Diet Pills: Fit or Fad?

POLOKWANE – Today sees the end of National Obesity Week, which was commemorated from 15 to 19 October.

It has been estimated that there are 1.3 billion people around the world who are overweight or obese.

However, there is a difference between being overweight and being obese. Overweight means that your Body Mass Index (BMI) is 25 or above. To be obese means that your BMI is 30 or more. According to the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), South Africa has the highest obesity rate in Africa, with 29% of men and 56% of women being classified as overweight or obese. Furthermore, obesity among children has also increased, which can lead to serious problems in the future.

Diets, fads and diet pills have become more popular in the country. Supplements such as Garcinia Cambogia have emerged in South Africa, with companies such as USN producing supplements which can be bought in health stores such as Dischem and Clicks. Duromine has become the latest fad in South Africa and it is a pill which contains phentermine which is an anti-obesity drug which functions by targeting the part of the brain responsible for the sensation of hunger.

Review spoke to Anke van Waveren, a registered dietician in Polokwane about diet pills and whether they actually worked.

Anke said although diet pills could be effective with weight loss, it did not mean that they were safe for your health.

“There are a few approved weight loss products available, but need to be used under medical supervision because of health risks if not used correctly or under the wrong circumstances.”

She warned against quick fix diets and diet supplements.

“The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have found that not only do these products not deliver the results that it promises, it can cause serious harm to your health,” said Anke.

The best way to lose weight was to follow a balanced diet and to do regular exercise to ensure ones energy intake was less than your energy output, advised Anke.