ARE THERE EVEN SAFE SLIMMING PRODUCTS IN MALAYSIA?

The appeal of losing weight in a short span of time is tempting. But do weight-loss/slimming pills and products lighten anything but your wallet? And are they safe? We're here to help you out on that. Let's find out!

First things first, there's no MIRACLE PILL for losing weight. The most efficient and effective way to lose weight and maintain it off is by consuming healthy low-calorie diets and by being more physically active. Weight lost can slowly creep up on you if you are not eating healthy and eating in moderation. As always, the most effective way to lose weight and keep it off is by eating a healthy low-calorie diet and being more physically active.

There are many different weight loss/slimming solutions out there. This includes all sorts of pills, drugs and natural supplements, are all, at best, tools that may help with weight loss but research about these products is relatively lacking in nature. Prescription weight-loss drugs are the only well-studied of them all. All of which are claimed to assist in losing weight, or at least making it easier when combined with other methods. Prescription weight loss/slimming pills tend to work via one or more of these mechanisms:

-Reducing appetite, so that you consume fewer calories because you're full.
-Reducing absorption of fat, which leads to body to take in fewer calories.
-Increasing fat burning, making you burn more calories.





When it comes to slimming, there are many pills, drinks, and supplements claiming to assist in losing weight. But do these slimming pills actually work? Are they safe? The effective slimming pills may actually contain one or several active ingredients intended to stimulate fat burning, lowering appetite, or reducing fat absorption.

Not all weight loss/slimming pills and supplements are created equal. Certain slimming pills may bring unpleasant side effects to some while others may not actually assist in weight loss. There has been few unfortunate cases of slimming pills as there are certain ingredients in weight loss pills can carry potential side effects, some which can have serious implications.

From a medical point of view, what can be described as "meaningful" weight loss means you've lost enough weight to lower your risk of heart disease, diabetes and other diseases. This is generally defined as 5 percent or more of your body weight.

It's fairly reasonable to expect that these slimming pills may be beneficial, however they won't be magical as marketed. Results may vary, and the benefits may be mediocre at best. Researchers know very little about the potential benefits and risks of over-the-counter slimming products.




Weight Loss/ Slimming Regulations

Over-the-counter slimming treatments fall into two main categories:

Non-prescription drugs
Dietary supplements

The standards for regulating the production and marketing of these two types of treatments are different. For a nonprescription drug, such as orlistat (Alli), the drug company must provide the Malaysian Ministry of Health approval with results from human (clinical) trials that proves the safety and drug effectiveness at the nonprescription dose. The makers of these slimming pills must be held accountable for ensuring their product safety and being honest in claims about their possible benefits.

If our Ministry of Health can prove that a supplement is not safe for consumption, the product can be banned or withdrawn voluntarily. The Ministry of Health may also take action against the manufacturer if there is insufficient evidence to support a claim. Informed decisions about products can be hard to come by due to the differences in research, production and marketing.

There should be some type of clinical evidence to support when a slimming supplement is being marketed as "clinically proven" to result in weight loss. Most of the time, with such a claim, however, provides zero details about the clinical research only wild claims. Such scenarios happen a lot in Malaysia with slimming products popping up like parasites.




Concerns with Safety

The low number of research also makes it difficult to determine the safety of a slimming supplement. And just simply because it's natural, a product isn't necessarily safe.

It's important to do your research if you're looking to about trying over-the-counter slimming pills. You can head to www.bpfk.gov.my for this information. With the vast amount on different affects on different people, be sure to consult your doctor Make sure you do not have other medical conditions if you want to try these products. If you're considering weight-loss pills, be sure to consult your doctor, especially if you are dealing with health problems, taking prescription drugs, or are pregnant or breast-feeding. And also note that it is important to seek medical advice on possible effects regarding your current use of medicine, vitamins or minerals. Your doctor can also advice you on losing weight, provide support, monitor your weight loss progress or maybe refer you to a dietitian.

Most weight loss and slimming pills are licensed as either over-the counter (OTC), traditional or cosmetics ; therefore they are not allowed to make certain claims such as “stops fat from being absorbed” or “speeds up metabolism”. If you find these claims being made on the packaging or product insert, report it to the regulating authority.

Here are a few popular slimming pills that you can find in a pharmacy near you.



1. ORLISTAT

Also known as Alli, Orlistat is a pharmaceutical drug, mainly sold over-the-counter and under prescription as Xenical. The weight loss/slimming pill works by inhibiting the breakdown of fats in the gut, thus causing you to absorb fewer calories from fats. This slimming pill has been shown to slightly reduce blood pressure, and slowdown the risk of the development type 2 diabetes by 37% in one study.

However, the downside to this drug is the many digestive side effects, all of which includes loose, oily stools, flatulence, frequent bowel movements that are hard to control, and others. The drug may also lead to fat-soluble vitamin deficiency, mostly vitamins A, D, E and K. Following a low-fat diet while taking orlistat is usually recommended, in order for the side effects to be minimized.



2. Green Coffee Bean Extracts

Normal coffee beans that haven't been roasted, yup, that's green coffee beans to you. Caffeine and chlorogenic acid are the two substances believed to help with weight loss. By that, caffeine increases fat burning, and chlorogenic acid slows down the breakdown of carbohydrates in the gut. Blood sugar levels and blood pressure will also be lowered by the green coffee bean extracts. It is also high in antioxidants.

The side effects of the green coffee bean extract also has the same side effects as caffeine. The chlorogenic acid in it may cause diarrhea, and green coffee beans may also be allergic for some people.




3. Glucomannan

Also called konjac, Glucomannan is a type of fiber found in the roots of the elephant yam. It absorbs water and becomes gel-like. It "stays" in your gut and stimulates a feeling of being full, reducing the urge to eat. Three human studies showed that glucomannan, combined with a healthy diet, can help people lose 8-10 pounds (3.6-4.5 kg) of weight in 5 weeks. Friendly bacteria in the intestine will also be fed by glucomannan. Besides being very effective against constipation, it can also lower blood sugar, blood cholesterol and triglycerides

However the side effects of the drug is that it has the chance to cause bloating, flatulence and soft stools. And if taken at the same time, can also interfere with some oral medications. It is important to consume glucomannan with a glass of water about a half an hour before meals.




4. Green Tea Extract

A popular ingredient in many weight loss supplements, green tea extract has been proven by numerous studies to have shown the main antioxidant in it, EGCG, has the ability to aid in fat burning. It is also believed to increase the activity of norepinephrine, a hormone that helps you burn fat, especially in the belly area.

Green tea extract is generally well tolerated. However, the side effects include that it does contain some caffeine, and may cause symptoms in people who are caffeine sensitive. Additionally, drinking green tea has the same benefits as consuming green tea extracts as well.




5. Hydroxycut Having being around for more than a decade. Hydroxycut is currently one of the most popular weight loss supplements around the world. A study proved that it caused a weight loss of 21 lbs (9.5 kg) over a 3 month period. Hydroxycut contains several ingredients that are claimed to help with weight loss which includes caffeine and a few plant extracts. Bad news if you are sensitive to caffeine as you may be prone to experience anxiety, jitteriness, tremors, nausea, diarrhea and irritability.