppressant that tricks the body into feeling full. It gels up in the intestinal tract and absorbs water, which stimulates the feeling of fullness and prevents overeating. [5] While the only side effects so far appear to be mild GI disturbances (diarrhea, constipation, cramps), it’s the safest of the bunch out there.

But here’s the thing- instead of cheating with a pill, why not just do it naturally with just a few simple tweaks to your diet? If you want to feel full, play with your macros. Increase your intake of fat, protein, fiber, or a combination. Why not chew your food and slow down during meal times, which has been proven to prevent overeating? [6]

If you really want to mimic Plenity, you can do so by drinking a glass of water with a couple tablespoons of chia or flax seeds. Both of them naturally swell into a “gel” that increase fullness. As a bonus, it acts as a prebiotic, which feeds the beneficial bacteria down in the gut and keeps your digestion regular.

That’s why I’m not a fan of these drugs or “cheater” pills. There’s so much that you can do at home without having to risk your health!

What DOES Work for Weight Loss

I hate to burst anyone’s bubble here, but there’s no getting around it. Real, maintainable weight loss comes from good old-fashioned effort. It’s nice to think we could have something else do the work for us, but that’s never going to happen. What’s worse is that if it does, it will just be a crutch allowing us to get away with our bad habits. We’d be robbed of the chance to understand respect for our body. For some people, losing weight is a wakeup call. It’s a sign that their body is unwell and that losing the extra weight is more than appearances. What you have to gain from this opportunity is responsibility– caring for your mental and physical health while appreciating the value of a healthy lifestyle.

But I’d like to hear from you- do you have any experience with these drugs? Do you think there’s a place for them, or should we first try learn the proper habits that lead to a healthier weight? Let me know in the comments below!

Sources:

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18386109
[2] https://obesity.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=005876
[3] Parascandola J (November 1974). “Dinitrophenol and bioenergetics: an historical perspective”. Mol. Cell. Biochem. 5 (1–2): 69–77.
[4] https://www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/news-and-analysis/features/dnp-the-dangerous-diet-pill-pharmacists-should-know-about/20206616.article
[5] https://www.inlander.com/spokane/new-weight-loss-assistant/Content?oid=17704995
[6] https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-eating-slowly-may-help-you-feel-full-faster-20101019605