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Diet pills contain no silver bullet for weight loss – and can pose serious health hazards

(Credit: Thinkstock)
(Credit: Thinkstock)

The only thing that is likely to get lighter if you buy over-the-counter diet pills is your wallet, say several experts.

It seems Canadians are slowly catching on to the fact that there is no magic pill that will give you Gisele’s body by Labour Day. Since 2011, sales of weight-management products, including meal replacement drinks, weight loss supplements and slimming teas, have been on the decline, but still brought in $152 million in 2014, according to a report by Euromonitor International. While meal-replacement products are out of style, weight-loss supplements are set for a slight increase of two per cent.

With about one in 10 adults in Canada classified as clinically obese, according to the Canadian Obesity Network, it’s understandable that many of us are looking for a quick fix. But considering how most of these diet pills work, chances are you won’t be too thrilled with the results.

The most popular diet pills these days are those that contain green-tea extract and tons of fibre. Often these pills will feature ad campaigns with anecdotal stories and photos with people who went from having dad bods to beach bods in no time flat.

Both Dr. Sean Wharton, an internal medicine and weight management specialist in Toronto and Dr. David Lau, the chair of the Diabetes & Endocrine Research Group at the University of Calgary, say these marketing campaign claims are full of it. The most these often pricey, fibre-packed pills are going to do is increase the number of bowel movements you make per day, said Dr. Lau in a phone interview.

Over-the-counter diet pills that you could buy at your local pharmacy or health-food store that don’t require a prescription are not effective for weight loss, says Dr. Wharton.

“They do not give you any weight loss, other than the placebo effect,” said Dr. Wharton in a phone interview with Yahoo Canada. “It’s usually down to weight loss changes. People are eating better, moving more. They feel it’s to do with the medication, but in fact it isn’t. People are frequently fooled.”

The only thing, other than sending you running to the bathroom, most over-the-counter diet pills are going to do is hurt your pride when you realize you’ve wasted your money on them. But, a few can do more than damage your ego.

Before buying any diet pill look at the ingredient list and if you see the words Ephedra/ephedrine or bitter orange/synephrine put it down immediately. Health Canada has issued has issued warnings about the potential risks of using both ingredients for weight loss, including serious cardiovascular adverse reactions.

Meanwhile, other pills may use such ‘negligible’ amounts of ingredients that have been scientifically proven to work for weight loss that they are useless, says Dr. Lau. There is so much confusion about diet pills that Health Canada has a whole page devoted to the topic.

Losing weight the right way: talk to your doctor

If you have tried everything and your body mass index (BMI) is in the overweight or obese category you can ask your doctor for a prescription. There are only two prescription anti-obesity drugs currently approved by Health Canada that have been scientifically proven through clinical trials to provide weight loss above the placebo effect.

Liraglutide, branded as Saxenda, was just recently approved in Canada. The injectable diabetes drug is an appetite suppressant. Both Dr. Wharton and Dr. Lau work with patients whose BMI is in the obese category and are optimistic Saxenda may help some of them.

The other drug, orlistat, branded as Xenical, has been available here for years. Orlistat reduces fat absorption. But, Dr. Lau says many of his patients find orlistat irritates their stomach and increases the urge to defecate. A recent study found liraglutide can also cause side effects in the gastrointestinal system, mainly of mild or moderate severity.

There is no silver bullet. An obese patient, with a BMI of more than 30, could lose five- to ten-per cent of their body weight with one of these drugs. Many need to lose much more than that. Both prescription drugs should be part of an overall weight-loss plan that includes eating a balanced diet and exercise, the doctors make sure to note.

Vashti Verbowski, a Vancouver-based registered dietitian and spokesperson for Dietitians of Canada, echoes the doctor’s advice. For Canadians looking to get and maintain a BMI and body-fat percentage in the healthy range her advice is simple: Eat less and move more. Her top three tips for losing and keeping weight off don’t cost a thing:

1. Keep a food journal.

2. Be mindful of food portions.

3. Make one or two small changes to your exercise routine that you can stick with.

As always, check with your doctor before undertaking any new diet or exercise plan. Chances are if you tell your doctor you are thinking of buying an over-the-counter diet pill they are going to tell you to put your money back in your wallet.