Article: Obesity poses health risks, but so does popping diet pills for a quick fix

Popping over-the-counter diet pills to get trim seems easier than watching what you eat and exercising, but Joe Newman says that the easy solution isn't worth the risk.

Looking to lose a few quick pounds this fall himself, he started taking an over-the-counter diet supplement.

"I saw them advertised on television, so I figured they would be my best bet," he says. "I took the recommended dosage that it said - one tablet after each meal - and thought everything would be fine."

But three days later he was experiencing nausea, headaches, dizziness and severe chest pains. On Oct. 10, just 10 days after starting the pills, he rushed to the hospital with what was later diagnosed as angina and a ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!