Everybody is always looking for a way to achieve their goals easily and effectively. Some of these goals could range from anything such as being more productive at work, to getting good grades at school, or even losing weight. Weight loss, especially is not an easy goal, and it can take a lot of trial and error until one finds the routine that works best for them and yields results. It would, therefore, be in your best interests to look for ways to make the whole process easier, such as with the use of weight loss pills.

What are weight loss pills, anyway?

Weight loss pills, or diet pills, are a type of supplement that aims to help a person achieve their weight loss goals. They often generally work in three ways, one, by reducing or curbing your appetite, two, reducing the body’s ability to absorb fat from food, or 3, boosting your metabolism to increase the burning of body fat. For weight loss to be effective one needs to maintain a calorie deficit, where the body burns more calories than it takes in, says Blanca Garcia, RDN at Health Canal. These methods will therefore help to achieve this objective, consequently allowing you to lose weight.

There are quite several diet pills in the market, all of them promising the same results. Some, unfortunately, tend to over-promise more than they can deliver, and can leave you disappointed as you may not receive the value for your money. You must be careful when selecting these pills, as they could have unexpected side effects on your body. Some of the approved supplements for weight loss that you could try include:

• Phentermine/topiramate under the brand name Qsymia
• Naltrexone/bupropion (Contrave)
• Liraglutide (Saxenda)

These have been approved for long-term use by the Food and Drug Administration. Weight loss pills are however not recommended for everyone. It is important, therefore, to consult your doctor before investing in any of these drugs. Weight loss pills should only be considered, for example, if you are unable to lose weight through diet or exercise and if you have a body mass index of 30 or higher. Meeting with your doctor first will thus help you make the right decision, as he/she will recommend the pills based on your medical history. They are aware of the ingredients that could be in these supplements, and how they could affect you.

You could also consider doing further research to see how these pills have worked for various people. There are plenty of reviews available online, which can provide valuable insights on how the pills work, any side effects experienced, and the time it took for others to see results. Again, you must be vigilant and remember that anyone could write anything on the internet, and it can hence be necessary to take what you read with a grain of salt.

Do they work?

It is not recommended to rely on diet pills alone for weight loss, as this could have detrimental effects on your body. To get the best results, it would be good to maintain a healthy diet, in addition to regular exercise, as this will help you achieve sustainable results rather than a drastic cut. You can either opt for short-term pills or long-term medication. Short-term weight loss pills can only be taken for about 12 weeks, while long-term pills can be used for more than 3 months.

How fast do they work?

Results differ from one person to another. They will also differ regarding the various diet pills available out there. To get fast results will, therefore, be dependent on your effort. As mentioned earlier, for the most effective results, you would need to stick to an exercise regime, and a healthy diet as well. You must keep in mind that these pills are meant to supplement your efforts, and not act as a replacement. It is also important to be patient with your progress. Often, weight loss pills that promise drastic results in a short period can be misleading. While they may help you to achieve weight loss objectives, it may be difficult for you to sustain the same results for a long period. Some people may therefore get frustrated afterward and may end up yo-yo-ing between weight loss and weight gain. For your overall well-being mentally, emotionally, and physically, be patient with your journey and try as much as possible to be consistent. This way, you will create a new, and healthy lifestyle for yourself.