With so many people looking for quick weight loss options to their weight problem it is easy to be attracted by a weight loss program that uses diet or weight loss pills. In our society this concept is very attractive; pop a few pills and watch the fat fall away. Unfortunately though, weight loss pills are not for everyone.

There are two different types of weight loss pills. The first is medicinal. These are strictly regulated by the FDA (and similar drug agencies around the world). These pills try to affect the hormonal balance in your body and have to undergo rigorous trials and test before they are approved. The other type of pills are advertised as herbal weight loss pills. These are not regulated because they contain no active ingredients that could cause potential harm. While it’s much easier to get hold of herbal weight loss pills the problem is that there is no clear cut evidence that they work. In fact, because they are herbal, the same ingredients in your weight loss pills could also be used in a herbal acne pill!

One well known fact is your hunger is regulated by various hormones in your body. The idea behind medical weight loss pills is to control your hormones, like serotonin, which affects your appetite. However, because there are a large number of side effects associated with these pills they can only be prescribed by a doctor and usually only if the benefits outweigh the side effects. Someone who is overweight would not be prescribed weight loss pills like Meridia or Xenical because the side effects of high blood pressure, risk of heart disease, interference with other medication and inability to control bowel movements outweigh the benefits of losing a few pounds.

If your weight loss program includes taking weight loss pills it shouldn’t be seen as an easy solution to your weight problem. For long term health you need to put yourself on to a healthy weight loss diet plan and exercise regularly to reduce your body fat. Only by taking this type of multi-faceted approach will you see fast results.

As mentioned earlier, herbal weight loss pills are not regulated, This means that anyone with the right ingredients and equipment can create some pills and label it as weight loss pill. Some companies go one step further and claim that their herbal pills can somehow magically ‘melt away’ the fat from your body or ‘burn fat’ while you are sleeping. While it’s very easy to be excited by these claims – who wouldn’t want to burn fat while sleeping in a cozy bed! – there are often no clinical trials to back up these claims and usually a few dubious testimonials explaining how the person lost lots of weight by taking the pills. So remember the old saying – buyer beware!

Wil Dieck is the founder of Total Mind Therapy a combination of hypnosis and NLP and a number of e-courses including a “Weight Loss Secrets” program that you can have for no charge or obligation.