Medical warning about unlicensed weight loss drugs

Dr.. Zuhair Al-Arabi: Must be taken under medical supervision
Dr.. Reda Al-Sheikh: Side Effects and Health Complications

Fear of the dangers of obesity and its damage to health and psychology has prompted many men and women to try “diet pills”, including magic shots, smart capsules or diet pills, in short, “the road to a healthy body”. Appetite suppressants, “magic shots” and other drugs displayed on the shelves of social networking sites began to “sell fantasies”, claiming that they can burn fat “effortlessly and without side effects”. Testimonials, practical experiences and vivid phrases are used to attract those who are looking for the “fitness dream”.
Al-Arab monitored a number of uncensored accounts and electronic advertisements in which agents held “before and after” banners promoting weight loss… The promises often had no scientific basis and were based on exaggerations or misleading propaganda.

Safe health care methods
In this context, clinical nutrition expert Dr. Zuhair Al-Arabi warned against being led into weight loss products by social media and internet advertisements, stressing the importance of adopting a safe and healthy approach for obese patients.
Dr. Al-Arabi noted that it is necessary to take any medication, pill or diet plan for weight loss under medical supervision and with a nutrition expert, especially since the vast majority of these medications have not been scientifically studied and properly researched to determine their results, true effects and side effects.
He stressed that slimming drugs are divided into three categories, including appetite suppressants that act on the central nervous system of the brain, some of which are licensed and sold in pharmacies, and their positive and negative effects are studied and researched. Scientifically proven, including those sold in advertisements and social networking sites, explain the large percentage of obesity in society, so most people turn to slimming clinics and centers as a quick way to lose weight, rather than following a specific healthy diet, which has made people increasingly frequent slimming centers and clinics in recent times and rely on modern equipment that can absorb most of the fat in the body, among which the equipment developed by the clinics include laser equipment, sonic wave equipment and slimming equipment. Equipment to tighten sagging, the treatment session may be 2 to 3 days a week, 50 minutes each time. This is because many men and women suffer from overweight and get rid of weight by dieting. Dieting makes them despair of the possibility of regaining their body in a healthier and healthier way, which prompts many people to look for all weight loss methods without caring about risks or side effects.

shortcut
Dr. Reda Al-Sheikh, director of the Clinical Nutrition Department at Al-Emadi Hospital, confirmed that many weight loss drugs circulated or offered through social networking sites and e-shops do not have licenses from the Qatari Ministry of Health or the World Health Organization, saying that people resort to these drugs in order to lose weight with minimal effort, noting that many studies and research on these drugs have proven that they cause a host of side effects and health complications, including high cholesterol and heart attacks.
He continued: “Hospitals and health centres are the right place to give nutritional advice, not social networks. The role of the specialist is to guide the patient to adopt a healthy eating pattern appropriate to his or her age, gender and physical activity… At the same time, diet pills are offered to “everyone” without taking individual differences into account.”

suggestion
Nutrition expert Tariq Al Saif has provided some advice drawn from practical experience and experience to ensure weight loss or weight control, including: follow an applicable realistic diet of no less than 1,200 calories a day, eat foods that are rich in nutrients and low in calories (for example, a glass of orange juice has about the same calories as a glass of soda, but oranges have many more nutrients than soda and may contain harmful substances), and eat light, small amounts of food in large quantities, because even with low-fat foods, you may gain weight if your intake exceeds the recommended limits in the food pyramid.
Al Saif pointed out that it is necessary to focus on vegetables, as they are low in calories and rich in nutrients, and whole grains such as wheat, instead of eating white bread, rice, freekeh or bulgur, as they are rich in dietary fiber and micronutrients such as vitamins and mineral elements, in addition to choosing low-calorie foods, fat: you can eat simple bran crackers instead of cream sandwich biscuits, reduce the intake of sweets, candies and nuts, eat salads at every meal, because it provides the body with essential nutrients and fiber, provided that no oil or mayonnaise is added, and drink more than 8 glasses of water a day. Finally, exercise for at least one hour a day, especially walking and swimming.

Study: 68% of women believe in the dangers of diet pills
A recent study showed that 68% of women feel anxious about taking diet pills and believe that these pills are harmful to their health. Even recognized diet pills, such as (Xenicle) and (Reductil), should be reserved for severely obese people who pose a risk to their health, and these pills must be taken under a doctor’s prescription. As for drugs that can be bought from pharmacies without a prescription, there are also some warnings, as they are usually expensive, are not guaranteed to be effective, and have many adverse side effects.
While pills available in the market contain ephedrine and ephedra, which are considered stimulant substances known as (happiness herbs), despite being legally authorized, they are very dangerous and have been shown to cause strokes, heart attacks, and may even lead to death. These substances are extracted from a Chinese herb (mahogany) and have a direct effect on the nervous system, causing high blood pressure, mood swings, insomnia, and colon problems. There are other weight loss pills that contain stimulants such as caffeine and guarana extracts, which can cause dizziness and increased heartbeat.

Preparations containing toxic substances
The country’s health department had previously warned against the use of the “Fat Burning Weight Loss Capsule” product, which was promoted on social media as one of the “miracle drugs” for burning fat and losing weight, because it turned out to contain “substances added to the product without announcement”, including “toxic chemical mercury, and other substances banned worldwide due to their harmful side effects that may cause death.”
This product, like others, claims that it works “by burning fat,” even though “there is no evidence that any substance or drug can burn fat,” and “the only way to burn fat is to follow a diet in which a person consumes fewer calories than the body needs, which forces the body to make up the shortfall by burning fat stores.”
It is worth noting that the above products are not registered in the State of Qatar and are not authorized for use. Some materials have been added to the products but have not been announced.