Once again (this month) the FDA approved a new weight-loss pill. This pill “when combined with a reduced calorie diet and exercise” has been shown to “provide another treatment option for chronic weight management in Americans who are obese or are overweight and have at least one weight-related comorbid condition”
Oh yeah, and, by the way, these drugs most likely will cause birth defects, possibly cause heart palpitations (or worse)
sighhhhhh…..
I am a personal trainer. I have been for over 8 years. I have studied nutrition (extensively) and worked with enough obese, overweight, and “normal-sized” individuals to realize that, it isn’t JUST as simple as “Eat Less, Move more” BUT I also know, that a few changes in lifestyle and habits can yield just as much weight-loss as these pills claim, MINUS the crazy side effects (not to mention, we only have 1 year of data for “long term” effects”)
I love the idea of taking a pill to fix a problem as much as anyone, but this is not a problem that a PILL will solve. Obesity is as much psychological as it is physical and even that doesn’t address the hormonal issues that cause someone who is overweight to stay overweight and continue to gain.
The pills themselves don’t even promise much to lose, as one earlier this month suggested that combined with healthy diet and exercise one could expect to lose up to 3% (or a measly 6lbs. in a 200lb person) over a YEAR!!
Now, I’m not sure what that drug cost, maybe, $5-25 a month? So on the low end we’re looking at $60-300 to lose 6 lbs?! Not sure about you, but I don’t see much value there. You could pay a good personal trainer $300 for 5-6 sessions that would teach lessons that could be used the rest of your life that would help you lose BEYOND 6 lbs. AND keep it off!
The pharmaceutical companies are BANKING on the fact that people are lazy and they want an easy option. They are betting the house on it! Vegas doesn’t make their money off the winners, and Big Pharma isn’t making their money of the healthy people eating clean and exercising consistently. This, frankly, pisses me off. I want MY clients, MY friends, MY family to know better. I don’t want them taking our/your money and making us sicker, causing deformed babies, and giving us heart attacks, while trying to lose a few pounds. Lets wise up, folks! Read the fine print, do your homework. Learn healthy principles, make small changes consistently and don’t be a bitch.
PS I would LOVE to hear your comments on this
Comments
comments
I totally agree – I think we would’t be human if we did look for easier ways to do things. I’m the girl that lived on Hydroxycut because “Sarah and Wisconsin lost 25 lbs…” and got no results. But the FDA approving these drugs is not about helping America get healthy it’s about lining the pockets of Big Pharma
Girl, I too lived on Hydroxycut 10 years ago…lost no weight but triggered a thyroid problem and spent years trying to recover from it. Never took the bait on the thyroid BS either, got my act together with clean eating and exercise. I couldn’t agree with you more – they are capitalizing on the laziness of unhealthy Americans instead of actually trying to find solutions to help them. Sad.
You’ve got it soooo right, Sister!! I’m so sick of hearing the infomercials and crazy people around me talk about the next great thing for EASY weight loss! I’ve struggled for over 3 years to lose 75 pounds. It was NOT an easy task damn it, I worked hard but I did it! You’re absolutely right about it being a phychological issue. You’ve got to figure out what got you in such bad shape to begin with then work on fixing it physically and mentally. There’s no shake, pill, or juice that will “fix” you. There’s no magic exercise machine that will fix you either. Find healthy foods you like and a workout you enjoy doing and stick to it!
I live in Canada were there is less of this stuff that has been approved. I find it shocking and surprising that people look for a secondary solution to their weight rather than dealing with it head on and changing the bahaviours that made them that way (be it binge eating, night eating, hating exercise). Finding the right therapist and trainer is going to be an investment that will help you lose weight and maintain your weight for life, not just for a wedding.
I am actually visiting family in California right now and I can’t even believe how many ads there is for weight loss clinics and weight loss drugs there is that I have never seen before (we do have clinics in Canada, just not on every corner). It is scary that people are so obsessed with their weight and losing weight that it is everywhere and I got the sense that there is people that are really desperate to do anything to do anything to get skinny, even risk their health.
Interesting perspective you have… I noticed in S.California there was a BILLBOARD for weight-loss surgery at EVERY mile! Craziness! Yes people are desperate and these companies are risking WORSE complications and preying on the desperation, if not also creating and contributing to the desperation! I’m glad other people see it. I think California is one of the worst!
I noticed that in California too!
I read a story about this a few weeks back and there are 3 pills from different manufacturers coming out this year. Each of them have several side affects but whats worse is that all three were denied approval at least once before. There is no substitute for eating clean and exercise but too many people want to take the “easy way out” and buy their weight loss. Everyone is always looking for the quick fix but these pills aren’t the answer.
yes you are correct they WERE initally rejected by the FDA sighhhh
As an obese adult myself who has been up and down the scale, I agree there are too many side effects of this drug to warrent losing an extra few pounds. I know that with proper diet, I can and do lose weight It is when I stray from healthy eating that the pounds come back on. I have not made the lifetime committment needed to get down and stay at a healthy weight and no pill will help me make that committment. It is all me and my head. I know a few people who have gone the gastric bypass route to lose the weight and they still struggle with weight gain, healthy eating and added to that the complications of a surgically modified digestive system. Although I am considered obese, I am active, healthy and have no weight related issue as my sugar, blood pressure, bones and joints are all strong! Exercising regularly is the key…
Exercising regularly is part of it and learning about yourself, triggers and HORMONES (which play sooooo much a part) keep up the good fight sister!
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