The Dangers of Diet Pills

Diet pills have come in and out of fashion frequently since their discovery 30 years ago, when amphetamines were used. Originally, these pills were designed for people suffering with obesity (total body mass index of 27 or greater). It didn’t take long for them to become available to the general public when manufacturers realized the revenue potential behind mass marketing their products.

History has shown us that these pills are unsafe. No matter how many times they are redesigned or reformulated, they contain ingredients that can be extremely harmful to the body. Amphetamine weight loss pills resulted in addiction, liver failures, kidney problems, and even cardiac arrest in many cases. Deaths occurred because of frequent use of the drug. Few are aware that amphetamines are a stimulant and extremely addictive. Recently, the product Hydroxycut was pulled from the market because of dangerous side effects.

Many diet pills contain appetite suppressants. This is dangerous for many reasons, since diet pills are usually over-the-counter products. I remember reading a newspaper article years ago about a girl suffering from anorexia. She became addicted to diet pills, and ended up starving herself to death by over using the drug. In those with a healthier mental state, these appetite suppressants put their users at risk of malnutrition and heart failure. Statistically, it has been shown that people who use these aids are more likely to reduce their appetite until they know they absolutely have to eat.

Among the most commonly heard of risks related to use of diet pills is major organ malfunction or failure, with the heart topping the list. The stimulants that the diet pills contain, often seemingly harmless substances like caffeine, increase our heart rate which in turn increases our metabolism. Because our heart rate is not being increased naturally, it can actually end up causing stress and strain on that vital organ, and prolonged use usually leads to heart complications. Liver and kidney complications are also common, as well as digestive issues and ulcers.

Because diet pills were designed to be used by people who are truly obese, who have failed in the past at weight loss even though they put every effort forth, the fact that many are available on the easily accessible shelves of drug stores, grocery stores, health and fitness centers, and many other retail outlets we regularly visit, makes them even more dangerous. Many of these products simply should not be used by the majority of society and most certainly they should not be used without the guidance of a licensed and qualified physician.

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