Weight-loss Drugs

Weight-loss drugs or diet pills are used to enhance weight-loss. Most of these diet pills work by both reducing appetite and by stimulating fat metabolism, leading to a reduction in body fat and body weight.

In general there is very little research on the self-directed use of drugs in order to lose weight. The use of non-prescription weight-loss products is especially common among overweight adolescents and adults, but “average-weight” women and men are found to be frequent users as well. For instance, this study estimated 15.2% of adults in the U.S. (women 20.6%/men 9.7%) have used a weight-loss supplements; the highest use was among women aged 18 to 34 years (16.7%). Another group that frequently consumes these types of drugs for weight-loss purposes are bodybuilders.

Most licensed drugs to treat obesity such as ephedrine, fenfluramine and sibutramine have been banned in recent years because of serious harms linked to their use. One exception is Orlistat, which works by interfering with the way that fat is digested and absorbed into the body. Particular concerns of most weight-loss drugs are serious cardiac abnormalities, dysrhythmias and sudden death. Other concerns include psychiatric harms (e.g. depression, aggression and anxiety), insomnia, vomiting headaches, and breathing difficulties.

Another problem with weight-loss products (both legal and illegal) is that studies indicate many are adulterated with other drug substances, contain less or more of the active substance mentioned on the label, or ingredients that have been banned for safety concerns are being replaced by other experimental pharmaceutical drugs. The unknown use of these products may lead to psychosis, cardiovascular problems and even death. For instance, in 2003 a Finish bodybuilder became seriously ill after consuming mislabeled ‘fatburners’ containing a very high amount of 2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNP), an effective but highly toxic substance. Another example is the death of a 21-year old UK girl (April 2015) after taking diet pills containing DNP bought over the Internet. At least 31 DNP-related deaths have occurred in the UK since 2007, and on a global scale there have been 62 published deaths attributed to DNP. Information on the number of individuals using dietary supplements is important given the growing number of products that contain undeclared active substances.