Cynthia Lam | Contributor
Featured image: The diet pill industry may see a boost from weight-loss resolutions. | Courtesy of Wil Taylor
With the first month of 2017 having officially come to an end, those who have made New Year’s resolutions have either made significant changes to their approach or are finding it hard to stay motivated.
One of the most popular resolutions is to shed some pounds, whether it be due to the extra weight put on during holiday meals or to create a better lifestyle for themselves. Although gym memberships and attendance soar early in the year, another industry also sees an uptick—the weight-loss supplement industry. The supplement and diet pill industries see a whopping $3 billion revenue each year in the United States. Although it may seem the “magic diet pill” fad is transparent and fake, consumers are still on a purchasing frenzy.
Many of these supplements are said to reduce one’s appetite and make the body burn fat more quickly. The testing of several different supplement products, such as Garcinia Cambogia, Hydroxycut and Orlistat, also known as Alli, saw low success rates. There are also many side effects to these medications, including inflammation and digestive problems, which make these pills more dangerous than they seem.
In fact, many of these diet pills are actively discouraged by the FDA and medical doctors. The FDA released a warning against these weight-loss supplements, specifically pointing out that they do not require FDA approval to be sold. They even state that the only safe, and best, way to lose weight is through healthy eating and physical activity.
The promises on diet pill bottles seem relatively realistic. Pills are said to speed up metabolism, slow down fat production and curb cravings. And although some diet pills may be effective in doing these things, the cons still outweigh the pros. Some ingredients have been banned by the FDA because of their harmful side effects. Popular ingredients found in diet pills have been known to cause rectal bleeding, liver damage and increased heart rate, which can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
If all of these warning signs are apparent, why do people still buy these products? We currently live in a world dominated by the want for instant gratification, and this is also reflected in the weight-loss industry. Everyone wants to lose pounds quickly, even though sometimes it is not healthy to do so and leads to adverse health effects.
“It gives a sense of security and immediacy to their insecurities,” says Linda Ge, a second-year acting student and health coach, who runs the account @thefitty on Instagram.
“It’s practical and easy to believe in, when in reality, weight loss never happens overnight. It’s a process and we don’t have patience.”
Although it’s important to account for people’s mindsets, the marketing departments for supplement companies are also quite genius. Many are drawn to try the pills marketed as being “miraculous” and “revolutionary.” Not only do they use flashy branding and catchy phrases, their products also find their way onto television advertisements. They are even endorsed by TV personalities like Dr. Oz, who has promoted Garcinia Cambogia as good for weight loss, and was even sued for doing so. In our age of social media dominance, many companies have also approached people with large social media followings to promote the products.
Even though one may see all these calls from people they trust or follow saying that the new “miracle” pill that they have just discovered will help people lose weight fast and quick, the reality is clear: there is no revolutionary pill that will change the fact that the best and most healthy way to shed some pounds is to watch what you eat and exercise.
