Prescription weight loss pills or Diet pills / Slimming pills are medications that are given to promote weight loss to patients suffering from obesity.

Other over the counter pills are also available for casual weight lossprograms for people who want to trim off some weight even with out actual medical advices from physicians or doctors.

ANTI-OBESITY PILLS

INTRODUCTION

Beginning in the late 19th century, beauty, specially for women has shifted to a slimmer more athletic appearance.

In finding a solution, slimming pills were popularized and have continued to evolve up until present.

HISTORY

BACKGROUND

The earliest slimming pills were traced back in the late 1800s. Referred as FAT REDUCERS which are believed to be thyroid extracts which can increase the metabolic rate

EARLY DIET PILLS

BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND

In the 1930s, a new drug called DINITROPHENOL became popular as a weight loss pill. It produces a Thermogenic (increases body temperature) effect.

Though seems to be effective, several cases of deaths from hyperthermia along with severe rashes, damage to sense of taste and cataracts were reported.

Thus a new law from the Food and Drug Administration was formed and enacted in the control and use of the said drug. And then later it was banned for use in the USA.

TWENTIETH CENTURY

USES

for management of obesity

ANTI - OBESITY

for achieving and maintaining desired body figure.

WEIGHT MANAGEMENTFor non-obese patients

• SIMPLE - Does not require heavy activity and strict diet compared to other weight loss programs

• EASY – Does not require hours of work. Taken like vitamins.

• CONVINIENT – Available in many drug stores and health stores

• VERSATILE – Available in different formulations that suits your life style and current health status.

ADVANTAGES

• SIDE EFFECTS – May cause different side effects such as arrythmia, tachycardia, diarrhea, weakness, high blood pressure and death

• ADVERSE EFFECTS – Unknown effects that may originate due to specific health conditions, allergies, rebound obesity, etc.

• EXPENSIVE – Some OTC are very expensive.

• DANGEROUS – OTCs which are readily available to public with out proper advice from physicians could cause unwanted results.

DISADVANTAGES

1. Appetite Suppression – those drugs limits the appetite by reducing the bodily crave for food.

Example: Amphetamines (Evekeo)

Different Diet Pills

2. Increasing Body Metabolism - increasing the rate of elimination of nutrients and burning of stored glucose and fats.

Examples: Carbamazepines (Tegretol)

Different Diet Pills

3. Limiting the Absorption of Nutrients - decreases the body supply of available energy source making the body burn stored energy source.

Example: Xenical (Orlistat)

Different Diet Pills

SLIMMING PILLS CONVENTIONALWEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM

ACTIVITY Low High

DIET Casual Strict

TIME Fast Long

COST High Cost Low Cost

RISK High Low

CONCLUSION

REFERENCESBANKS, M.A and PERSILY, G.L. 2010. Campus perspective on the National Institutes of Health public access policy: University of California, San Francisco, library experience. Journal of the Medical Library Association [online]. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2901012 [Accessed 20 September 2015]

CURFMAN, G.D, BHATT, D and CORLISS, J. 2012. Weight loss drug review. [online]. Available from: http://www.health.harvard.edu/diet-and-weight-loss/weight-loss-drug-review [Accessed 21 September 2015]

KELLOW J. 2012. Can Popping Pills Really Help you Lose Weight? [online]. Available from: http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/slimming/pills_review.htm[Accessed 20 September 2015]