One of the most controversial chapters in Dr. Lipman's new book "The 100 Calorie Secret" is all about the question whether or not you should exercise while trying to lose weight."Although it may be healthy and good for everybody, imposing the need to exercise while being on a diet to lose weight creates confusing goals for most people. Overwhelming yourself with time-consuming exercise plans, and at the same time restricting your calorie intake, will lead to failure of both losing weight and regularly working out in nine out of ten cases." Dr. Lipman no longer stands alone with his opinion. Check out John Cloud's latest, must-read article"Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin" in Times Magazine.
Susie Levan Interviews Dr. Lipman on 101.5 Lite FM
Dr. Lipman And The Miami Herald
Dr. Lipman and his new book "The 100 Calorie Secret" featured in the Miami Herald.
Diet Drugs and Weight Loss: Any Future for OTC Drugs after Hydroxycut?
Written by Richard L. Lipman M.D.
Saturday, 09 May 2009 16:13
Any Future for OTC Diet Drugs? Part 1: The OTC Story
Now that Hydroxycut and all its related products were taken off the market, are there any effective weight loss drugs left or is there even a future for new ones? The tale of Hydroxycut is the only the most recent episode in the OTC weight loss supplements disaster. In part 2, prescription diet drugs are reviewed. Even more information is avaiable from in a previous post and from QuackWatch.
Hydroxycut: A Disaster Retold Hydroxycut claimed to be “research supported, easy to swallow, sweet coated caplet to be used as a weight loss supplement alongside a healthy diet and exercise.” Marketed for appetite control and increased energy levels, wild claims for "significantly more weight loss than dieting alone" were everywhere. . On May 1st 2009, the product has been recalled due to reports of liver damage, and less than one week after the recall was issued a class action lawsuit has been filed. http://www.the100caloriesecret.com/index.php/home/80-otc-diet-pill-warnings-again
Hydroxycut Ingredients At A Glance The three big ingredients that Hydroxycut are Hydroxagen Plus, Hydroxy tea, and Chromatech, which are used exclusively in their product. No one really knows what these really are. In addition, Garcinia cambogia(extracted 60%), an Indian herb. Garcinia cambogia is mostly HCA, (Hydroxycitrate)which supposedly causes the body to burn more calories. Also used is Green Tea extract, containing ECC and caffeine. Another ingredient used to normalize blood sugar and thus reduce sugar cravings, is Gymnema Sylvestre Extract.
l Only HCA has been really studied for weight loss and the results were inconclusive. None of the other ingredients have any history of any weight loss success and no controlled studies are available proving the effectiveness of the product as a whole.
Dangers of Hydroxycut and related products:
In addition to the one patient death, the liver problems reported to the FDA have been jaundice, elevated liver enzymes, liver damage (requiring a liver transplant), seizures and cardiovascular disorders. Liver injury symptoms include jaundice, brown urine, excessive fatigue, stomach or abdominal pain, and nausea.
Hyroxycut products recalled
Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets
Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets
Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets
Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets
Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix)
Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Liquid Shots
Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed
Hydroxycut 24
Hydroxycut Carb Control
Hydroxycut Natural
The Long Story of OTC Weight Loss Drugs Failures
Thyroid, Digitalis and Other Early Drugs Weight loss drugs have a long history. Thyroid extract was the first medication that became popular for weight loss. Marketed under the name, Dr Kellogg's Safe Fat Reducer, significant side effects were noted including palpitations and chest pains. Early on, the side effects outweighed the benefits and the drug became less popular.
Laxatives to the Rescue: In the Twenties and Thirties laxatives were popular, followed by dinitrophenol, which increased heart rate and metabolism but produced fever, blindness and in some cases death.
Digitalis the next big hit. The next drug to hit the weight loss scene was Digitalis, the heart medicine in the 1940's. Digitalis causes weight loss because in high, toxic doses it produces nausea. Heart rhythm disturbances and deaths lead to the abandonment of this treatment in the 1950's.
Amphetamines and PPA The 1950's and 60's saw the popularity of the prescription and non-prescription amphetamine drugs. Addiction, withdrawal effects, increased blood pressure and abuse lead to their decline in the 1970's. Simultaneous with the amphetamines. Phenylpropanolamine (PPA), Ephedra, Ephedrine, The only FDA approved over-the-counter weight loss medications was removed from the market in November 2000 because of the high incidence of hypertension, cardiac problems and strokes. Dietary supplements containing Ephedra were also banned by the FDA in 2004 The FDA never approved Ephedra as a weight- loss drug. However, it is easily available on the Internet as "food supplement" and is used in numerous combinations.
Alli(Xencial): A lower does of xenical, the fat blocker released several years ago was recently released in 1/2 doses an an OTC weight loss drug. The parent drug never was able to produce more than 5-8% of starting body weight. The half dose version should have results even lower. The FDA considers a 5% weight loss a the minimum to label a drug beneficial for weight loss.
Other than Ali there are no other proven, OTC effective weight loss drugs. If you need a drug to lose weight see your physician, there many prescription drugs and new ones in the pipeline.
