Many people have difficult finding the motivation to exercise. Simply starting an exercise routine requires a lot of support from loved ones or a support group to offer encouragement. It is also important to realize that before you start an exercise regimen you may need to contact your doctor for medical clearance. Extremely overweight people need to start low and go slow, beginning with simple exercises and gradually increasing the complexity and intensity of their exercise. This approach is the best strategy for achieving successful weight loss and weight maintenance.

Some physical activities can be very simple to add to the daily routine—taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or walking instead of driving, are good examples. Eventually, a person can add more strenuous activities to his or her routine, such as speed walking, bicycling, tennis, and jumping rope.

Anorexia is an eating disorder that mainly affects adolescents (most often, girls). People with this disorder have an intense fear of gaining weight and therefore limit the food they eat. Typically, a person with anorexia has an extremely low body weight and a strong refusal to maintain a normal, healthy body weight.

The body image of a person with anorexia is usually highly distorted he or she lives in extreme fear of becoming fat, and is usually unable to recognize that he or she is thin, even dangerously underweight.

Anorexia is a way of using food to feel “in control” when dealing with a tough situation. For example, someone may be overwhelmed by his or her parents’ divorce, a situation that he or she has no control over. Thus, by starving themselves, people with anorexia feel as though they are exerting control over their lives. There is no single cause of anorexia, and, in fact, the condition may be caused by a number of factors. This disorder often runs in families. Anorexia can be a result of genetics alone. If a person with anorexia has a mother or sister with anorexia, he or she is more likely to develop the disorder. Often, family members criticize a person’s body and place a lot of importance on his or her appearance and diet. Another
factor contributing to the development of anorexia is the culture of the United States, which places excessive value on extreme thinness. A person with anorexia has low selfesteem, which results in feeling bad about himself or herself and hating the way he or she looks.

Several signs may indicate that a person has anorexia. These are often behavioral in nature, and include:
1. Loss of a lot of weight;
2. Often focusing on and talking about weight;
3. Moving food around his or her plate, but not eating it;
4. Refusing to eat in front of other people;
5. Using extreme means to lose weight, such as laxatives or
diet pill abuse or exercising excessively;
6. Weighing oneself too often;
7. Acting moody or being depressed.

Anorexia can lead to serious health problems and ultimately affects the entire body. The following is a short
list of possible complications:

1. Inability to think clearly, moodiness, irritability, fainting;
2. Hair becoming thin and brittle;
3. Low blood pressure, fluttering of the heart, and heart
failure;
4. Anemia;
5. Muscle weakness, osteoporosis;
6. Kidney stones, kidney failure;
7. Constipation;
8. In women, lack of menstrual period;
9. Bruising easily, developing dry skin and brittle nails.

Eating disorders can be broken down into four categories: anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and other disorders (such as body dysmorphic syndrome). Approximately 1% of female adolescents have anorexia; the mortality rate for anorexia in this age and gender group is higher than for any other psychological disorder, including depression. People with anorexia have different ages of onset of this disease.

Thirty-three percent of anorexia patients develop (show signs of) anorexia when they are 11–15 years old; 43% of anorexia sufferers show signs of anorexia when they are 16–20 years of age. Reports show that approximately 4% of women aged 18–22 are bulimic. Females comprise approximately 90% of all anorexia and bulimia cases. Overall, approximately 70 million people worldwide have an eating disorder. Most people who have an eating disorders suffer from the illness for 6 to 10 years.

Future articles will include a complete description about the dangers of diet pills abuse. This is a real danger that everyone must be aware of. Taking diet pills without taking any precautions means putting yourself facing this danger, danger that can cost you your life.

Good Fats

Of the unsaturated good fats, the healthiest is monounsaturated, so named for its one pair of double-bonded carbons. This is the kind of fat that can actually lower your “bad” cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart disease. It also supplies fatty acids essential for skin health and cellular development, and is believed to help prevent certain kinds of cancer, including breast and colon cancers. Excellent sources of monounsaturated fat include olive oil, canola oil, nuts (raw, never roasted), and avocados.

Another healthful fat from the unsaturated family is known as omega-3 fat, which is a form of polyunsaturated fat, so named for its multiple pairs of double-bonded carbons. Omega-3 fats are found predominantly in cold-water fish such as salmon. They are also found in abundance in flaxseed, walnuts, and almonds. Like monounsaturated fat, omega-3 improves heart health by keeping cholesterol levels low, but it can also aid in stabilizing irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and reducing blood pressure. Omega-3 fatty acids act as natural blood thinners, reducing the “stickiness” of blood cells (or platelet
aggregation), which can lead to blood clots and stroke. In numerous studies over the years, participants suffering from inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and Raynaud’s disease have reported less joint stiffness, swelling, tenderness, and overall fatigue when taking omega-3s. This fat may inhibit the production of carcinogens within the body, thus aiding in cancer prevention and cancer treatment. In addition, your brain, which is 60 percent fat, needs omega-3 to function properly. This wonder fat has even been shown to improve depression and symptoms of other mental illness.

Another group of fats that are now accepted as having health benefits are the saturated fats, which are found in meat, dairy, and other animal products. Saturated fat molecules are so-called because they are “saturated” with hydrogen, meaning their molecules contain as many hydrogen atoms as is chemically possible. Although they were once considered to be directly linked to coronary disease, the scientific evidence that once suggested adverse health effects has been overturned, and these fats are now considered important for many reasons, including their role in cellular development and hormone production, as well as their transport of many vital fat-soluble vitamins. As highly concentrated sources of protein and energy, saturated fat also helps slow down the rate at which you absorb food, therefore letting you go longer without becoming hungry again.

Bad Fats

Whereas the “good” fats are all natural animal or vegetable fats, bad fats are man-made. Trans-fatty acids or trans-fats as they are known are produced by the partial hydrogenation of oil. They are present in most processed foods like chips, margarine, cookies, and even breakfast cereals and protein bars, despite the fact that nothing in our food supply is more dangerous. The adverse effects of these toxins are still being discovered. They include contributing to cardiovascular disease by increasing “bad” and lowering “good” cholesterol levels, raising insulin levels in the blood and possibly leading to diabetes, and depleting your system of vital nutrients. They are also bad for the brain and nervous system.

Here’s what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has to say about it:
“By our most conservative estimate, replacement of partially hydrogenated fat in the U.S. diet with natural unhydrogenated vegetable oils would prevent approximately 30,000 premature coronary deaths per year, and epidemiological evidence suggests this number is closer to 100,000 premature deaths annually.”

Avoiding trans-fats can be tricky unless you know what to look for, since they are not currently listed as trans-fats on food labels. (New FDA guidelines forcing companies to disclose trans-fat content explicitly take effect in 2006.) Avoid products that contain hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, or shortening. Processed foods that are commonly made with trans-fats include some margarines, baked goods, crackers, fried foods, salad dressings, to name just a few.

Now that you know which fats to avoid and which fats can be incorporated into a healthy diet, it is important to remember that just because a food is healthy does not mean it is also dietetic. Foods that are high in fat, good or bad, are high in calories, period. In order to shed those pounds and improve your overall health, you must adhere as closely as possible to your caloric allowance as well as to the list of foods recommended for your metabolic type.

Americans spend up to $30 billion each year on various methods of weight loss, and often see little improvement for their investment. Money is spent on gym memberships, exercise equipment, and weight loss supplements. For many morbidly obese people, the only way they can get on the road to successful weight loss is though the use of drugs or other medical interventions. Over the years, experts’ rationale for incorporating obesity drugs into established guidelines has changed. There are several reasons for this. Top among these are that experts realize that obesity and overweight
are major health problems, and can develop into lifelong diseases. These factors indicate that obesity is a chronic (long-term)disease. Children who are obese often remain obese or overweight as adults.

The following articles that you will find on top10dietpill.net will focus on the use, risks, and benefits
of prescription drugs that are approved by the FDA for weight loss. We’ll keep you inform such that you know what is the best solution for your weight loss diet program such that you should not take any risks.

Phenylropanolamine was initially believed to have a very low risk of side effects, and the FDA allowed it to be available over the counter, without a prescription. After some time, phenylpropanolamine became the active ingredient in many nonprescription diet pills, such as Acutrim®, Dexatrim®, and
Protrim. Early studies demonstrated that the drug’s main side effect was an increase in energy that sometimes led to insomnia or agitation.

Phenylpropanolamine works by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine in the feeding center of the brain, which causes appetite suppression. Beginning in the 1970s, the FDA began to gather reports of individuals experiencing hemorrhagic stroke, a life-threatening bleeding in the brain or the tissue surrounding the brain, that was related to phenylpropanolamine’s stimulant effects. These strokes
generally occurred in young women and were suspected of being a result of very high blood pressure caused by phenylpropanolamine use.

In 2000, a report from Yale University determined that use of phenylprolamine-containing appetite suppressants made individuals 16 times more likely to have a hemorrhagic stroke. Phenylpropanolamine had also been linked to heart attacks and high blood pressure in many patients. Therefore, in November 2000, the FDA asked pharmaceutical manufacturers to stop marketing products containing phenylpropanolamine.

Many of the products originally containing phenylpropanolamine are still legally available, but have been reformulated with a different active ingredient and no longer contain phenylpropanolamine.

Fenfluramine (“fen”) and dexfenfluramine (“dexfen”) were prescription appetite suppressants that had been approved by the FDA for the short-term management of obesity. A landmark study completed in 1992 showed that fenfluramine, when combined with the weight-loss drug phentermine, was very effective for weight loss over the short term. The study results were widely reported, and they led to a surge in popularity of fenfluramine and phentermine. This drug combination, called “fen-phen,” was very effective and proved far more effective than either drug used alone. The combination of dexfenfluramine and phentermine (“dexfen-phen”) had similar effects on weight loss. The FDA never approved the use of these drugs together, however. The drugs, individually or together, were not intended to be used for longer than three months.

Initially, fen-phen was thought to be free of serious side effects. Short-term studies showed the main side effects to be tiredness and diarrhea, and these side effects went away as time passed and the body got used to the drugs. It was known that the “fen-phen” and “dexfen-phen” regimens led
to rare cases of heart, lung, and nerve damage when used for a long time. Unfortunately, many doctors continued to prescribe these combinations for long-term use. This allowed patients who wanted to lose weight—often for cosmetic rather than health reasons—to do so and maintain the
weight loss.

Many people stayed on the “fen-phen” or “dexfen-phen” regimens far longer than the recommended three months to continue or maintain their weight loss. Serious, life-threatening side effects became evident with long-term use of these combinations. Patients developed a lung disease called
primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), heart valve disease, and other conditions that were irreversible and in some cases life-threatening. PPH is a serious, permanent lung condition that can lead to breathing problems, heart failure, and death. A study investigating the link between fenfluramine and PPH concluded that patients using the diet drugs for longer than three months were 23 times more likely to develop PPH. These horrible effects were attributed mainly to fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine, and eventually the FDA banned these drugs from the market.

Phentermine is still available for weight loss which is the only drug from this class that is perfectly safe. The most startling and damaging news regarding “fen-phen” and “dexfen-phen” came when the Mayo Clinic, in June 1997, reported 24 cases of heart valve damage in “fen-phen” users. Individuals in the study used “fen-phen” for an average of 12 months, well exceeding the recommended three months. Fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine caused leakage in the heart valves. The mitral and aortic
valves, which control blood flow through part of the heart, were most affected. Valve leakage prevents the heart from pumping effectively. In five cases, patients required open heart valve surgery.
After many health problems and deaths, the FDA removed Pondimin and Redux from market. Since then, there have been 200 reported cases of primary pulmonary hypertension relating to “fen-phen” and “dexfen-phen.”

Of those cases, 40 have resulted in death. The FDA has received more than 100 reports of heart valve damage directly related to “fen-phen” or fenfluramine therapy; there are no reports from individuals taking phentermine alone for weight loss.

Amphetamine

Amphetamines, which were introduced in 1938, rapidly became the most widely used agents for the treatment of obesity in the United States. Amphetamine is a stimulant that causes the release of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine in the brain, which leads to increased metabolism and increased energy expenditure, or burning of calories.

Amphetamine is also an appetite suppressant. From the 1940s through the 1960s, individuals took “rainbow pills” for weight loss. These pills were called “rainbow pills” because of the number of drugs they contained: amphetamine, thyroid hormone, laxatives (to cause diarrhea and decrease food
absorption in the gut), and diuretics (to increase urination and cause loss of water weight). Amphetamine, alone or in combination with other drugs, was very effective in causing weight loss but led to devastating side effects.

The side effects of amphetamine are related to its stimulant effects, especially at high doses and with long-term use. Side effects include irritability, insomnia, confusion, anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, seizures, and aggressiveness. Amphetamines cause irreversible destruction of blood vessels in the brain, which can cause stroke—even in young people. These drugs also cause the potentially lethal side effects of increased heart rate, irregular heartbeat, and increased blood pressure.

Another problem with amphetamines is that they have a high potential for abuse. Amphetamine is very similar to the compound methamphetamine, which is known on the street today as “speed,” “meth,” or “crank.” Both amphetamine and methamphetamine are “uppers,” and are highly addictive. Besides causing weight loss, these drugs elevate a person’s mood and cause euphoria, excitement, and ecstasy. People who experience these feelings tend to use the drugs more frequently, and at higher doses, to continue to experience this effect.

Amphetamines are very effective for weight loss but their use is limited by serious side effects and the potential for abuse. Therefore, amphetamine is still FDA approved for other diseases but is no longer permitted for weight loss. Many drugs that are similar to amphetamine have been formulated in an
attempt to promote weight loss without causing addiction and dangerous side effects.

This weight is regained when their thyroid is treated and thyroid hormone levels return to normal.
In 1893, thyroid extract was marketed under various brand names, including Frank J. Kellogg’s Safe Fat Reducer, Corpulin, and Marmola. People took thyroid hormone pills (or liquid) in addition to having natural thyroid hormones produced by their thyroid glands. The result was an excess of thyroid hormone in the body, which caused increases in metabolism, increased burning of calories, and weight loss.

At the time, the FDA did not evaluate drugs for safety or efficacy prior to their reaching the market. Prescriptions were not required to obtain medications, so people could obtain thyroid hormones at any corner pharmacy or apothecary without being seen by a doctor. Although these thyroid hormone
extracts did produce weight loss, they were not safe.

In individuals who took thyroid hormones, 80% of the weight lost was lean body mass (muscle and bone) rather than excess fat. People taking these extracts experienced muscle weakness and bone breakdown, which led to a condition called osteoporosis, in which bones are weakened and the risk of bone fractures or breaks is increased. Thyroid hormone extracts also made the heart work harder by increasing metabolism, which led to problems such as increased heart rate, palpitations, and irregular
heartbeat.

These problems were potentially life threatening: When the heart beats abnormally (or not at all), it is unable to pump blood and oxygen to the brain and body. Individuals die suddenly from this condition because the brain can only function for a few minutes without oxygen and nutrients. Many people took thyroid drugs for weight loss before it was discovered that they could lead to serious health problems.

Thyroid hormones are still available, with a prescription, for patients with an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). These drugs are never given for weight loss.

The U.S. government has taken certain steps in an attempt to ensure the safety and effectiveness of drugs sold in the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began screening drugs for safety in 1938 and effectiveness in 1962. The FDA requires that manufacturers perform studies to prove that their drugs are safe and effective before they may be sold legally in the United States.

In 1951, the U.S. government began requiring people to obtain a doctor’s prescription before they could take certain medications. This ensured that a physician or other health-care provider was able
to examine the patient and determine that the benefits of the drug outweighed any risk of side effects for that individual.

Prior to these government efforts, unsafe drugs were available to the American public. The FDA’s laws have greatly improved the safety of available drugs. However, some drugs approved by the FDA are used inappropriately by the public. Drugs that have been judged as safe can become unsafe when used in the wrong way for example, by being used at too high a dose, for too long a period of time, or in combination with another drug that causes a dangerous interaction. A major problem with diet pills is that people tend to take them for longer than is recommended by the FDA. This is due in part to the fact that people often regain weight when they stop taking diet pills.

The term dietary supplement has a specific meaning in the United States that was established by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). It refers to a substance that supplements the diet and whose label clearly states that it is a dietary supplement. It is different from a drug, which is defined as a substance that is intended to “diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent diseases” and which must undergo extensive testing and be approved by the FDA before being sold. Dietary supplements generally contain vitamins, minerals, herbs, other plant-derived substances, amino acids (the individual building blocks of protein), and extracts of these substances.

Natural and herbal diet pills available in the United States today are considered dietary supplements and are not subject to FDA review prior to being sold. Although these agents may have drug-like activity in the body, they do not need to be proven safe or effective like conventional drugs do. Unlike
conventional drugs, natural and herbal diet pills can only be withdrawn from the market when they are proven to be dangerous. As a result, many herbal products reach the market without any scientific evidence that they are safe or effective.

It is only possible to obtain these drugs by prescription for uses other than weight loss. This is not to say that these drugs cannot still be obtained by a person who is willing to ignore the risks. One way a person might obtain these drugs is on usually over the Internet.