Recently, on the Dr. Oz Show, diet pills were discussed.  Dr. Oz had several guests on the show who had used different types of diet pills and found the experience to be a disappointing one and, in some cases, a potentially dangerous one.

Appetite suppressants are a popular diet aid these days but it’s not the first time they have been popular.  Appetite suppressants resurface every decade or so.

The diet pill industry is currently a two billion dollar per year business so it’s obvious many people are using them in their attempts to lose weight and many people are making money on their popularity.  But are they safe and are they effective?

Dr. Oz points out that prescription appetite suppressants can be risky to use.  Some of the common side effects of such medications are problems with sleep, heart palpitations and an increase in heart rate.  These can result in an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

The Psychology of Using Diet Pills

From a psychological perspective there are also problems with prescription appetite suppressants that make them a poor choice for lasting weight loss.

• Crutch Effect – People tend to use appetite suppressants as a crutch.  The suppressant effect is real but it tends to make the individual have a false sense of security.  It feels so easy to lose weight that the person wants to think that it’s natural when it’s not.  The focus is on the weight being lost rapidly rather than the behavior changes that need to be made to make the weight loss permanent.
• Temporary Effect – Appetite suppressants are drugs that are not supposed to be taken for a long period of time and definitely not for a lifetime.  Their suppressant effect is also temporary.  As soon as the drug is discontinued, the appetite returns leaving the person back where they started and in a position to regain the lost weight.
• Denial Effect – The unnatural suppressant effect tends to make people want to deny that they are vulnerable to regaining their weight.  Instead, they tend to believe that “this will really be the last time” they fail at a diet.  In reality, the effect usually ends up being another cycle of weight lost and regained.
• Failure Effect – It’s a fact that 90% of dieting attempts fail.  It’s no less true with prescription appetite suppressants.  People on appetite suppressants tend to not  work as hard on behavior change as those that don’t use appetite suppressants.  Without behavior change, any weight loss is going to be temporary and disillusioning.

Natural Appetite Suppressants

If appetite suppression is what you’re looking for, there are some natural things that can be used in a healthy weight loss program that can help.

1. Aerobic exercise – this type of exercise is known to have an appetite suppressant effect when used on a regular basis.
2. Fiber – having a high fiber diet causes the sensation of more fullness and, therefore, faster satiation and less eating
3. Nutrition – a highly nutritious diet supplies the body with everything it needs and reduces cravings from the body that is trying to get us to eat what it lacks.
4. Water – water is filling and also eliminates cravings to eat that are mistaken for hunger rather than thirst.
5. Active lifestyle – a lifestyle that is active and fun leads to emotional balance.  This in turn prevents emotional cravings to eat.

Most people who are successful at managing their weight loss for a lifetime have done it by using the above five points rather than prescription appetite suppressants.  It’s in the overweight person’s best interest to become knowledgeable about the truth about diet pills.