7 best diet pills

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

The eternal question haunting our contemporaries. regardless of gender: 'What to eat to lose weight?'. The human body, like all other mammals, was formed under conditions when hunger was more the norm than the exception, and those who, in relatively well-fed times, accumulated fat more efficiently than others, survived. They left offspring, which, in a sudden abundance of food, began to rapidly gain weight: according to doctors in our country, 59.2% of all adults are overweight.

Theoretically, everyone knows the recipe for losing weight: eat less and move more. In practice, this does not always work out, and 'magic pills' are used.

When compiling a rating of the best diet pills, we considered only products officially registered in Russia as dietary supplements or medicine. We have deliberately omitted to include 'Chinese' or 'Thai pills' of unknown composition and medicines that cannot be obtained through official sources.

When choosing a means that promotes weight loss, you need to remember that in medicine there are clear criteria for the effectiveness of weight loss and they are far from the widely advertised 7-10 kilograms per week. The National Clinical Guidelines for the Treatment of Obesity describe a safe loss of 5-10% of baseline weight per month, which in practice is no more than 3 kg per week.

And before moving on to, in fact, the rating, we recall that no pills will help if the weight corresponds to the medical norm, which does not always coincide with modern beauty standards. A body mass index of 18.5 to 24.99 is considered normal. BMI is calculated using the formula: weight in kg / (height in m) 2

Comparison table of various weight loss products

	Slimming drugs	Dietary supplement	Slimming Tea
active substance	synthetic	synthetic, natural extracts	natural herbs
weight loss mechanisms	decreased appetite, normalization of metabolism	decreased appetite, normalization of metabolism,	dehydration
have there been clinical trials	Yes	most often yes	not
side effects	there is	possible	there is
addictive	not	not	Yes
yo-yo effect (quick return to original weight) after the end of the application	available	available	Yes

Excess weight can be not only the result of excessive eating, but also a consequence of serious diseases:

1. polycystic ovary syndrome;
2. Cushing's syndrome;
3. hypothyroidism;
4. dysfunction of the hypothalamus;
5. hyperprolactinemia, etc.

Therefore, when it comes to not just being overweight, but obesity, before prescribing pills for yourself, you need to consult a doctor. You can drink weight loss medicines only after making sure that the reason for excess weight is precisely in the peculiarities of the lifestyle.

Rating of the best diet pills

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
The best medicines for weight loss	1	Sibutramine	1590 RUB
	2	Orlistat	RUB 681
	3	Metformin	92 RUB
The best dietary supplements for weight loss	1	Chromium picolinate	RUB 931
	2	Garcinia cambogia	347 r
	3	Alpha lipoic acid	650 RUB
	4	L-carnitine	301 RUB

The best medicines for weight loss

In this section, we have collected medicines designed to help fight obesity. All of these diet pills are prescription drugs because they interfere with the nerve centers or metabolism quite harshly, which can cause serious side effects. Therefore, these drugs are most often recommended for people with severe obesity (BMI> 30) in situations where diet and sports do not help.

On the other hand, unlike dietary supplements, for the registration of which it is not necessary to confirm the effectiveness of the action, all drugs for weight loss have been confirmed to be effective in clinical trials – without this, registration of the drug is impossible.

Sibutramine

Rating: 4.9

Trade names: Reduxin, Goldline.

Sibutramine is ideal for people who are honestly trying to diet but cannot handle constant hunger. Acting directly on the center of satiety in the brain, these pills help you to fill up in small portions. And since serotonin and adrenaline receptors are activated in the process, an additional bonus is increased activity and less need for sleep. True, this coin also has a downside: increased activity can easily turn into anxiety, a reduced need for sleep turn into insomnia, and the effect on adrenaline receptors can provoke an uncontrolled increase in pressure. Sibutramine increases the load on the heart and blood vessels: blood pressure increases on average by 1 to 3 mm. rt. Art, and the pulse at 3 – 7 beats per minute. That is why it is banned in the countries of the European Union.

Many people who have used this drug complain of a complete loss of pleasure in eating. On the one hand, it helped them to reduce weight, on the other hand, such sensations are subjectively very difficult to endure.

Often those taking the medicine complain of dry mouth, complete lack of appetite, change in taste sensitivity, and constipation. Other side effects include traditional allergic reactions, headaches, and a transient increase in the amount of 'liver enzymes' (transaminases) in the blood.

According to reviews and publications in medical journals, sibutramine works great 'over short distances' from a month to three, then it gets used to it and the weight loss slows down.

It is not recommended to take the medicine for more than a year in a row; the safety of such long-term use is simply not studied by anyone.

You need to start with a dose of 10 mg 1 time per day, if within a month it was not possible to lose 5% of the initial body weight, it is recommended to switch to a dosage of 15 mg, if it turns out to be ineffective, further experiments should be stopped.

Sibutramine is categorically not suitable for people suffering from 'binges' – attacks of uncontrolled overeating, when a person wakes up at an empty refrigerator with a heaviness in his stomach and confusion: why, in fact, did he eat all this? Such situations are not as rare as ordinary people believe, and require work with a psychologist. Controlling appetite for people who eat not because they are hungry, but because of stress, is useless.

The list of contraindications to the use of the drug is quite long:

1. age up to 18 years;
2. pregnancy and breastfeeding;
3. obesity is caused not by overeating, but by illness (hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome, Itsenko-Cushing's syndrome, and others);
4. IHD, arrhythmias, heart failure at any stage;
5. Blood pressure above 145/90;
6. thyrotoxicosis;
7. pheochromocytoma;
8. angle-closure glaucoma;
9. benign prostatic hyperplasia;
10. renal or hepatic impairment;
11. alcohol, drug or drug addiction.

Sibutramine should not be taken with antidepressants, other diet pills, or tryptophan-based sleep aids.

Advantages

• reduces excessive appetite,
• helps to reduce weight,
• increases activity.

disadvantages

• gives a load on blood vessels and heart.

Orlistat

Rating: 4.8

Trade names: Orliksen, Xsenalten, Listata, Xenical, Orlimax.

While sibutramine acts on the brain, 'turning off' interest in food and the pleasure of absorbing it, then orlistat works at the intestinal level, blocking enzymes that break down fats. Large fat molecules are unable to pass through the intestinal wall and leave the body along with other undigested food debris. Since fat is the most high-calorie part of the diet, the amount of digested calories is reduced and a person loses weight without restricting himself in favorite foods.

This is the theory. In practice, those who take orlistat have to control the contents of the plate in the most rigid way. Because undigested fats irritate the intestinal wall. And as soon as their number in the dish exceeds a certain minimum, for each his own, the intestines begin to contract uncontrollably, which forces, pardon the naturalism, to run to the toilet. Naturally, such awkward situations force you to limit fat in food, which means that those who claim that taking orlistat can not change their eating habits are at least dissembling.

By the way, this effect must be borne in mind by women taking contraceptives – due to the fact that the intestines are emptied faster, hormones do not have time to be absorbed completely, which reduces the effectiveness of the drug.

On the other hand, orlistat, perhaps, can be advised for people suffering from eating disorders, since the absorption of fat is really reduced and a person will receive less calories during overeating. True, the thrill will also be guaranteed.

It is with the irritation of the intestines by undigested fats that most of the side effects that occur when taking orlistat are caused:

1. discharge of gases, often with a certain amount of intestinal contents;
2. sudden strong urge to defecate;
3. loose stools;
4. abdominal pain.

Other undesirable phenomena include allergic reactions and problems associated with a decrease in the effectiveness of drugs that a person takes constantly (antihypertensive drugs, contraceptives, antiepileptic drugs, and so on).

On the positive side, it should be noted that the pills not only help to reduce weight, but also normalize the content of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. In addition, poisoning with them – that is, creating too high a dosage in the body – is almost impossible: the active substance is not absorbed inside, remaining in the intestinal lumen. Therefore, orlistat has a minimum of contraindications:

1. maladsorption syndrome (impaired absorption in the intestines of a particular food component);
2. cholestasis;
3. pregnancy, lactation, childhood – in these categories of people, no one tested the safety of the medicine.

Orlistat should not be taken concurrently with warfarin and other drugs that change blood clotting, or concurrently with cyclosporine.

You need to take these diet pills three times a day with meals. If in three months the weight has decreased by no more than 5% of the original, further use of the drug should be discontinued. The duration of the course is not limited by instructions. but it should be borne in mind that along with fats, the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, K, which are vital for the body, is blocked.

Advantages

• few contraindications,
• normalizes blood lipid composition,
• makes you follow a diet.

disadvantages

• extremely uncomfortable side effects.

Metformin

Rating: 4.7

Trade names: Glucophage, Siofor, Glyformin.

These pills were originally developed not for weight loss, but to correct blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetics. But after several years of sales, it turned out that they contribute to active weight loss – and the drug began to be used, among other things, to fight overweight. And, despite the fact that weight reduction is not formally indicated in the instructions for the use of metformin, among the indications for use there is a BMI> 35, that is, obesity, in which the risk of diabetes mellitus increases sharply.

The main action of metformin is to restore the body's sensitivity to insulin. It is the insensitivity of cells to this hormone, which lowers blood glucose levels, that causes type 2 diabetes.

The medicine acts in several directions, and we will not give all the mechanisms of its effect on the body, limiting ourselves only to those that are important in the context of losing excess weight. It:

1. a decrease in the activity of absorption of carbohydrates in the intestine;
2. transformation of glucose into lactic acid in the intestinal lumen;
3. activation of an enzyme called adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase, which decreases hepatic glucose synthesis and activates fatty acid oxidation.

Translated from medical language into an understandable one, metformin not only reduces the intake of glucose from food, which indirectly reduces the amount of calories received, but also helps the body break down its own fat, using primarily fat reserves as a source of energy, and not glucose, the production of which in the liver decreases under the action of the medicine.

Metformin will be useful not only for those who already have a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, but primarily for people whose blood sugar levels are still within normal limits, but insulin sensitivity has already been impaired and the level of this hormone in the body begins to rise steadily. This condition is called prediabetes.

To find it, you need to donate blood for analysis, including the calculation of the CARO and HOMA-IR indices. Without going into too much detail, let's say that these indices are based on measuring the ratio between the amount of insulin in the blood and the level of fasting glucose. To find out if this test is needed, divide your waist circumference by your hip circumference. If the value is more than 0.85 for women or 0.9 for men, the risk of metabolic syndrome is high, which, among other symptoms, is also manifested by a violation of the body's insulin sensitivity.

There are other indications for metformin besides prediabetes:

1. BMI> 35;
2. type 2 diabetes mellitus in blood relatives;
3. postponed diabetes of pregnant women;
4. increased blood triglyceride levels;
5. arterial hypertension.

To take metformin as pills for weight loss, you need to take 850 mg, first 1 time a day, after 10 days – 2 times a day. The drug does not cause an excessive decrease in blood sugar levels, but with a gradual increase in dosage, there is less chance of side effects from the gastrointestinal tract, such as nausea, a sharp decrease in appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea.

Among other undesirable phenomena are taste disturbances, allergic skin rashes. Lactic acidosis is extremely rare – acidification of the body with lactic acid, which is manifested by symptoms such as weakness, muscle pain, drowsiness. In this case, you must immediately stop taking the medication and consult a doctor. To prevent such a condition, metformin cannot be combined with extremely strict diets – the daily calorie content should be at least 1000 kcal. The likelihood of developing lactic acidosis in case of alcohol poisoning while taking metformin also increases, so it is strictly not recommended to abuse alcohol.

The remedy is contraindicated in severe renal, hepatic and cardiovascular insufficiency. Not recommended for pregnant women, as safety for the fetus has not been established. Do not take metformin 2 days before and 2 days after X-ray contrast studies using iodine preparations.

With prolonged use of metformin, the absorption of vitamin B12 decreases, therefore it is recommended to periodically use multivitamin preparations.

Advantages

• prevents the development of type 2 diabetes as a complication of obesity.

disadvantages

• side effects from the gastrointestinal tract.
• the possibility of hypovitaminosis B12.

The best dietary supplements for weight loss

With all the advantages of weight loss drugs, they have one serious drawback: prescription. What in practice means a variety of contraindications and the need to carefully monitor the state of the body in order to notice side effects in time. In this regard, biologically active additives are many times safer.

On the other hand, in order to register, produce and sell dietary supplements, one only needs to prove that the substances in it do not harm health. There is no need to prove the benefits and effectiveness. Of course, when creating formulas, pharmacologists usually focus on the results of a certain number of studies, but they are not obliged to conduct clinical trials of the finished product. Therefore, when choosing diet pills from among dietary supplements, you often have to go through trial and error.

In addition, unlike drugs, dietary supplements for weight loss 'by themselves' are often ineffective. They accelerate weight loss during dieting or increase fat burning during exercise, or help avoid 'unhealthy' foods. But just taking diet pills, keeping your usual lifestyle, and really losing weight will not work.

Offering to your attention a rating of the best OTC diet pills, we focused primarily on the active ingredients and their effect on the body. The funds listed in this section can be bought both in regular pharmacies and on foreign Internet sites.

Chromium picolinate

Rating: 4.5

Trade names: Turboslim chromium picolinate Evalar, Sоlgar Chromium Picolinate, Nature's Way, Chromium Picolinate.

Chromium is involved in the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates, stimulates insulin receptors, a deficiency of this trace element provokes the onset of insulin resistance. Chromium picolinate can help reduce sugar cravings, so it is best for those trying to get rid of sugar addiction. Especially well, judging by the reviews, it reduces the 'evening jams'. True, to achieve this effect, you need to take pills for at least a month.

Some studies have shown that chromium picolinate can help lower blood sugar and reduce symptoms of depression – it's no secret that this condition is often accompanied by overeating and weight gain. But these data require further study.

Advantages

• reduces cravings for sweets.

disadvantages

• the effect appears not earlier than after a month of use.

Garcinia cambogia

Rating: 4.4

Brand Names: Garcinia Forte Evalar, Evalar Tropicana Slim Garcinia Chewable Tablets, Now Foods Garcinia 1000 mg, Natrol, Garcinia Cambogia 1000 mg.

Natural plant extract that prevents lipogenesis – the deposition of fat in cells. Promotes fat oxidation. Reduces hunger.

Against the background of a low-carb diet, it can provoke a sharp decrease in blood glucose levels, so you should not combine the intake of garcinia with a 'non-carbohydrate' one. Hypoglycemia is manifested by dizziness, general weakness, chills, aggressiveness. In this case, it is better to immediately drink sweet tea or eat candy.

As with most other over-the-counter diet pills, the effect is not noticeable until a month after you start taking it.

Several years ago, it was reported that garcinia can contribute to liver damage. But since this side effect was found in a complex remedy containing, in addition to garcinia, other substances, there is still no final opinion on this problem. In any case, it is not recommended to use garcinia preparations for liver pathologies.

Advantages

• slows down the deposition of fat in the body,
• stimulates immunity.

disadvantages

• possibly causing liver damage.

Alpha lipoic acid

Rating: 4.3

Trade names: thioctic acid, Thioctacid, Berlition, Lipoic acid Evalar, Doctor's Best, Alpha-Lipoic Acid.

In Russia, it is sold both as a medicine (Thioctacid, Berlition) and as a dietary supplement (Evalar).

Originally developed for people with type 2 diabetes, to protect nerve cells and blood vessels from the toxic effects of excess glucose in the blood. In addition, it has a pronounced hepatoprotective effect – that is, it protects liver cells. As a weight loss agent, alpha lipoic acid is only effective if physically active – in this case, it activates the breakdown of fat and its use as the main source of energy. So lying on the couch and losing weight with these pills will not work, although information periodically appears that alpha-lipoic acid reduces appetite and cravings for sweets by normalizing glucose metabolism.

Advantages

• protects liver cells from harmful effects.

disadvantages

• works as a fat burner only during exercise.

L-carnitine

Rating: 4.2

Rating: 4.2.

Trade names: Elkar, L-Carnitine Evalar, Now Foods L-Carnitine.

It is well known among bodybuilders for helping to cope with strenuous physical activity and by increasing the training volume, it helps to better 'grow' muscles. But, besides this, it also speeds up fat burning, helping to transport fats into the mitochondria – the 'energy stations' of cells.

Like alpha lipoic acid, L-carnitine only works effectively for weight loss when combined with physical activity.

Advantages

• stimulates muscle growth,
• protects myocardial cells from hypoxia.

disadvantages

• works only in combination with physical activity.

Diet pills vs slimming teas

The attentive reader must have noticed that our rating is called the '7 best diet pills', which certainly excludes the 'slimming' teas popular with many girls. And there is a reason for that.

After examining the composition of the most popular slimming teas, we found senna or other herbs with a strong laxative effect and herbs with a diuretic effect. Using such means, it is impossible to lose weight: weight loss is only due to the contents of the intestines and the accompanying dehydration. If speaking about diet pills, we can talk about the ratio of benefits and harms, then in the case of teas, we are not talking about any benefits: constant stimulation of the intestines leads to the fact that it stops working independently, and diuretic herbs increase the load on the kidneys, while prolonged dehydration and can even provoke renal failure. With constant loss of water through the intestines and kidneys, electrolytes, especially potassium, are excreted from organisms, a lack of which can cause night cramps and arrhythmias.

Moreover, all these risks are completely meaningless: literally a few days after the end of the tea intake, the body restores the water balance and, pardon the rudeness, the amount of poop in the intestines, after which the arrow of the scales safely returns to its original values.

Many people think that teas are safer than pills due to the fact that the herbs are completely natural. We would venture to remind you that poisonous plants or mushrooms are also completely natural remedies. We described the side effects arising from the abuse of slimming teas above.

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Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.