Almost everyone who has ever tried to lose weight has tried weight loss drugs at some point. Some have worked, and some have ended up being proven very dangerous. Some that have been around for years can be purchased over the counter and claim that if you take them every day, theyll suppress your appetite, youll eat less and youll lose weight. Newer over-the-counter weight loss drugs are designed to help you while youre eating less, and can have embarrassing and uncomfortable consequences if you stray from your eating plan while taking them.

These over-the-counter pills are technically weight loss drugs, even though you dont have to get a doctors approval before you purchase them. Just that they can be purchased in any store without a prescription should lead you to doubt how truly effective they are. Read the enclosed information very carefully on any weight loss aids you purchase, and one thing becomes pretty clear. The pill you have to take seems to do very little, because while youre instructed to take the pills (or pills) youre also told that weight loss will happen best if you follow a diet plan at the same time.

So are the weight loss drugs responsible for any weight you lose while taking them, or is the diet plan you follow whats letting you drop the pounds? While some of the pills really can suppress your appetite and make it easier for you to eat less food, its the diet plan you follow while on the pills that is actually responsible for any weight you lose. But people still associate the act of taking the pills with the lost weight, so they believe these things make a huge difference.

Other types of weight loss drugs require a prescription and careful monitoring by your doctor. The pills dont claim to burn the fat off you or rip away the pounds; theyre designed to help you eat less by making you less hungry. If you really cant follow a diet plan because you cant stop yourself from eating more than your plan calls for, then prescription appetite suppressants could help you greatly. But you should understand that theres always a risk of side effects when you take any drug.

Weight loss drugs havent always been a good thing, either, with some flooding the market only to be recalled a few months later because it turned out they were dangerous. People have died taking both over-the-counter and prescription weight loss medications, so you have to decide for yourself whether getting some help feeling less hungry is that important for your weight loss efforts, and whether its worth any potential risks to your health.

Herbal remedies are drugs, too, so carefully examine the claims that any herb or supplement can help you lose weight with no side effects. Just because an herb is natural, doesnt mean its safe or effective. Talk to your doctor about weight loss drugs, and then carefully decide whether or not theyre right for you.

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Learning Healthy Habits From Our Children
Michelle May M.D.

There are many important things that we need to teach children as they growbut they have many natural behaviors that we shouldnt try to change. In fact, we could learn a few things from kids! Here are some important lessons:

Eat when you are hungry. From the time they are born, babies know when and how much they need to eatand they cry to let us know too! As they grow, this important instinct can be un-learned. By the time they are adults, they may have learned to eat for many other reasons besides hungermealtimes, tempting food, stress, anger, boredom, and countless other triggers. By recognizing the difference between needing to eat and wanting to eat, adults can re-learn when and how much to eat too.

Stop eating when you are full. An infant will turn their head away when they have had enough to eat, and a toddler will throw a plate of food on the floor when they are done. But as adults, we clean our plates because there are starving children somewhereor just because something tastes good. I am not suggesting that we start throwing our plates on the floor again, but we need to remember that food is abundant in our society so there is no need to eat it all now.

Being hungry makes you grouchy. Being hungry, tired, or frustrated make childrenand adultscrabby! Starving yourself because you are too busy to eat or because you are trying to lose weight usually backfires.

Snacks are good. Kids naturally prefer to eat smaller meals with snacks in between whenever they get hungry. That pattern of eating keeps their energy level and metabolism stoked all day. Adults who need to fire up their metabolism should try this too.

Play with your food. Most kids love to examine, smell, and touch their food. Since eating is a total sensory experience, they get the most from every morsel. This childlike approach will help you eat less food while enjoying it more. Youll appreciate the aroma, appearance, and flavors more if you arent driving, watching T.V., or standing in the kitchen!

All foods fit. Children are born with a natural preference for sweet and higher fat flavors. Though parents sometimes worry, these fun foods can be part of a healthy diet. In fact, overly restrictive food rules usually lead to rebellious eating anywayjust think about the last time you werent allowed to eat something on a diet! Children and adults both eat healthier when they learn to enjoy these less nutritious foods in moderation.

Be a picky eater. Kids wont easily eat something they dont like. Think of how much less food you would eat if you didnt settle for food that tasted so-so.

You can learn to like new foods. Healthy eating is an acquired taste. Good nutrition is essential, so providing a variety of appealing, healthful foods will benefit the whole family. In our house, we have a two-bite rule. Everyone tastes two bites of everything; if they still dont like it, they dont have to eat itbut they have to try it again the next time we have it. Since that is The Rule, there are no battles at the table and the kids often surprise themselves by liking something they thought they wouldnt. (And we never say I told you so!)

Follow the leader. Face it, kids watch, and often imitate, everything we do. If they observe us eating a variety of healthful foods and exercising regularly, then they will learn to take good care of their bodies. Likewise, if they dont hear us making comments like I am so fat and she looks fat then they are less likely to suffer from poor self-esteem and a judgmental attitude.

There is more to a party than cake and ice cream! Invite a child to a party and theyll want to know what they are going to get to do. Invite an adult and theyll wonder what food will be served. You dont have to avoid parties to keep your weight down; just focus on the real purpose of social eventsto be social!

Eating with your family is fun. Since babies and toddlers must be fed by their parents, they naturally love eating with other people. Family mealtime is your opportunity to model good habits and connect with each other. Now that our kids are older, we sometimes play High-Low at dinner. Each member of the family takes a turn telling the others about the best and worst parts of their day. What a door opener!

Its boring to just sit around! Toddlers seem to be in perpetual motion as they explore their world. Young kids love to run in the grass, play on the playground, and challenge themselves and each other to increasingly more difficult activities. Of course, as they get older, television, computers, and electronic games compete for their attention. In our family, to encourage other activities, we use screen time which limits how much time our children are allowed to spend on anything with a screen. Sometimes adults would benefit by limiting their screen time and exploring their world a little more!

Sleep is good. After a full day, children need a good nights sleep to prepare for all of the adventures that tomorrow will hold. Wouldnt we all benefit from a consistent bedtime to make sure we get our rest too?

Live in the moment. Kids are masters at living in the present. They dont waste a lot of energy worrying about what has already happened or what might happen tomorrow. They are fully engaged in small pursuits like discovering where the ants are going, chasing the dog, or seeing how deep they can dig with a plastic shovel. We, on the other hand, continue to scurry around, chasing after our dreams, and all the while, digging ourselves deeper and deeper. We could learn a lot from children!

About the Author

Michelle May, M.D. is a practicing Board Certified Family Physician with expertise in the cognitive-behavioral aspects of weight management. She is the author of Am I Hungry? What To Do When Diets Dont Work in collaboration with a Registered Dietitian and Psychologist. Visit her website http://www.AmIHungry.com for more ideas on managing weight without dieting.

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