Phentermine Benefits & Uses

For many people, obesity seems like a hugely insurmountable problem. With the hectic pace of life and the tempting plethora of ready-to-eat food products available, it seems so much more practical, not to mention convenient, to grab a fast-food burger than go home to grill and assemble one from scratch. It is no wonder that the U.S. has the highest rate of obesity in the world with a whopping 74.6% of Americans hefting some serious excess adiposity.

Obesity is now recognized as a national health problem. The staggering rate of this phenomenon had prompted the glut of weight loss drugs and supplements, for which the market demand is increasing despite the seeming saturation of weight management products.

What Phentermine Can Do

Phentermine is a drug that has been designed to combat obesity. This is usually prescribed to people with at least a body mass index of 27 or higher. Phentermine works as an appetite suppressant as it tricks the body into a longer satiety time, thereby reducing cravings and the frequency of eating.

Because it is a drug, Phentermine can only be prescribed for a short period in which the dieter is helped to increase pound loss at a faster rate than that which can be expected from simply adhering to a healthy diet and exercise. In other words, this drug just takes the rate of weight loss up a notch when combined with a low calorie diet and substantial exercise. But it can’t be taken for long because Phentermine is habit-forming, being chemically similar to amphetamines.

When used correctly, Phentermine can help you make that difficult lifestyle change of healthy eating and habitual exercise. This should only be used as a kicker to start you well on your way to becoming a healthy individual, maintaining a sound, normal weight.

What Phentermine Can Not Do

Phentermine cannot make you lose adequate weight without the help of diet and exercise. There simply are no shortcuts to losing pounds and keeping your weight down without determined physical and mental effort on your part. By themselves, pills or equipment cannot rid you of excess fat. These are merely the boosters or added assistance. The basic tenets of weight loss, diet and exercise, are still the proverbial keys to achieving the body you want.

The FDA and Phentermine

Because some Phentermine brands have been linked to serious side effects, the drug has had a close encounter with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Phentermine has not been banned in the U.S. per se, but some particular brands have been pulled off the shelves for mixing other drugs with Phentermine. One such brand was known as Phen-Fen, which was formulated with Phentermine and Fenfluramine, the combination of which led to the development of cardiac valvular disease in a number of reported cases.

Although Phentermine is still under the watchful eye of the F.D.A., it has not been ruled to be a serious health risk unless its ingestion is abused. If your doctor’s prescription is followed, you may not have to worry about serious side effects, although you cannot totally rule out having to contend with some bothersome ones.

In any case, if your doctor feels you need this medication, you may want to give his advice some consideration. The damage excess poundage can do to your body may be more of an overriding concern for him rather than a few minor side effects Phentermine can bring you. In this case, the benefits of Phentermine may far outweigh the possible risks it poses.