Archive

Posts Tagged ‘Phentermine’

Mar
19

By some standards, there is a disturbing social trend where people choose the easy way to achieve the desired results. At one end of the spectrum are the people who, when they disagree with the tax authorities, crash their light airplanes into the tax offices – there is no quicker and easier way to register your unhappiness. And then there are the rapidly increasing number of people who opt for bariatric surgery to lose weight. In fact, the number of operations performed in the US has doubled over the last six years. No more struggle to keep to a diet and exercising. Just a quick and easy operation to solve all your weight problems. So how safe is it? Well, such evidence as exists suggests the operation is a success in up to 44% of all cases. With just one surgical intervention, your body mass index (BMI) falls rapidly and there are no complications. But, in up to 56% of cases, the surgeons feel they have to recommend what is delicately called revisional surgery, usually because you have not lost enough weight, but also because some experience “complications” – another delicate term suggesting there is a chance of death unless the surgeon goes back inside to do repairs. And this is where the statistics get exciting. The death rate during or following revisional surgery used to be 50%. But, the death rate has been dropping as surgeons gain more experience and technology improves.

The latest research comes out of Greece. It confirms the drop in the death rate, but finds a continuing high rate in “complications” over an average of eight years following the second procedure. Surgery was performed on people with a BMI average of 47, which is high and may partly explain why complications were more common. For the record, the patients who repeated the operation because they had not lost enough weight dropped from an average BMI of 55 to an average of 35 – a drop of almost 70% in their excess weight. More generally, Greek surgeons keep almost everyone alive, but these people are still badly damaged. A recent report from the US claims that, following the gastric bypass procedure, only 10% of patients have revisional surgery, but it is admitted the percentages increase for the other types of surgery. Unlike Greece, there have been no research projects collecting evidence over longer periods of time. Literally, no-one knows the current rates of complications or death related to revisional surgery.

It is not the purpose of this article to suggest you should never have bariatric surgery. Some who have tried and failed to lose weight the conventional way should consider the option. But it is not unfair to point out that no-one dies from eating a healthy diet, supported by the use of phentermine hcl. There are no complications of bile leaking internally from the site of an operation. Yes, there may be some injuries if people begin too violent a program of physical exercise. With the help and supervision of therapists, this risk can be minimized. What can be said is that the death rate from people who eat sensible amounts and buy phentermine online is insignificant when compared to surgery. Given the international rates for revisional surgery (not contradicted by any US research), you might decide the risks of complications are just too great. With fifty years of proven effectiveness, phentermine hcl helps more people lose weight safely than surgery.

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mar
10

Wherever you look, you are guaranteed sight of an ad for a weight loss product or service. It can be a careful pitch from a local aerobics class or an over-the-top claim for a “natural” product that you can eat as much as you like and still lose weight. This evidences a sad truth. As millions of us grow steadily more overweight, there are thousands of companies and tens of thousands of products and services that target us. The intention is to exploit our fears and insecurities, and so extract the maximum amount of dollars from us. This business is worth billions every year and, truth be told, the first thing that gets lost in the marketing is the truth. Although the FDA has a specific department tasked with policing the advertizing of all weight-loss products, it has been consistently underfunded and is completely unable to stay on top of the flood of ads that compete for our attention. Similarly, the majority of states have “false claims” laws that allow action to be taken against any seller or service provider exaggerating the quality, effectiveness or value of their product or service. But states are often reluctant to interfere in the “free market” and leave it to individuals to claim they have been cheated by the companies.

As an example of the problems affecting all of us, let’s look at the activities of Basic Research and ThinCare International. These two linked companies are based in Utah but sell online to all US states. Their sales pitch is simple. If you take two pills before your main meal, you will lose weight no matter how much you eat. Better still, this is effortless weight loss and guaranteed even though you never stir from the couch. Instead of the conventional wisdom, “No pain, no gain!” (or should that be loss?), there’s no need to exercise. The pounds just drop off your body thanks to the chemical wizardry of these companies. What has made this ad campaign so successful has been the presence of Jillian Michaels as brand ambassador. Ms Michaels appears on the reality show, “The Biggest Loser”, as a personal trainer to the contestants as they sweat and groan their way towards cash and other prizes for losing weight. In this role, her reputation depends on a clear and consistent message. If you want to lose weight, you have to be disciplined in exercising and eating healthy food. For her to endorse an “effortless” product therefore looks less than completely honest.

It is significant that the two companies and the FDA are already engaged in court battles. The companies allege the FDA is wrong in rejecting their “scientific” evidence of effectiveness. To that litigation, you can now add false claims actions in California and Utah. Of course, you can take the cynical line that everyone knows ads always exaggerate the truth. Anyone who buys a product based on the marketing deserves to lose his or her money. Except there comes a point when the law has to step in and say, “Enough!” It seems this point has been reached with these products. It will be for Ms Michaels to defend her reputation. All of which bring us to phentermine hcl which has quietly been selling for decades as the best of the real drugs designed to support weight loss. It makes no exaggerated claims. Its effectiveness is supported by real scientific evidence. When you buy phentermine online, you are buying a successful product. Honest!

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mar
04

According to Sarah Palin, the European healthcare service operates like the Canadian cull of seals. On a regular basis, men armed with clubs go out among the unhealthy and older members of society, and put down those who no longer contribute to the strength of the group. Death panels decide who shall live and die. That means, by her standards, one of the leading panels is UK’s NICE – the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. This group of so-called experts draws up guidelines to be used by the medical profession. Whenever there is good research evidence that a particular treatment is effective, it is incorporated into the national practice standards. But if a given treatment or drug is not shown effective, the medical profession and hospitals are instructed not to use them. So, many of the procedures that are standard in the US are not allowed in the UK, and many of the drugs routinely prescribed in the US are either not available in the UK or only available if the patient pays privately. Despite this, people in the UK live longer and enjoy better health than Americans.

Anyway, NICE has just launched a consultation process to decide what advice to give pregnant women about weight loss. If you want to offer an opinion, you can do so during the next month through http://guidance.nice.org.uk/PHG/Wave18/3. NICE offers the opinion that women do not need to increase the amount they eat during the first six months of pregnancy. The idea that pregnant women are “eating for two” is a myth. The most needed is an extra 200 calories a day during the last three months. That said, it is always better for women not to get pregnant if they have a BMI of 30 or more. This is not to suggest there is a high risk to the fetus. But the evidence shows there are fewer complications during pregnancy if women lose weight before getting pregnant. In general, trying to lose weight during pregnancy is not advisable. Stability and consistency of behavior are more important. That means women who routinely exercise before pregnancy should continue. Finally, women should not be misled by celebrities who slim dramatically after giving birth. It is better to lose weight gradually. Even so, there is no evidence that the quantity or quality of milk is affected in women who do crash diet after giving birth. NICE simply suggests women do what feels right for them. If they are tired, they should rest. Hopefully, they are eating a healthy diet anyway. As long as they get back to their pre-pregnancy weight at some point, this will be good for their long-term health.

There have been no tests performed in the UK or the US to determine whether it is safe for women to take phentermine hcl during pregnancy. So applying the precautionary principle, it better if you do not take this drug during pregnancy unless your doctor has specifically approved it. What can be said with certainty is that the active chemicals do enter the mother’s milk and can have an adverse effect on nursing babies. Thus, if you do want to lose weight after giving birth, do not buy phentermine online and take it while breast-feeding. You should either wean the baby or find another drug that suppresses your appetite without endangering your child.

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,