What You Should Know About Diet Aides And Certain Diet Tactics / Question
Published: December 3, 1999
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I am considering trying diet pills like an appetite suppressant to lose weight. Could these pills harm my body?
Signed: Considering Diet Pills?
Dear Considering Diet Pills?,
Diet pills are rarely the answer to a teen's weight loss dreams!
Your body is still growing which means that you should not take any unnecessary over the counter or unprescribed medication. If you are concerned about your weight or how you look, discuss it with your doctor and he/she can evaluate you. A doctor can prescribe a diet and exercise plan best suited for your needs. Your doctor may also have you see a nutritionist (a medical person that specializes in weight loss).
Many people, especially teenagers want a quick fix like appetite suppressants to help with weight loss, but it is important to eat healthy and exercise regularly. Most people need help learning how to eat properly and changing their eating habits (what they eat and when). Diet pills can curve your appetite, but as a growing teenager your body requires more food than adults in order to form correctly. Also, once a person changes their eating behaviors and patterns and starts eating healthier, they will find that it becomes easier to maintain a good, healthy weight.
Diet pills do have both long and short term side effects, including:
- Heart problems
- Increase risk of stroke
- Shortness of breath
- Fluid retention
- Inability to concentrate
- Shakiness
- Hard time falling and staying asleep
- Malnutrition
- Binge eating when pill wears off
- Rapid weight gain after you go off the pills!
It's important for you NOT to take any diet pills! Talk to your doctor and in the meantime, try to eat healthy and exercise regularly!
Signed: TeenHealthFX
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