A lot of people have tried "supplements" at some stage in their lives, in order to lose or maintain weight. Especially in our teens and 20s (and increasingly in older women), we have found ourselves experimenting with the latest miracle pill that promises to curb our appetites or burn fat, or even increase muscle.
I think in the back of our minds we know that most of these pills are no better or more effective than a sugar pill. But sometimes, while watching that infomercial at 3am one sleepless night, the glowing testimonials and the women in bikinis sporting tight flat tummies (with pictures of their heavily overweight former selves flashing in the corner) seem to overtake our sensible sides and we find ourselves reaching for the phone or logging on to place an order. We usually don't see the tiny disclaimer at the bottom that tells us that "these results are not typical".
While some of these pills may disappoint because they contain nothing to help in weight loss - others may be downright dangerous. An additive called bumetanide has been found in a popular pill called StarCaps and has been removed from the shelves due to the possible side effects that can occur. Bumetanide is used to get rid of water retention but can cause some serious chemical changes in the body.
The FDA has also issued warnings against popular brands Superslim and Slim Up, and listed more than sixty other diet pill brands as potentially dangerous on their website. Many of these are coming from China and one of the greatest problems faced is not what is listed on the labels, but what is not.
These "undeclared active pharmaceuticals" are illegal because they are, as titled - undeclared. Consumers are unable to discern exactly what they are consuming, how it can be detrimental to their health, and how it many interact with other medications they may be taking.
Because so many of these pills come from health food stores and because they are often labeled as "all-natural", a false sense of security may cause a person to consume pills that could cause anything from seizures to concerns over heart health. And ironically - there is no actual proof that these kinds of over-the-counter diet pills really do anything to help a person lose or maintain weight - and certainly not in a safe way. These pills often claim to be "herbal" as well as "all-natural" and again, creates a sense that there is not only a weight loss benefit, but also a nutritional and even medical one too.
For more information on what diet pills are tainted, click to the Food and Drug Administration link here : http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/weight_loss_products.htm
This link will give the name of the undeclared drug and the product name it is sold under. The length of the list is shocking in itself. While it's difficult to believe there are so many diet pills on the market, this list only contains the brands that are in question. There are many, many more out there, on the shelves of local health and grocery stores.
If there are further concerns regarding these kinds of supplements, the toll free number is 1-800-FDA-1088.
Tell Us
Have you taken supplements like these? Do you think they worked for you? Were there any side effects?