Danger of Diet Pills

by Sara Hansen

            Most fads come and go, but when it comes to fad diets, the health effects can be permanent, especially for teenagers. Many teenagers believe that because diet pills are sold over the counter and many contain all natural or herbal ingredients, that they are totally safe. That’s not the case, especially if the pills are misused.

            First of all, not all teens who diet need to lose weight. Dieting during this crucial stage of development can keep teenagers from getting the calories and nutrients needed for proper bone and muscle development.

            If you’re planning on dieting, you need to be aware of the possible permanent health risks. You need to make sure you understand that there is no magic pill or weight loss drink that will make you really thin. Diet pills contain harmful chemicals that can cause serious health problems. Many of the natural and herbal formulas are not regulated by the FDA and may not even contain what the labels claim to have.

            Diet pills can cause nervousness, restlessness, insomnia, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation. They can also cause more serious side effects, like heart palpitations, heart attack, stroke, hair loss, and bad vision.

            There is also a risk of dependency upon diet pills, which can lead to eating disorders in teenagers. But with all of the information and warnings about diet pills, the in sale continues to be on the rise in North America. Many people are led to believe that they are a safe and effective way to lose weight.

            Popular diet pills such as Acutrim and Dexatrim contain a combination of phenylpropanolamine and caffeine. They are both stimulants that affect the central nervous system.

            Fen-Phen used to be found in many diet pills and it was quite popular. The manufacturer of Fen-Phen stated that it should only be used in treating obesity when the person’s weight was at a point where it became a serious threat to his or her health. This drug is now illegal because the risks that were found in taking these pills. Sophomore Becky Savoia said, “People should read what are in diet pills to see if they are good for them and if they really do help.”   

Ephedrine is also found in many diet pills and is probably the most dangerous. It has been linked to many deaths from heart attacks, seizures and strokes. Its side effects can include irregular and rapid heart rates, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, chest pains, breathing problems, headaches, anxiety and cardiac arrest.

            A national survey of 11,631 high school students conducted by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that more than a third of the girls considered themselves overweight. Only 15 percent of the boys felt they needed to be thinner. More than 43 percent of the girls also reported that they were on a diet and a quarter of these dieters didn’t think they were overweight. The survey found that the most common dieting methods used were skipping meals, taking diet pills, and vomiting after eating. Senior Phil Oh said, “Physical health such as diet and weight should be managed through exercise by the individuals themselves and should not be cheated through harmful diet pills.”

            The bottom line is that not all teens who go on diets need to lose weight. Pressure from friends and even parents may create a distorted body image. Instead of dieting because everyone is doing it or because you are not as think as you want to be, first find out from a doctor or nutritionist whether you are carrying too much weight or too much body for your age and height. Freshman Natasha Graves said, “People should be happy with their weight or just exercise.”