With improving economies, health facilities and nutrition the world over, the foodies of the world have gone all out to splurge such that we are now being faced with an increasing global obesity epidemic.

Going out of shape and into being overweight, and then finally becoming obese is a tasty journey, but it comes with its own set of consequences and associated lifestyle diseases. And when your doctor tells you that there is no other way out, but to lose weight, getting back into shape really becomes the sword of Damocles. It requires a lot of discipline and dedication and hard-work before those kilos start shedding off.

You find out that exercise and diet are your only options. Both are tough and choosing between the two is like making a choice between the devil and the deep sea. On further research you find another exciting option – diet pills! Diet pills are however recommended only for special cases with a BMI above 27; for others, the cons outweigh the pros.

There are many approved and unapproved diet pills available, so make sure to check with your doctor before taking any. They may seem the ideal solution but they come with side-effects, some of which can be quiet serious. Generally speaking, prescription diet pills are only recommended for those groups of people who are unable to lose weight any other way and who have health issues associated with their excess weight. They may also lead to emotional dependence on the drug, and aren’t recommended for longer than 3-month periods.

These pills work in two different ways: by suppressing the appetite or by suppressing fat absorption. The former triggers the brain to suppress hunger, while the latter stops the body from absorbing fats, and unfortunately, the fat-soluble vitamins too!

Another con is that these pills tend to interfere with your metabolic processes and disrupt them to varying degrees. You may suffer from flatulence, cramps, diarrhea, constipation and incontinence, to name a few. They also affect the cardiac system by increasing blood pressure, heart rate and in some cases may even result in heart failure, thus consulting a doctor before taking them is crucial.

When theses pills are combined with a low-calorie diet and exercise, one can easily lose 5-10% of their body weight. Though this may not seem like much, it can actually decrease blood pressure, lipid levels as well as blood glucose levels.

It’s important to note however that these medications may not work for everyone and you might end up regaining most of the weight you lost.

Diet pills can be used to jump-start weight loss and provide the mental support to encourage the person to lose more weight through a proper diet and exercise plan – but that’s about all. The best road to health is always through eating a balanced and nutritious diet along with daily exercise.