Nov 29 2008
Miracle pills for obesity?
Don’t believe it!
There are currently only two drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration as obesity treatments. These are orlistat (marketed under the names Xenical or Alli), which prevents the absorption of dietary fat, and sibutramine (marketed as Meridia or Reductil), which acts to suppress appetite.
None of the other ‘magic’ formulas you see on television or in magazines, from Corticel to Hydroxycut, have been evaluated by the FDA for their safety or effectiveness. Therefore, the claims these ads make might have little or no scientific support.
That’s not to say that some of them don’t work! Obviously it would be impossible to make such a sweeping generalization, even given the various testimonials I’ve heard in my own research. Just be careful what kind of hype you buy into; if these drugs don’t deliver on their promises, you run the risk of empty pockets or a bludgeon to your self-esteem.
Listen to me carefully, now, and use this as a mantra: there is NO chemical alternative to old-fashioned diet and exercise. Anyone who tells you differently is trying to sell something, and it may turn out to be snake oil.
