Weight loss pills can be broken down into 3 basic categories:
- Appetite Suppressants: These work just like it sounds. The appetite-regulating region of your brain (the hypothalamus) is tricked by blockage of the re-uptake of serotonin and nor epinephrine. As a result you feel like you’ve just eaten a big meal, so you’re less likely to overeat.
- Stimulants: These types of weight loss pills used to contain a combination of ephedrine and caffeine to raise energy expenditure while also reducing appetite. You’re probably aware that these pills were proven in some cases to be deadly, so ephedrine was taken off the market. Stimulant pills now contain other ephedrine-like substances, vitamins and caffeine. The idea is to increase energy and boost metabolism.
- Fat Blockers: These pills inhibit the action of the enzyme lipase, which is responsible for breaking down fat during the digestion process. The goal is to prevent a percentage of the fat you’ve eaten from being absorbed into your system.
So we return to our burning question. Do the pills work? Here’s what the diet pill companies say:
- You’ll lose 30lbs in 30 days
- Achieve rapid weight loss results
- Burn calories and fat 24 hours a day
- Fights fat and delivers rapid weight loss
