Slimming pills appear to be a painless way of losing weight. But do they work in the long run, asks Devlina Ganguly

If you walk into a chemist’s shop and ask for anti-obesity pills, you’ll be overwhelmed by the sheer number and variety available. “These pills can be divided roughly into two groups — one suppresses hunger and the other reduces fat absorption. The chemical names for the two categories are sibutramine and orlistat, respectively,” says Dr Prabha Sanghi of Pulse Impulse Health Clinic, a New Delhi-based clinic that specialises in weight management.

But can these pills be taken without consulting a doctor? “Technically, sibutramine and orlistat pills are meant for obese people but in reality, teenagers and others who are slightly overweight are indiscriminately popping them to attain the perfect figure without having to exercise. And no, you shouldn’t have them without consulting a doctor,” says Dr Sanghi.

Most doctors do not recommend these pills. “At times cardiac patients or diabetics need to lose weight on an emergency basis because being overweight compounds their health problems. In such cases pills can be prescribed for immediate effect,” says Dr T. Biju Singh, who is associated with the Bhagirathi Neotia Woman and Child Care Centre and is the regional doctor (east), VLCC, “Otherwise, I generally do not advocate slimming pills,” he clarifies.

Medical experts like Singh and Sanghi insist that people should first be clear on whether they are overweight or obese. Many young people try to reduce even when their weight is perfect for their height. A person’s body mass index (BMI), which is one’s weight divided by the square of one’s height, is the key to this. In India, a person with a BMI of more than 23 is generally considered overweight, one with more than 25 pre-obese and one with a BMI of over 30 is obese.

“If you are just overweight, a change in lifestyle — such as exercise and proper eating habits — can be more effective than slimming pills. Popping chemicals won’t help as these can lead to pulmonary hypertension and at times can induce nausea or irregular bowel movements,” says Dr Singh. “The new generation slimming pills have considerably fewer side effects, at least the companies manufacturing them claim so, but they are still not absolutely safe,” he adds.

Though doctors would rather that people didn’t opt for these pills, the soaring sales figures of over the counter slimming pills testify to their popularity. An ayurvedic pill developed by a well-known herbal healthcare company has seen a jump in sales. “In the period since last November, we have seen a jump in sales of almost 50 per cent with more than 75 per cent of our sales coming from the metros,” says Saket Gore, business head, consumer products division, Himalaya Drug Company. Another herbal slimming pill has also noted a 30 per cent growth in the last two financial years, claim its manufacturers.

So are they effective? “Herbal or allopathic, I doubt if these pills really work in the long run. Most people I treat for weight problems have used these pills at least once but have not gone back to them,” says Dr Singh.

Pune-based IT professional Shiladitya Ray resorted to a herbal slimming shake to help him in his battle of the bulge. Did it work? “Not at all,” says a disappointed Ray. “I didn’t lose an inch and on top of that replacing a meal with the herbal shake made me feel weak.”

Housewife Dola Mukherjee had also sought refuge in slimming pills as she neither wanted to exercise nor cut down on her favourite foods. “After experimenting with various pills, I realised that none of them works. Then my doctor told me to stop taking these pills and asked me to do some brisk walking and follow a diet chart. Doing that has helped me lose weight.”

Mrinalini Dey Sarkar (name changed), a 45-year-old executive, has another story to tell. She says that she did lose weight after taking these pills, but her digestive system has gone for a toss since then. These days she is unable to digest virtually anything.

Another problem associated with taking slimming pills is that even if one does lose weight, one gains it right back once the pills are stopped. Says Dr Sanghi, “Most of these pills increase the basal metabolic rate (BMR) which is the number of calories you would burn without any activity. Once the pills are stopped, the body retaliates and the BMR goes below normal and the person regains the weight he had lost.”

Dr Sanghi warns that slimming pills can also cause anaemia, hair fall and reduced skin elasticity. “No slimming pill can be without side effects,” agrees Dr Singh. “In western countries a pill contains the brand name, the generic name and also mentions the side effects. But here, they do not warn a consumer of probable side effects, leave alone how the pills are supposed to work.”

Needless to say, manufacturers of slimming pills aver that their products are free of any side effects whatsoever. As Gore of Himalaya Herbal healthcare stresses, “Ayurslim is a thoroughly researched ayurvedic product that is completely herbal and 100 per cent safe without any side effects. Moreover, it has no habit forming or addictive effects on users.”

A spokesperson for Goodcare Pharma, manufacturers of Ezi Slim, says, “Our product is 100 per cent natural, safe and effective and has no side effects.” Others like Cipla, manufacturers of Obestat, which is a prescription slimming pill, refused to comment on whether or not the product had side effects.

But side effects or not, nothing can substitute the benefits of a sensible diet and moderate exercise. Ultimately, to stay healthy — and trim — you need to change your lifestyle rather than pop pills.