Are Diet pills safe?

Yesterday I wrote about the hoodia diet pills. This morning on the UK breakfast show they were discussing the new rules in the USA about purchasing prescription diet pills over the counter at any Pharmacy.

An over-the-counter pill which fights obesity could go on sale in Britain in the next few years and has just been approved in the US.

The pill called 'Alli' is said to cut your weight by 5% in just four months, so for a woman weighing 12 stone, this would mean shedding more than seven pounds - equivalent to a dress size! (one stone = 14 pounds).

The prescription weight loss remedy will be packaged with guides giving advice on meal planning, what to order when eating out, a fat and calories counter and a journal to record daily food intake.

Two thirds of adults are overweight or obese and the numbers are continuing to rise. Experts believe diet and discipline are not alone sufficient to prevent waistlines expanding and that extra help is required.

How it works

'Alli' works by blocking the absorption of fat from food that is eaten. However, the unabsorbed fat has to go somewhere and dieters using it are prone to diarrhoea, its least attractive side effect.

On the other hand, the drug's effect provides a powerful incentive to stick to a low fat diet - because the consequences of doing otherwise will be too unpleasant.

For more information visit www.gm.tv

When I thought about this the side effects sound dreadful, in fact the comment made by the show's doctor was to make sure if you take this drug, make sure you were a "nappy" or "diapper", what a thought!!