If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. I keep coming back to that phrase. It defines our current diet culture in which foods are constantly marketed as “free” or “low” or “reduced.” They’re “diet,” so they must support our goal to lose weight, right? What, exactly, is the catch, then? I’m old enough to know that there are no shortcuts, and if there is one, it’s bound to be compromising in one way or another … eventually.
Diet pills have been around fo-eva. I used to take Dexatrim, sold at Walmart, in hopes of creating a svelter me (all while eating ultra-processed granola bars, blueberry muffins, hot chocolate and sodas). I just knew that I would get skinny effortlessly if I could stop eating. The pills curbed my appetite by giving me a stomachache, so I couldn’t eat; what a great skinny solution!
Turducken diet pills
While I gave up on Dexatrim shortly thereafter, I was shrewd enough not to enter the Hydroxycut study that I was offered as a young actress in NYC. (What a compliment to be presented the star-studded role of weight loss participant). In 2009, the FDA warned consumers about liver-related problems associated with these weight loss supplements and the company voluntarily recalled its products, only to return to the marketplace thereafter. Even their new products have been associated with side effects caused by high doses of caffeine like shortness of breath (hello irregular and rapid heartbeat). Some studies suggest that Hydroxycut can trigger manic episodes as well. Yet, in case you were wondering, you can still buy it to this day.
In my first job in Los Angeles as a nutrition counselor, I oversaw the weight loss of patients in a bariatric clinic. The doctor there prescribed a weight loss pill called phentermine to curb appetite and these poor people were then put on an 800-calorie liquid diet called Optifast. Of course it worked for a bit — they were starving! Side effects of phentermine include itchiness, dizziness or headache, dry mouth, unpleasant taste, digestive issues, low libido or stomach pain. What’s more, once people stop taking the drug, they will typically regain at least some of the weight they’ve lost. Totally worth it!
New iterations of diet pills are born often. Allī was the pill that informed its takers not to wear white while taking the pill because of potential … accidents. Yet, it seems that we will do anything to lose weight. Anything!
Some of the prescriptions that are all the rage today were created to treat Type 2 diabetes and they’re not just a quick pill pop — they’re a weekly injectable medication. Though they’re the same formula, semaglutide, both Ozempic and Wegovy have been publicized for helping people lose weight, but only Wegovy is FDA-approved for the treatment of being overweight and obesity. So, what’s the catch? These drugs suppress appetite, but some people who have taken these drugs report losing hair and noticeable aging of their faces, among other side effects (surprise, surprise). More profoundly, Ozempic has an FDA boxed warning for the risk of thyroid C-cell tumors and a lawsuit claiming the drug was responsible for stomach paralysis was filed last August. Additionally, a warning about the possibility of intestinal blockages has recently been added to Ozempic’s packaging. Other concerns remain, including those about pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer, kidney injury, gallbladder issues and heart trouble.
Aside from the financial expenditure (up to $15,000 a year if not covered by insurance), these drugs have also been associated with nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, indigestion, dizziness, bloating and gas. If that’s not enough to scare you off, once you stop taking the stuff, you’re likely to GAIN weight back! What a great business model.
Giving thanks
All these diet pills have something in common: They are to be taken along with a change in diet and an increase in exercise. They can act simply as a catalyst for long-term lifestyle changes. Once the pills are gone — and once the lifestyle changes go poof — so may the weight loss.
Instead of reaching for diet pills to peel off holiday weight, cut heavy, ultra-processed foods where you can, and check out this delicious leftover turkey salad that uses Greek yogurt instead of heavy doses of mayo.
Leftover turkey salad
Ingredients
1½ -2 cups turkey breast, cubed
2 celery stalks, chopped
3 tablespoons onion, finely diced
2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon garlic powder
3 tablespoons Greek yogurt
Dried cranberries optional
Salt pepper to taste
Method
Combine all ingredients and serve as a sandwich or over a salad!