Don't look to Over-The-Counter dietary supplements for help in burning calories or weight loss. Products that claim to speed up your metabolism are often more hype than help, and some may cause undesirable or even dangerous side effects.
Dietary supplement manufacturers aren't required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to prove that their products are safe or effective, so view these products with caution. Always let your healthcare provider know about any supplements you take.
There's no easy way to lose weight. The foundation for any weight loss continues to be based on physical activity and diet. Take in fewer calories than you burn, and you lose weight.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends cutting calories by 500 to 700 calories a day to lose 1 to 1.5 pounds (0.5 to 0.7 kilograms) a week. If you can add some physical activity to your day, you'll accomplish your weight-loss goals even faster.
There are prescriptions medications that can help with weight loss but they aren't effective if not combined with healthy diet and exercise as well. These medications can have serious side effects as well so they must be monitored closely by your healthcare provider. In my practice I generally will consider prescribing these medications to help with weight loss if certain criteria are met from my patients:
A woman needs to have begun and closely followed a healthy diet intended for weight loss for a period of at least 3 months. I generally have women keep a journal recording their daily dietary intake.
A woman needs to have begun an exercise program to help burn calories for a period of at least 3 months prior to consideration for medication to help with weight loss. Again, I have women keep a journal recording exercise so we can evaluate the effectiveness of the program and adjust if needed.
I require a physical examination to determine the health status of a woman prior to beginning any weight loss medications. There are certain health problems, such as high blood pressure, that prohibit the use of these medications for weight loss. It's also beneficial to check some bloodwork such as thyroid functions, cholesterol and triglycerides, liver and kidney functions, and tests to check for diabetes, to determine if there is another cause for weight gain, and if beginning on a weight loss medication is healthy for an individual woman.
These medications are to be taken seriously and monthly visits to check weight and blood pressure as well as for potential side effects, are necessary while using them. The bottom line however, is that without lifestyle changes and diet and exercise, weight loss is not going to occur by just taking a pill. It takes commitment and the motivation to change lifestyle habits to improve your health status.
Comments