Weight loss pills are a multi-million dollar business around the world. Every year, people around the world spend more than 50 billion dollars on weight loss products that are supposed to help them lose weight. The causes are multiple, from aesthetic reasons, and the progressive world focuses on the type of skinny model as beautiful, to the health problems that overweight people often face.

Current lifestyle trends have begun to focus on healthier lifestyles that are more natural, with an emphasis on nutrition and exercise, natural cosmetics, and alternative medicines. People are paying more attention to fitness and physical appearance in general. In this environment, weight reduction methods are some of the most popular items today.

Overweight people often end up paying a high price in health. Excess weight and obesity are major contributing factors to a number of serious health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, type 1 and 2 diabetes, arthritis, asthma, certain cancers, and kidney failure. Obesity is also the second largest cause of preventable death each year in the US alone. Obesity-related health problems cost the nation about $100 billion in health care costs, as well as millions in lost working days.

Weight loss pills do a huge business, unsurprisingly, and many of them contain harmful and banned substances, although many are also made from other natural extracts or Hoodia.

These are often used to help people lose weight, suppress appetite, increase energy, and improve physical endurance. Weight-loss products containing harmful substances have been the subject of controversy for some time and appear to be the cause, or contributing factor, in hundreds of deaths. In addition, thousands of people have had serious adverse reactions to weight loss pills containing these substances.

The AMA (American Medical Association) recommended banning harmful chemicals, because the perceived benefits of such pills are far outweighed by the increased risks of heart attack, stroke, and even death.

There are other options, alternatives, like Hoodia or Hoodia Gordonii for example. This is a cactus-like flowering plant from southern Africa that is increasingly used as an appetite suppressant and anti-obesity drug to make weight-loss pills and other products. The active ingredient in Hoodia Gordonii works as a natural appetite suppressant, with no known side effects so far.

However, one must be careful while choosing or using weight loss pills.

• Remember that no pill can claim to be a permanent cure.
• No pill can promise immediate, effortless, or guaranteed results.
• Do not trust vague testimonials that cannot be verified.
• Before you buy weight loss pills, check with your doctor, a nutritionist, or a dietitian.

Caution is the best way to avoid the many scams out there today selling weight loss pills.