If you need to lose weight and are considering diet pills, please read the following information. You can then make a better-informed decision.

FACTS ABOUT DIET PILLS:

* All serious diet or weight loss pills are designed for overweight people suffering from obesity. They are anti-obesity drugs - not pills for fast or easy weight loss. REPEAT: They are not the solution for fast or easy weight loss.

* Diet pills, supplements, drugs and other weight loss medications are not going to melt away your fat and solve your weight problem by themselves. Most weight loss trials show that diet pills offer (at best) short-term support.

* When using diet pills, make them part of a comprehensive weight-loss program that includes regular exercise and a healthy low-calorie diet. Otherwise, all you will lose is money.

* Beware of over-the-counter diet pills, weight loss products and dietary supplements. These weight loss products are NOT regulated, contain active ingredients that have no proven weight loss benefits, and may damage your weight and health.

* Beware of diet pills advertised as NATURAL or HERBAL. Weight loss pills are not necessarily healthier or more effective for weight loss because they contain so-called natural ingredients. Herbal ingredients of diet pills are linked to a wide range of health problems.

* Beware of diet pills called fat-burners when trying to lose weight. The only effective and safe way to directly raise metabolism and burn fat is to increase exercise.

* If you are thinking of buying diet pills, always consult your doctor FIRST. Discuss your weight loss options fully, and ask about all the known side effects and health risks of the diet and weight loss pills suggested.

* When taking diet pills, ALWAYS follow the instructions of the manufacturer.

* Do not stay on diet pills for more than 4-6 weeks without consulting your doctor.

POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF DIET PILLS:

Over the short term, weight loss in obese individuals

may reduce a number of health risks. Studies looking at the effects of weight loss medication treatment on obesity-related health risks have found that some diet pills lower blood pressure, blood cholesterol, triglycerides (fats) and decrease insulin resistance (the inability of the body to use blood sugar) over the short term. However, long-term studies are needed to determine if diet and weight loss pills can improve health.

POTENTIAL RISKS OF DIET PILLS:

When considering long-term weight loss medication treatment for obesity, you should consider the many potential risks. The following are major areas of concern:

Abuse of, or dependence on diet pills - Currently, all prescription drugs to treat obesity are controlled substances, meaning doctors need to follow certain restrictions when prescribing weight loss medications. Although abuse and dependence are not common with non-amphetamine appetite-suppressant medications, doctors should be cautious when they prescribe these medications for patients with a history of alcohol or other drug abuse.

Development of tolerance to diet pills - Most studies of weight loss drugs show that the weight of a patient tends to level off after four to six months while still on medication. While some patients and physicians may be concerned that this shows tolerance to the diet pills, the leveling off may mean that the medication has reached its limit of effectiveness. Based on the currently available studies, it is not clear if weight gain with continuing treatment is due to drug tolerance.

POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS OF DIET PILLS:

Because weight loss medications are used to treat a condition that affects millions of people, many of whom are basically healthy, their potential for side effects is of great concern. Most side effects of these medications are mild and usually improve with continued treatment. Rarely, serious and even fatal outcomes have been reported.

Some known side effects are symptoms of sleeplessness, nervousness, and euphoria. Elevations in blood pressure and pulse, which are usually small but may be significant in some patients, can occur. People with poorly controlled high blood pressure, heart disease, irregular heartbeat, or history of stroke should not take diet pills without the approval and supervision of their doctor.

POTENTIAL EFFECTIVENESS OF DIET PILLS:

Diet and weight loss drugs or pills, whether prescription or over-the-counter, are not MAGIC BULLETS. They cannot take the place of improving your diet and becoming more physically active. The major role of medications appears to be to help a person stay on a healthy diet and exercise plan to lose weight and keep it off.

Chris Chenoweth, author of the DO-IT-YOURSELF HOME, HEALTH & MONEY GUIDE (http://mysiteinc.com/djtrevayne/guide.html), writes articles pertaining to nutrition, health issues, and household budgeting.