Recently, there was an article about a famous Hollywood celebrity endorsing a weight loss pill designed to “trick the body into losing weight” which caught the public’s attention. Of course, in a country where the expanding waistlines of overweight and obese individuals are only eclipsed by the alarming increase in their numbers, it is only natural that people would look to try anything that promises a quick-fix weight loss. But before you head to the nearest store and grab one, ask yourself; are these quick fixes healthy?
The answer would be a firm no. Weight gain is mainly dependent upon the lifestyle and dietary choices, whereas these quick-fix pills encourage weight loss by the combined action of caffeine-induced metabolism boost and laxatives to increase food and water movement through the digestive tract. High caffeine content in the pills could lead to increase blood pressure and pulse rate, and can cause an individual to become jittery. High caffeine content also increases the risk of caffeine poisoning and heart arrhythmias, leaving the affected person susceptible to heart and blood related disorders. While laxative action might be helpful in case of constipation, those with regular bowel movement might get diarrhoea, leading to dehydration and loss of vital nutrients. Also as the cause of weight gain is not addressed, people tend to gain weight quickly once they stop the weight-loss course, thus increasing the dependence on these so-called ‘wonder pills’.
The approach is flawed; the focus should be on controlling weight, not simply losing it. Eat healthy and drink plenty of water; ensure your diet contains ample proteins and fibrous ingredients to boost metabolism and ease bowel movement. Exercise regularly to detoxify the body to burn those extra calories and stay away from greasy, fatty foods. Cutting down on smoking and alcohol consumption also helps; opt instead for a healthier, wholesome lifestyle. Do not miss out on sleep; studies indicate that taking adequate rest not only helps the body to repair and recover, but the increased metabolism during sleep also helps to process proteins more effectively and break down the carbohydrates and fats into simpler lipids.
We were taught as children that cheating is bad; the same moral holds true in the case of weight loss. Hard work and dedication are much more effective than any weight loss medication; remember, when it comes to a fit, healthy body, there are no shortcuts to success.
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