my latest blog post - diet pills

SHBoss1673

no I don't receive any kind of benefit from this blog, I write it to spread the word of good health as I see it. Please feel free to leave feedback, comments, or sign up for it (which will get you an email when I post a new blog entry)

http://bankshealth.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/my-take-on-diet-pills/

I cover all kinds of things in my blog, hope you enjoy. If you have constructive criticism or feedback, but don't want to make it public, you can PM me and I'll chat with you in private about it (I have a very thick skin guys, don't feel like you need to hold back, I won't be offended unless you insult me obviously).

ladyhawk00

Great post with some really insightful angles :drinker:

atomdraco

bump

callipygianchronicle

Thank you for this. The health risks or side effects is the one most people take on this issue, but that can have little resonance for someone who has become desperate for weight loss. But what you suggest about the mental blocks these aids create, as well the additional relearning that has to occur after the fact, are two unique angles that I haven't read before. Appreciate the perspective.

SHBoss1673

Thank you for this. The health risks or side effects is the one most people take on this issue, but that can have little resonance for someone who has become desperate for weight loss. But what you suggest about the mental blocks these aids create, as well the additional relearning that has to occur after the fact, are two unique angles that I haven't read before. Appreciate the perspective.

That's what I aim to do Callipy. Trying to show people different, more comprehensive ways to look at things. Take a peek back at some of my other posts, you'll see that I hit on all types of topics.

ladyhawk00

I was actually wondering something the other day about Alli and similar fat blockers. Do they block all fat or just certain kinds or? And do they also block good fats? And what's the consequences of that?

(I'll happily go research it if you didn't get that far into it, just thought you might know)

SHBoss1673

I was actually wondering something the other day about Alli and similar fat blockers. Do they block all fat or just certain kinds or? And do they also block good fats? And what's the consequences of that?

(I'll happily go research it if you didn't get that far into it, just thought you might know)

Not sure, but I believe all fats, since it blocks how lipase acts on fat. I guess Alli and similar products allow about 25% of the fat to pass through the digestive system and straight out. LH, if you want to look it up, let me know, I'd be curious. The Orlistat entry on wikipedia doesn't mention that it acts on a certain type of fat.

ladyhawk00

I was actually wondering something the other day about Alli and similar fat blockers. Do they block all fat or just certain kinds or? And do they also block good fats? And what's the consequences of that?

(I'll happily go research it if you didn't get that far into it, just thought you might know)

Not sure, but I believe all fats, since it blocks how lipase acts on fat. I guess Alli and similar products allow about 25% of the fat to pass through the digestive system and straight out. LH, if you want to look it up, let me know, I'd be curious. The Orlistat entry on wikipedia doesn't mention that it acts on a certain type of fat.

From what I can see, it's all fats. You're supposed to keep fat to no more than 15 g per meal, and from that, up to 30% is not absorbed. So I guess you'd absorb maybe 10 g of fat per meal. But this includes a reduced calorie program, so the people are already at a cal deficit. Apparently the biggest issues are absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and possible liver damage (other than the GI side effects, which is certainly enough to turn me off by itself :noway: ) .

http://www.rxlist.com/xenical-drug.htm
Mechanism of Action
Orlistat is a reversible inhibitor of Upases. It exerts its therapeutic activity in the lumen of the stomach and small intestine by forming a covalent bond with the active serine residue site of gastric and pancreatic Upases. The inactivated enzymes are thus unavailable to hydrolyze dietary fat in the form of triglycerides into absorbable free fatty acids and monoglycerides. As undigested triglycerides are not absorbed, the resulting caloric deficit may have a positive effect on weight control. Systemic absorption of the drug is therefore not needed for activity. At the recommended therapeutic dose of 120mg three times a day, orlistat inhibits dietary fat absorption by approximately 30%.

Other Clinical Studies or Postmarketing Surveillance
Rare cases of increase in transaminases and in alkaline phosphatase and hepatitis that may be serious have been reported. There have been reports of hepatic failure observed with the use of XENICAL in postmarketing surveillance with some of these cases resulting in liver transplant or death. Rare cases of hypersensitivity have been reported with the use of XENICAL. Signs and symptoms have included pruritus, rash, urticaria, angioedema, bronchospasm and anaphylaxis. Very rare cases of bullous eruption have been reported. Reports of decreased prothrombin, increased INR and unbalanced anticoagulant treatment resulting in change of hemostatic parameters have been reported in patients treated concomitantly with orlistat and anticoagulants. Hypothyroidism has been reported in patients treated concomitantly with orlistat and levothyroxine. Pancreatitis has been reported with the use of XENICAL in postmarketing surveillance. No causal relationship or physiopathological mechanism between pancreatitis and obesity therapy has been definitively established.
In clinical trials in obese diabetic patients, hypoglycemia and abdominal distension were also observed.

Fat-soluble Vitamin Supplements and Analogues
A pharmacokinetic interaction study showed a 30% reduction in beta-carotene supplement absorption when concomitantly administered with XENICAL. XENICAL inhibited absorption of a vitamin E acetate supplement by approximately 60%. The effect of orlistat on the absorption of supplemental vitamin D, vitamin A, and nutritionally-derived vitamin K is not known at this time

Patients should be strongly encouraged to take a multivitamin supplement that contains fat-soluble vitamins to ensure adequate nutrition because XENICAL has been shown to reduce the absorption of some fat-soluble vitamins and beta-carotene. In addition, the levels of vitamin D and beta-carotene may be low in obese patients compared with non-obese subjects.

There have been rare postmarketing reports of severe liver injury with hepatocellular necrosis or acute hepatic failure in patients treated with orlistat with some of these cases resulting in liver transplant or death.

SHBoss1673

Thanks LH. That pretty much lines up with what I thought it was.

tammykoon

I know I am a "newbie" here but I wanted to reply to your blog about wait loss pills. First, I would like to thank you for not bashing. You have an opinion and you expressed it without making someone play the "bad-guy" role. I have fought this battle for 30 years now and I find the harshest critics to be dieters. Secondly, many of your points are valid but each individual has to be taken on a case by case basis.
To be forthright with you, I have been on Adipex (phentermine) for two months. I had given up. I had yo-yo dieted myself to 372lbs. I had made up my mind not to diet ever again. In March I went to a new Dr., and for the first time in years I found hope when it came to weight loss. He ran every test to see exactly where I was health wise. What he found was surprising.... I AM HEALTHY! He was shocked and so was I.
So why should a 37 year old whose only health problem is her weight continue to live this unhealthy lifestyle of overeating? Because I was HUNGRY! I know that may sound funny but that's what I have always hated about diets. I would find myself obsessing about that gnawing feeling that comes when your stomach shrinks, I hate that feeling! We talked about surgery but I love to cook and knew I wouldn't be able maintain that happily.
So, we decided to give the pills a shot. Accompanied by a change in food styles. I am only taking a half of a dose each day. I have replaced my calorie ladened food with healthy choices. I am learning to cook foods that won't harm me or my family. Because I am no longer plagued with panic about being hungry I am focusing on eating healthy foods that fuel my body and not just end the pain.
Yesterday was my second weigh-in. I am down 37 lbs, which I am told is not "typical". I sleep regularly ( many people have sleeping problems when on this type of pill), I am feeling better, and I am planning on starting weight lifting this summer ( an old favorite).
I could tell that you were not judging anyone in your blog. I just thought I would share my story from this side of the pills. I hope that a year from now I will be a success story, but until I am know that I am trying.

SHBoss1673

tammy, thank you for your reply. It's an interesting point. I truly hope you find success. While I can't say that I agree with you or not as to whether you've explored every option (I don't know your situation so I can't comment) I understand that you believe so. It's good to hear alternate opinions for comparison if no other reason.