My personal and professional opinion about fat burning pills is that they should be avoided, for a number of reasons - the first one being safety. There are ingredients in these pills that can have adverse health effects, and this has been the case for a number of individuals in the past. In particular, ephedrine and mahuang (a naturally occurring ephedrine) can cause increased heart rate, blood pressure and cause people to be “jumpy” and “on edge”. The first of these two side effects can be particularly dangerous during exercise and also for individuals with heart disease, especially if it is undiagnosed. Although ephedrine is also found in other over the counter medications such as decongestants, these drugs are highly regulated and contain a safe, specified amount of that ingredient. The fat burning pills are not under the same guidelines and regulations, so even if they claim to contain a safe amount of ephedrine, you cannot be certain of the exact amount that you are getting.
Another concern with fat burning pills is the lack of research surrounding them and the lack of prescription required to obtain them. Because of the lack of research, not only do we not know if they are safe, but there is also no solid evidence that they will even work. Furthermore, because you are not obtaining them through your doctor and they are unregulated, the ingredients in these pills may interact with and adversely affect any other medications you are taking. If you experience any negative side effects, your doctor has little information to guide you, because these drugs have not been sufficiently investigated.
If you really want to lose weight, there are healthy, safe options available, namely exercise and a reduced-calorie, nutritious diet. They may not be as simple as taking a pill, but the benefits will be much farther reaching - you will look and feel better, sleep better, and reduce your risk for numerous chronic diseases.