Worldwide statistics are highlighting the growing problem of obesity; there are now large numbers of children just starting school that have a weight problem. To cure this problem, some people have resorted to surgical measures whereas others have decided that adjustments to their food intake and an increase in physical activity are necessary. However, desperate people often make poor decisions and decide to take weight loss drugs as they are less expensive than surgery.

These drugs work in a variety of ways but mainly they try to fool the brain into thinking the stomach is full and increase the person’s metabolism. That was all well and good until the point where more research had concluded that there was an increased risk of heart valve disease and as a consequence the drugs were withdrawn. Since then, newer drugs have been developed and doctors continue to prescribe them although they are still awaiting FDA certification.

Most people have known friends or family members who have tried using diet pills and have seen tremendous improvement. To many it is a wonder drug and let’s be honest, if you could lose weight that easily without having to sacrifice anything in the process, you would take them as well. This approach has seen consumers spend millions of dollars every year and has generated huge profits for the drug companies who manufacture and sell the weight loss drug.

Weight control pills can be purchased either over-the-counter or prescribed by a doctor but even with the advances in medical technology they can still cause a lot of health related problems which can be unpleasant such as diarrhea and vomiting. You must check the packet carefully before you decide to use them because some of the other side effects can be even more harmful, like the possibility of a heart attack or even a stroke, with hallucinations, tremors, breathing problems and convulsions all recorded as side effects for users of these drugs.

Of course, many factors can affect the type and severity of problems like family history, weight, age and lifestyle; this is why it is so important to see the doctor before starting a course of pills; should you decide to stop taking the treatment, other side effects can occur as a result. The side effects experienced by users of weight loss pills can include noticeable mood swings, hyper-activity, stomach pains, insomnia, nightmares, severe irritability, extreme fatigue, depression, nausea, vomiting and trembling.

Whilst the effectiveness of these weight loss drugs is not in question, they are more effective if they are used alongside a controlled diet and exercise regime. The type of balanced food groups would be oats, cereals, rice, potatoes with fruit and vegetables as the best source of minerals, fiber and vitamins.

Of course this should always be combined with a good exercise routine which will use up excess calories and provide a good all round fitness workout. The best exercise plans should have cardiovascular and weight training exercises as this helps burn calories and increase the muscle to fat ratio that will increase a person’s metabolism and assist with weight loss.