Making It In America

According to the American Obesity Association close to one-third of all Americans, yes 33%, are obese.  A whopping 32.5 % are considered overweight.  That includes almost 2/3 of the American population.  We love our food, fast and fat.  We want to eat, and yet, we hate being fat.  So what do we do?  Do we eat a more healthy diet and add exercise to our daily routine?  No, we go to the drug store and buy drugs that guarantee us weight loss, fast and easy and now you can even buy them on the internet!

Here’s the bad news.  The FDA is warning against buying drugs sold on the internet.  Many of them are made in China, a country not known for its careful safety and health standards.   Dieters need to consider other options instead of risking a visit to the ER or even death!

A high percentage of the pills contain a powerful appetite suppressant called sibutramine, sometimes containing up to three times the necessary dosage. This cousin to amphetamines can cause heart attacks, heart palpitations and strokes.  If you have a history of high blood pressure or heart disease, the chances are increased.

Other pills have been found to contain phenolphthalein.   This chemical,  used as a laxative, has been taken off the market because of cancer risks it causes.  The worst information about these drugs is that the do not list the harmful ingredients anywhere on the label so the dieters have no way of knowing about the contents of the drugs they are taking.

If you want to lose weight and feel you need a diet pill, please do your research.  Find out which drugs contain these or other harmful ingredients.  A better idea would be to get a buddy and work together to lose weight in a healthful way that may last longer.  The more the weight-loss involves good lifestyle changes, the more likely it is that the weight-loss will be permanent!

It is normal to want to look good.  Two-thirds of us need to lose weight.  I just hope none of us are dying to be skinny!

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