Do diet pills work?

There is very little evidence that over-the-counter diet pills that you can buy at health food shops will help you lose weight. Occasionally, research evidence is quoted for over-the-counter diet pills, but this is usually from a one-off small study that hasn't been repeated. Many over-the-counter diet pills give you very little information about the ingredients and how they are supposed to work. They can also be expensive.

Over-the-counter pills often come with recommendations that you follow a calorie-controlled diet and take more exercise, so a change in lifestyle will help you to lose weight with or without the pills.

Weight loss pills that claim you will lose a lot of weight very quickly, while eating normally, won't work as this isn't possible. If they recommend cutting out certain foods, this may help you lose weight but you probably won't be following a safe balanced diet.

It's possible that some diet pills could be harmful if you have a medical condition or you are on certain medication. For example, they may interfere with prescribed medication for an under-active thyroid if the slimming pill contains a thyroid -stimulating ingredient. To lose weight safely and sensibly, you need to change your eating habits and do exercise.