Let's face it, the promise of weight loss drugs is pretty appealing: you can pop a few pills, eat the way you always do, and still lose as much weight as you want. The truth is that some of these drugs have actually worked, while others had to be pulled from the market due to dangerous side effects. There are some that are available by prescription only, and others that can be purchased over-the-counter. All of them claim to work, though they may claim a different reason for why they work. Here are some things you should keep in mind before you try any weight loss drugs.
Over-the-counter weight loss pills are still classified as drugs, the only difference is that you don't need a prescription from a doctor to buy them. So, the fact that they can be bought in a store shouldn't automatically lead you to believe they are ineffective. If you look at the packaging, you should see a label that says what the active ingredients are, as well as dosing information and possible health warnings. This label has a particular look and alerts you that you will be taking a drug or supplement of one kind or another. Regardless of what's inside, you should read the label carefully so you have a better idea of what you may be taking.
One thing the makers of over-the-counter weight-loss drugs don't talk about too much is the included diet plan. Almost every one of them has a diet plan you should follow while taking their product. The reason they don't talk about the diet plan all that much is that they want people to believe that it's the drug itself that's doing all of the work. But is that case, or do you have to follow the diet plan to see any results at all?
There is no easy answer, as each product works a bit differently. Some claim to work by suppressing your appetite, some claim to boost your metabolism, and others promise to absorb fat. Because each one is different, it stands to reason that each one relies on the diet plan to a differing degree. That being said, you should always follow the included plan. The reason is that the active ingredients may not work well with foods that aren't a part of the plan. In other words, you should consider following the diet plan as part of following the dosing instructions.
Of course, whether or not the included diet plan is responsible for most of the weight loss isn't the most important aspect of weight loss drugs. After all, the only thing most people care about is whether or not they lose weight, and not how they are actually losing it. The most important thing is that you are well-informed before you buy anything to help you lose weight; whether it's over-the-counter or prescribed by a doctor. When you know the facts, you can feel better as those extra pounds start to come off.