1. DIET PILLS
Jennifer Qing

2. Pills that claim to make you lose weight.
What are diet pills?
Pills that claim to make you lose weight.
What are diet pills?
Pills that claim to make you lose weight

3. TYPES OF DIET PILLS Appetite-Suppressants Reduce hunger How they work
affects certain neurotransmitters to decrease appetite
Increases heart rate and blood pressure
Increases serotonin and catecholamine levels
Ingredients
CitriMax (HCA)
Inhibits an enzyme called ATP-Citrate Lyase  Blocks the conversion of carbohydrates into fat
Hoodia gordonii
Green Tea Extract
Garcinia Cambogia: raises amount of serotonin in body  reduces appetite
Caffeine: briefly suppresses appetite

4. TYPES OF DIET PILLS CONT.
Hoodia Diet Pills
Type of appetite suppressant
Made from isolated ingredient in Hoodia Gordonii plant
Plant found in the Kalahari Desert of South Africa
Makes brain think you’re full
Active molecule is called P57
As it is passed to the brain, it helps controlling the appetite

5. TYPES OF DIET PILLS CONT.
Fat Burners (Thermogenic Diet Pills)
Contain stimulants that can decrease fat absorption and/or increase muscle mass
Ingredients help your body use body fat as a source of fuel for energy
Ingredients
Green tea
Chromium
stabilizing blood sugar levels  help reduce sugar cravings

6. TYPES OF DIET PILLS CONT.
Fat Blockers
prevent the lipases in the digestive system from breaking down and storing the fat you ingest
Ingredients
Chitosan combined with other fiber ingredients
Absorbs fat and is a fiber (not broken down by body)
When taken, it absorbs fat as it passes through the body’s digestive system
Takes the fat out of the body with it
Prevents fat from being stored

7. TYPES OF DIET PILLS CONT.
Carbohydrate Blockers
inhibits the enzymes evolved in the break down of carbohydrates into stored fat
Ingredients
phaselous vulgaris
Inhibits a certain enzyme in the body (The enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates into glucose, which is stored in the body as fat)
Discharges the carbohydrates from the body before they enter the bloodstream
Chromium Picolinate and Alpha Lipoic Acid
Regulate insulin  reduce sugar cravings and feel full
This type of diet pill still under experimentation

8. TYPES OF DIET PILLS CONT.
Antioxidants
Ex. Acai berry extract
Rich in antioxidants, fights free radicals
Prevent cell oxidization and improve energy levels
Improving energy level is helpful if stress is the main cause of your weight gain.
Vitamins C, E and A are antixodants
Need to be administered carefully
Vitamins A and E are fat-soluble and lead to toxicity if taken in high amounts

9. A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME INGREDIENTS
Garcinia cambogia
Found in India
The active ingredient: hydroxycitric acid
Suppressed appetite and enhance fat burning
Supposed to suppress enzymatic activity of citrate lyase, which is responsible for the breakdown of excess carbohydrates into fat storage

10. A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME INGREDIENTS CONT.
Gymnema
Gymnema sylvestre is a plant found in India and other parts of Asia
The active ingredient: gymnemic acid
Helps balance sugar levels
Gymnemic acid molecules are similar to glucose molecules
They inhibit glucose cell receptorsprevents uptake of sugar molecules

11. WHERE TO BUY Prescription
Prescribed to obese individuals with a BMI of 35 or more
These pills have more serious side-effects
contain prescription ingredients, such as Phentermine and Bontril
These pills are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
Ex. Meridia and Xenical
Over-the-counter
Wide range of effectiveness
Products considered by FDA to be over-the-counter weight control drugs [as opposed to dietary supplements] are primarily those containing the active ingredient phenylpropanolamine

12. CONSEQUENCES/SIDE AFFECTS
Some Possible General side effects: high blood pressure, irregular heart rate, sleep problems, nervousness, seizures, insomnia, acne, nose bleeds
Excessive weight loss can be dangerous
Diet pills are not considered to be an addictive drug
But people can become dependent on diet pills

13. POTENTIALLY HARMFUL PRODUCTS (IDENTIFIED BY FDA OR OTHER CONSUMER WATCH GROUPS)
Aristolochic Acid
associated with permanent kidney damage
Can develop certain types of cancers
Ephedra
Also known as Ma-huang
Chemically similar to methamphetamine, which is “speed”
Herbal weight loss tea/Dieter’s tea
Marketed as “natural laxatives”Ineffective method of weight loss
Can result in bowel dependency (constipation) on the laxative properties
Tiratricol
Triiodothyroacetic acid, or TRIAC
A strong thyroid hormone
Linked to stroke and heart attacks
Aristolochic Acid
Found in botanical products
Aristolochic acid is associated with permanent kidney damage
Sometimes results in kidney failure that has required kidney dialysis or kidney transplantation
Can develop certain types of cancers, most often occurring in the urinary tract.
Ephedra
Also known as Ma-huang
Found in many herbal products
Ephedrine is the synthetic form of the ephedra plant
Chemically similar to methamphetamine, which is “speed”
Herbal weight loss tea/Dieter’s tea
Marketed as “natural laxatives”
Ineffective method of weight loss
Can result in bowel dependency (constipation) on the laxative properties
Tiratricol
Triiodothyroacetic acid, or TRIAC
A strong thyroid hormone
Linked to stroke and heart attacks

14. ARE DIET PILLS A GOOD OPTION FOR WEIGHT LOSS?
No.
Should not rely on diet pills to lose weight
They are not a long-term solution and they come with the risk of side effects!
According to surveys, constant and long term weight control is not possible by simply taking diet pills
“If you have not solved the problem that caused you to be overweight in the first place, the weight will return.”
Are diet pills a good option for weight loss?
No.
Should not rely on diet pills to lose weight
They are not a long-term solution and they come with the risk of side effects!
According to surveys, constant and long term weight control is not possible by simply taking diet pills
“If you have not solved the problem that caused you to be overweight in the first place, the weight will return.”

15. HOW YOU SHOULD LOSE WEIGHT
Diet pills may help you get started on losing weight
In the long run, it’s about making lifestyle changes
Instead of relying on pills, change eating and exercising habits
Better way to lose weight
Diet pills may help you get started on losing weight
In the long run, it’s about making lifestyle changes
Instead of relying on pills, change eating and exercising habits
For example, if you’re hunger all the time, instead of taking diet pills, eat more foods that are high in fiber (natural fruits, vegetables and whole grains)
Fiber is not broken down by the body, so it will make you feel full longer

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