Magic Diet Pill Coming?
Have you heard of the over the counter diet pill Orlistat? A
joint FDA advisory committee voted 11-3 to recommend approval of
this diet aid. The agency usually follows the recommendations of
its outside panels of experts, but the final decision is still
to come and could take months. In that time, people should
consider the facts and their options regarding weight loss.
Orlistat is a fat blocking pill that will be obtained without a
doctor's prescription. Its action is to render 25% of one's fat
intake indigestible and therefore it is eliminated.
Unfortunately, the 'elimination' of the undigested fat is
somewhat unpleasant: oily, slick stools, diarrhea, and anal
spotting. Does 25% less calorie digestion really sound worth it?
Is this just another way for drug companies to make millions of
dollars while taking advantage of people's need to be slim? Is
there really a magic formula to obtaining and maintaining a
healthy weight?
Why is it that people don't want to hear that the old 'tried and
true' method of pushing away from the table and exercise? Have
we become so lazy? It seems that anything worthwhile is worth
working for. People put more time, effort and money into
maintaining their vehicle than their own body, which is
irreplaceable. When something goes wrong with one's vehicle,
it's relatively easy to fix it up or replace it. The human body,
as amazing machine as it is, can only take so much abuse before
it shuts down. It's time people start to put the same effort
into their own health. Not only would individuals benefit, but
the collective benefit as a community of health care users would
be substantial.
In the time it would take to visit the washroom several times a
day while using this diet pill, one could make a significant
caloric expenditure in the form of exercise. See the following
chart for an example of ways to burn calories:
Activity (10 minutes) 123 lb. female 170 lb. male Cycling (5.5
mph) 36 49 Cycling (9.4 mph) 56 74 Running (8 min/mile) 113 150
Running (11.5 min/mile) 76 100 Stairmaster 88 122 Walking (3.5
mph) 45 59 X country skiing 80 106 Rope jumping (slow) 82 116
Rope jumping (fast) 100 142
Call me crazy, but I think I would enjoy some of these
activities far more than sitting on the commode. This exercise,
coupled with sensible eating could make a real difference in a
person's long-term health. Orlistat is recommended to be used
for six month intervals, however, many people believe if a
little of something is good, more is better. The potential for
the abuse of this drug is high given some people's compulsion to
be thin. It seems there is a serious lack of common sense and
self-control. Our grandparents, who perhaps lived a more
physical life without many of the modern conveniences of today,
had the right idea in terms of maintaining a healthy weight.
It's not rocket science. If one eats too much, one cannot look
like a supermodel. If one moderates eating and does some
exercise, one has a fighting chance to look their best.
If you are considering the use of this drug once it hits the
market, perhaps you should think again. In the time before its
available, do yourself a favor and try to change your lifestyle
to incorporate more healthy habits. The use of Orlistat does
nothing to address the root of the obesity problem. See what you
can do with your body and its composition prior to going to the
drastic measures this drug suggests. Find something enjoyable in
the form of exercise and see how you feel. My clients often tell
me that the main reason they are sticking to their new routine
is how great they are feeling. The additional benefit of
exercise is how their body composition and weight is changing.
If you are seriously considering a lifestyle change and don't
know where to start, perhaps consult your doctor or a personal
trainer to get you on the right track.