By: Jason Gluckman
Diet pills are a very alluring option for someone who has many failed diets under their belt. Moreover, commercials promoting weight loss pills always promise fast and easy weight loss. It is important to know that many diet pills and weight loss aids are counterfeit. Americans spend an obscene amount of money on weight loss products, especially weight loss pills. “According to Fat -- Exploding the myths, by Lisa Colles, Americans reportedly spend between $30 and 50 billion annually on diets, weight loss programs and products. A whopping $6 billion is spent on weight loss pills and products that are not genuine.
There are many different types of diet pills that can be broadly classified into the following types:
Prescription diet pills: These pills are primarily created for those suffering from debilitating obesity. Weight loss pills are not a mock solution for the problem, nor are they proposed as replacement for the conventional weight loss and management methods such as exercise and diet. When traditional weight loss techniques fail to produce the desired results, most people lose motivation and faith in the process. As a result they turn to quick fix answers like diet pills. The pills that are prescribed are only given for certain conditions and in certain dosages. Furthermore, their side effects have to be closely watched.
Over the counter weight loss pills: The weight loss industry is already cashing in on the average American’s insecurities surrounding body image and a certain definition of beauty based on how skinny you can be. This further fuels the diet industry’s success. They make diet drugs and call them food supplements and these so called "supplements" are largely unregulated. They are not subjected to stringent testing by federal authorities nor are labeling requirements enforced, as in the case of prescription weight loss pills. Moral of the story: if weight loss diet pills are your only recourse, better see a doctor before you take them rather than after.
