The Truth about Diet Supplements

Though this question of diet pills is asked over and over on the forum, thought I'd post what I was just reading on the web.


The Truth about Diet Supplements

There are a multitude of diet pills, diet supplements, and weight loss formulas to choose from. This is a multi-million dollar industry in the US alone.

The reality is however, there is a risk of side effects from virtually all diet pills. What's worse is that some simply don't work at all. There is a lot of deceptive marketing that goes on when advertising weight loss supplements - if you are taking care of your diet and exercise, it is difficult to tell exactly how effective the supplement is.

Acai Berry
This is perhaps the latest fad diet supplement since it was recommended on the Oprah show. Companies were quick to jump on this trend and many weight loss acai formulas are available with scams abounding. Many sign up for free trails and never get them or are charged a lot of money after the trail ends. Buyer beware!

Xenical (Orlistat) (Alli This is the over-the-counter formulation of Orlistat available in the USA.)
The Xenical prescription diet pill works by reducing the body's ability to absorb dietary fat by about one third.

Despite being heavily advertised, Xenical has some particularly difficult side effects. Because Xenical attempts to dispose fat that you have consumed, many people report lots of trips to the bathroom, including foul-smelling oily excretions (particularly if they have overdone fatty foods). Doesn't seem quite so glamorous as the ads would have us believe.

Here are some common side effects from Xenical:

Oily or fatty bowel movements (stools)
Increased number of bowel movements
Urgent need and/or inability to control bowel movement
Bowel movements that are orange or brown in colour
Gas with discharge
Oily discharge
Stomach pain
Irregular menstrual periods.


Do not confuse herbal diet supplements with prescription diet pills.