It is difficult not to be pressured with looking fit and thin, especially in today’s society where everyone seems engaged to fitness more than ever.

#FitnessGoals

#Fitspiration

#DailyGrind

Seems familiar, right?

Well, these are among the hashtags you possibly see whenever you’re scrolling on your social media newsfeed. Wanna know how these impact you?

Research revealed that “the more exercise-related posts an individual sees on social media, the more concerned he feels about his weight.” An article from Time also cited a claim from Tricia Burke, an assistant professor of the Department of Communication Studies from Texas State University saying that “Compared to people who didn’t see many fitness posts, those inundated with workout updates were more likely to be overly concerned about their weight, which may translate to a dip in self-esteem.”

These facts would lead us to our next point:

The increasing number of slimming pills users

The rudiments of weight loss are eating less and moving more. Sounds pretty simple, right?

Sadly, it’s not as easy as it seems to be. If only it’s that simple, then all would be perfectly shaped and satisfied with their bodies. But that isn’t the case. We know that moving more and eating less is a great start but it takes more than that.

Instead of going through the hard work, people begin considering quick means to lose weight. That’s when diet pills have gained popularity amongst individuals struggling to shed pounds. Whether the diet pills serve as ‘natural’ remedies to stop so much eating or are solutions to improve the metabolism, different slimming pills have become the discussion point in medical forums and weight loss support groups.

There’s only one reason for the increasing number of people, especially women, looking and purchasing weight loss pills on the market. It’s all because people are getting fat more than ever. Muscle for Life has featured a post explaining why people are more overweight nowadays. In breakdown, their common points include:

• People eat more food away from home more than ever. – Food prepared away from home like those from fast foods provides more calories per meal than home-prepared foods.
• People eat more sugar than ever. – Sugar level has no direct connection with obesity. However, the more overweight a person is, the more harmful high levels of sugar intake becomes.
• Individuals drink more caloric beverages than before. – People drinking calories have the higher tendencies to overeat than those who don’t. This is why research has demonstrated a clear association between higher intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages and weight gain, in both adults and children.
• Diets become fattier than ever. – A gram of fat contains about nine calories whereas a gram of protein or carbohydrate contains about four calories. Research shows it’s easier to overeat on a high-fat diet and that obesity is higher among high-fat dieters than low-fat.
• People sleep less than before. – Getting adequate sleep is an essential part in preventing weight gain because 1.) The body burns quite a few calories during sleep and 2.) While sleeping, the body produces more growth hormone which stimulates fat loss.
• Individuals are burning less energy working than ever. – The percentage of work that requires physical activity has dropped today, making people gain more weight than before.

What Usually Makes Up a Good Diet Pill?

There are lots of diet pills available out there but while some are effective, others are not. Apparently, the effectiveness of slimming pills will largely depend on the ingredients and the quality of raw material used. Now, we’ll be helping you to distinguish the good weight loss pills by teaching how you should look through ingredients:

Garcinia Cambogia

Garcinia Cambogia is a plant which consists of Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA) that helps produce weight loss effects. Some of the studies conducted on rats show that this ingredient helped in inhibiting Citrate Lyase, an enzyme that produces fat.

Guarana

Guarana helps in increasing and stimulating mental alertness, increasing physical endurance and stamina, as well as fighting fatigue. It is also a rich source of caffeine and is quite a popular ingredient when it comes to weight loss pills. There have been claims suggesting that guarana helps in increasing the burning of fat and suppressing the appetite.

Citrus Aurantium

This serves as an effective fat burner and aids in suppressing the appetite as well as boosting metabolism. One active compound found in this fruit is called Synephrine which acts as amphetamine and helps in increasing thermogenesis within the body along with the body’s ability to suppress the appetite, thus ensuring that excess calory intake is significantly reduced.

If you’re looking for pills to help you effectively shed pounds, you better check these ingredients to ensure you’ll lose a considerable amount of weight from using the pill.

On the other hand, there are also chemicals found in diet pills that can be dangerous when taken too much:

What Chemicals in Diet Pills Should You Avoid?

Let this be a warning-not all diet pills are safe as some may contain concerning ingredients that could risk health. In this regard, never take a slimming pill without looking for these concerning ingredients on the label:

Caffeine

Weight loss pills usually contain substances, like green tea, and yerba mate that claim to have “natural” stimulant properties. But what you are getting is caffeine or caffeine-related substances. Caffeine may temporarily boost calorie burning, but this does not mean you will lose much weight. The effects are small and temporary, and caffeine tolerance tends to develop with regular use. Moreover, if a diet pill does boost metabolism, then it can also increase heart rate and blood pressure and have other potentially undesirable effects.

Capsaicin

Available researches found out that capsaicin and related substances in chili peppers can briefly speed metabolism, increase fat burning and suppress hunger. However, the studies tend to be small, short and poorly designed and have had inconsistent results. There’s no evidence that such supplements lead to significant and lasting weight loss.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid

Studies on conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a fatty acid in dairy and meat, have yielded mixed results. A 2010 report from Health Canada (which acts like our FDA) said there is insufficient evidence that CLA supplements help with weight loss. Potential adverse effects include increased inflammation, decreased HDL (good) cholesterol and reduced insulin sensitivity. CLA has been shown to cause liver damage in animal studies. It’s unclear which formulations (there are many) are riskier.

Chitosan

This fiber-like substance, derived from crustacean shells, is known to block fat absorption in the intestines. Although there is some evidence that chitosan may help in the short term, studies have had mixed results, and most are poor quality. Better-quality trials have found no clinically meaningful effect on weight. Plus, there are potential risks. If Chitosan does block some fat, it may also reduce absorption of some fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K), as well as calcium, iron, and magnesium. People with shellfish allergies should not take chitosan.may also reduce absorption of some fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K), as well as calcium, iron, and magnesium. People with shellfish allergies should not take chitosan.

Pros and Cons of Taking Weight Loss Pills

Are slimming pills finally the answer to your problem? You might have a special day coming up and you want to lose a few pounds. Whether prescription or over-the-counter, diet pills usually promise quick results with very little effort. Should you believe this? What are the pros and cons of diet pills, for real?

Pro 1: Diet Jump Start

Some weight-loss medications come handy to people who cannot lose weight through diet and exercise. Experts exemplified that such medications are not for those who hope to lose weight for cosmetic reasons; these are, on the other hand, for people with a Body Mass Index (BMI) that is greater than 30. If this pertains to you, considering your doctor’s prescription on weight-loss medication can help you lose a modest amount of weight while giving you an opportunity to make the dietary and behavioral changes needed for long-term weight-loss success.

Con 1: Misconception

The manufacturers and advertisers of diet pills lead people to the belief that those products alone can solve their fitness problem. The more they fall for this misconception, the less likely they are to lose weight. Although some diet pills are effective, they are sure to regain the weight unless they include healthy eating and exercise into their everyday life while taking the slimming pills.

Pro 2: Improved Health

Weight reduction from slimming pills can decrease your blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and cholesterol. Furthermore, it can decrease the risk of developing diabetes, according to MayoClinic.com.

Con 2: Safety

Diet pills’ safety is usually questioned. Before a prescription diet pill is released for usage, its manufacturer should prove its efficacy and safety to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), who will proceed approving or denying it. The real problem lies with over-the-counter diet pills. Marketed as dietary supplements, the manufacturers do not have to prove anything to the FDA. Once for sale, however, the FDA can monitor and control the sale of the product, issue safety warnings and stop the marketing of the drug if they feel the drug is harmful to your health.