There are quite a few factors that have contributed to this, like the rise in the number of fast foods joints that contain a lot of saturated fat in the meals, refined sugar in sodas and other processed foods, eating food with less fiber, genetics, overeating, and as people age, slow metabolism.
Since losing weight takes time and most people don't want to wait to get rid of it, these people have tried to take the fastest way out which is using weight loss tablets.
In the 1950s until the late 90s, doctors prescribed drugs for weight loss. The drug works by increasing the serotonin levels in your brain that makes the brain think that the stomach is already full and thus, it increases the person's metabolic rate.
It was only after scientists discovered that these drugs had side effects and caused heart valve disease that these were taken off the market.
Later on, modifications were made and new drugs were developed and prescribed by doctors and many of which are currently waiting for FDA approval.
The idea that a simple little pill can change everything, even without the need to change ones diet or sacrificing anything is very tempting since people have seen friends and family members use it and have shown improvement.
This has made a bunch of people spend millions of dollars every year to also try to experience this miracle and has given drug companies a lot of cash making and selling the drug.
Diet pills can be bought either over-the-counter or be prescribed by a doctor. Even with the advances in medical technology, these drugs still pose a health risk to the public. Problems in patients can be unpleasant, like diarrhea and vomiting, harmful such as tightness in the chest and in the urinary tract, and even fatal, such as a heart attack or a stroke.
An overdose in using weight loss tablets can cause tremors, renal failure, heart attacks, confusion, hallucinations, shallow breathing, and convulsions.
The side effects vary depending on the lifestyle and health of the person and they can be minimized as long as one consults the doctor and follows the prescribed dosage when they use it.
Should one choose to stop using the drugs, studies have shown that a person will experience withdrawal symptoms and side effects. These include insomnia and nightmares, severe irritability, noticeable mood swings, extreme fatigue, depression, nausea, hyper-activity, and pain in the stomach, vomiting and trembling.
A lot of clinical tests have shown that taking these weight loss tablets really work. But this can only work if it's done with a low calorie diet and an exercise plan.
A person can jog every morning or workout in a gym. Just like taking any medicine, you should first consult your doctor before undergoing any form of exercise.
The best exercise plan needs to have cardiovascular and weight training exercises. This helps burn calories and increase the muscle to fat ratio that will increase your metabolism and lose weight.
It is up to the person already to stick to the program to see that it works.