The Obesity Epidemic
Hello. My name is Ana, I’m 17 years old, and I weigh 340 pounds (155 kg). I’ve been overweight since I was 12 years old. I used to go to school, but I dropped out because people make fun of me. I have missed my entire time in high school because of being obese. I suffer from depression, anxiety, and a fear of leaving my house. I hate my body so much it’s insane. I wish I could lose all this weight in a heartbeat, but I know it is not possible. All I am able to do is sit around in the house all day. When I do go out, I can’t bring myself to get out of the car. I joined a gym, but I don’t know what good that’s going to do; I am too embarrassed even to go. I feel so guilty for letting myself get so big. I wish I could just live an ordinary teenage life and have cute boys look at me and not pick on me. I wish I could go out and enjoy life instead of being afraid all the time. I wish I could simply go to a store and buy sexy clothing, bell-bottoms, tank tops, and a bikini, but I can’t because they don’t make that kind of clothing in my size. I know I’m not the only obese person in the world, but being a teenager and watching all these other skinny teenage girls makes me feel like I am the only [obese] one. I feel like such a freak. I wish I could change, but it’s so hard. I really need some support right now. I wish all these pretty, skinny, in-shape people could just respect me, but that will never happen because of the way I look.
This is one of the many stories that describe how an adolescent feels when he or she is obese. Overweight and obesity are growing problems. These conditions have reached epidemic proportions in the United States and in most industrialized nations around the world. An explosion in the variety and availability of high-calorie, high-fat convenience foods and the fact that people are exercising less and performing less manual labor have added to the problem.
HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH OBESITY
Obesity is currently the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Being overweight and obese can contribute to death by causing or worsening many different diseases, including but not limited to:
• High blood pressure;
• High cholesterol (overweight individuals often have higher levels of “bad” cholesterol and lower levels of “good” cholesterol);
• Obstructive sleep apnea (a condition where a person may stop breathing for a period of time while sleeping);
• Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis;
• Certain types of cancer, including breast, esophageal, stomach, colorectal, endometrial, and kidney cancer;
• In women: menstrual disturbances, infertility problems, and an increased incidence of birth defects in children;
• Increased daytime sleepiness and heat intolerance;
• Obesity may also contribute to gallbladder disease, gout, breathing problems, increased incidence of infections, liver diseases, and increased pain, especially in the lower back and knees.
A person’s risk of developing these health conditions increases as his or her BMI increases, so obese individuals are at higher risk than overweight individuals. Weight loss of even 10 to 15 pounds (4.5 to 6.8 kg) in adults and children can decrease the risk of developing health problems such as diabetes and hypertension. This weight loss can also help to control or lessen the severity of these conditions in patients already afflicted with these conditions. As previously noted, adults with central obesity are at higher risk of developing many of these conditions than are people with evenly distributed body fat.
In the United States, approximately 30% of children and adolescents ages 6 to 19 are overweight and 15% are obese. Children and adolescents who are overweight are more likely to be overweight as adults. Overweight children ages 10 to 14 who have at least one overweight or obese parent were reported to have an almost 80% chance of remaining overweight as they enter adulthood.
WHEN ARE DIET PILLS RECOMMENDED?
The question of when and how diet pills should be used should be answered. Overall, in carefully selected patients, a doctor may prescribe appropriate drugs to be used in conjunction with diet and exercise to achieve weight loss. The only drugs recommended for use by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) are those that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA-approved drugs have been studied and determined to be safe and effective for some, but not all, people.
According to the NHLBI, people who are appropriate candidates and should consider taking diet pills are adults with a BMI of greater than 30 kg/m2 or those with a BMI of higher than 27 kg/m2 who have health problems related to being overweight. Diet pills, like any other medication, have risks associated with their use. Therefore, diet pills should only be used by people who are at high risk of developing weight-related health problems. For people who are obese or overweight, the benefits of weight loss are generally greater than the risks associated with taking diet pills. Several diet pills have been studied for use in children; however, doctors only recommend using them in extreme situations.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has established guidelines on the use of diet pills. These guidelines are used by health-care practitioners both within and outside the United States. The information contained in these guidelines helps to determine who should and should not use weight loss medications. This is important because people who use diet pills inappropriately risk potentially devastating effects on their health.
The government is warning you to stay away from nearly 30 weight-loss products that contain unlisted and possibly dangerous ingredients. The pills are advertised as “natural” fat busters and have intriguing names like Imelda Perfect Slim and Zhen de Shou. Some suggest they are innovative “herbal” remedies from Asia. But the Food and Drug Administration on Monday said the concoctions contain unlisted ingredients, including powerful appetite-suppressing drugs and a suspected carcinogen.
“These tainted weight loss products pose a great risk to public health because they contain undeclared ingredients and in some cases prescription drugs in amounts that greatly exceed their maximum recommended dosages,” said Dr. Janet Woodcock, who directs the FDA’s drug evaluation center.
FDA lab testing found 28 dietary supplements that could land unsuspecting users in the emergency room. Many contain sibutramine, a powerful Appetite suppressant that’s a chemical cousin of amphetamines. It can cause heart attacks, strokes, heart palpitations and other problems. Some contain phenolphthalein, a chemical long used as a laxative, but which is now being withdrawn from the market because of cancer risks.
The FDA is considering criminal charges against some of the companies, because they have not responded to requests for recalls.
The products are:
Fatloss Slimming, 2 Day Diet, 3x Slimming Power, 5x Imelda Perfect Slimming, 3 Day Diet Japan Lingzhi, 24 Hours Diet, 7 Diet Day/Night Formula, 7 Day Herbal Slim, 8 Factor Diet, 999 Fitness Essence, Extrim Plus and GMP.
Also:
Imelda Perfect Slim, Lida DaiDaihua, Miaozi Slim Capsules, Perfect Slim, Perfect Slim 5x, Phyto Shape, ProSlim Plus, Royal Slimming Formula, Slim 3 in 1, Slim Express 360, Slimtech, Somotrin, Superslim, TripleSlim, Zhen de Shou, Venom Hyperdrive 3.0
Before choosing a weight loss diet pill, it is very important to understand how they work, what are the different kinds of weight loss pills and what will be the best options for you.