The UK diet industry is seriously big business, with millions looking for the newest and most effective ways to keep their weight off. While healthcare providers remain steadfast in their message that regular exercise and a healthy diet are the safest and most effective ways to lose weight, many people still look to so-called “diet pills” as a shortcut to the perfect body or a solution to genuine health concerns.
The history of these often self-proclaiming miracle cures goes back centuries and has seen serious drugs like amphetamines and barbiturates given out to determined dieters with little knowledge of the risks. These days, we are more informed about the dangers of substances like these and yet the diet pill market is still booming. Unfortunately, many of the new generation of diet pills have limited levels of efficacy, and more seriously, their use can lead to serious health issues, including addiction.
Diet pills are medications that are used as aids to help people lose weight. While they were prescribed arguably too freely in previous years, there has been a steady decline in their official availability in the United Kingdom since the 1980s. There are currently only three types of diet pills that are licensed for prescription in the United Kingdom: Orlistat, Saxenda and Wegovy. These medications are only offered in extreme cases, usually where the individual has a comorbid disease such as diabetes or high blood pressure, and only under strict medical supervision.
Despite this, there are many medications that claim to help with weight loss available online, in health stores and through illegal means. These include laxatives, powerful stimulants like amphetamines and methamphetamines and various other pills with varying degrees of evidence to support their claims. Some of these include:
- Lorcaserin
- Sibutramine
- Rimonabant
- Mazindol
- Metformin
- Benzphetamine (Didrex)
- Diethylpropion
- Amylin/pramlintide
- Phentermine/topiramate
- Exenatide/liraglutide/semaglutide
- Bupropion/naltrexone
Call our admissions line 24 hours a day to get help.
How do diet pills work?
Diet pills work through different mechanisms, depending on their active ingredients. Some common mechanisms with widely varying levels of effectiveness include:
The potential for diet pill addiction
The risk of addiction to diet pills is a significant concern, particularly with products containing stimulants or appetite suppressants. This potential for addiction stems from both the physiological and psychological effects these pills can have on an individual. Some key stages and factors in the development of diet pill addiction include:
Tolerance
Over time, the body can develop a tolerance to diet pills, especially those with stimulant properties. This means that higher doses are needed to achieve the same effects, which increases the risk of addiction and the likelihood of experiencing harmful side effects.
Physical dependence
Diet pills, especially those containing stimulants like amphetamines or caffeine, can quickly lead to physical dependence. These substances trigger the release of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, such as dopamine, which creates a feeling of pleasure or reward. With continued use, the body may become accustomed to these elevated levels of neurotransmitters, leading to dependence. When the use of the pills is stopped, withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue, depression and weight gain can occur, prompting continued use to avoid these negative effects.
Psychological dependence
The desire for rapid weight loss and the perceived ease of achieving it through diet pills can also create a psychological reliance. This is particularly true in a society that emphasises physical appearance, where immediate results have become expected. The quick-acting effects of diet pills can be reinforcing, leading to a cycle where the user becomes mentally dependent on the medication to feel in control of their weight and, by extension, their self-esteem and body image.
Unknown contents
The risk of addiction is particularly high with diet pills obtained without a prescription, whether online or from other unregulated sources. These pills often lack accurate labelling and can contain unpredictable amounts of potent substances. Without medical supervision, users can easily consume these pills in dangerous quantities, increasing the risk of addiction and serious health consequences.
Vulnerability factors
Certain individuals may be more susceptible to diet pill addiction, including those with a history of substance abuse, trauma, eating disorders or certain mental health conditions. The prevalence of social media, particularly in young people’s lives, can also cause immense pressure to appear physically attractive, with diet pills promising an easy solution.
Why Some Diet Pills Have the Potential to Be Addictive
Arguably, diet pills can cause a physical or a process addiction depending on the active ingredient in the drug, the previous medical history of the individual using the drug and the quantity used. The process of taking a pill and it inducing the desire of weight loss is enough for a person to develop a dependence on the substance. If the diet pill acts on neurotransmitters in the brain, this can exacerbate the body’s habit response to the drug.
Diet pills that have a similar stimulant effect in the body to amphetamines can cause a feeling of euphoria when taken in higher doses. This feeling can lead to abuse, more regularly seen in young people or those with a previous history of substance abuse. Likewise, diet pills that cause serotonin or dopamine release can result in a depletion of these neurotransmitters that leads to the individual requiring more of the substance to achieve the desired effects. (16)
It is generally accepted that individuals who are suffering from an eating disorder are more prone to diet pill addiction. The neurological issues associated with eating disorders can distort the judgment of the drug user into believing that their behaviour is healthy and constructive. Diet pills are mostly used concurrently with other dangerous methods of weight control such as laxative use, vomiting and other forms of purging. (17)
How long does it take to become addicted to diet pills?
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permits the use of most diet pills that affect neurotransmitters for short-term use only. (18) In the UK, none of these types of drugs are licensed for medical use. However, across both sides of the Atlantic, companies are selling diet pills as weight-loss supplements that can bypass the regulations set by the FDA in America and NICE in the United Kingdom.
In the UK, it is thought that even short-term use carries a risk of dependence and abuse. Certain genetic and environmental factors can predispose people to forming addictions. These risk factors are key components in the general reluctance to use supplements or drugs to manage weight loss.
The dangers of diet pill abuse
Who Is Prone to Diet Pill Dependence?
There have been a host of unpleasant and harmful side effects with pretty much every type of diet pill available. For example, Orlistat, which is legal in the UK, can cause highly embarrassing gastrointestinal symptoms. Amphetamine-like diet pills that increase metabolism can cause heart problems, lead to addiction and cause side effects such as palpitations, anxiety and depression.
Call our admissions line 24 hours a day to get help.
Perhaps the most threatening aspect of diet pill abuse is the lack of research available on the long-term impact of many supplements that are currently on the market. The reality is that many diet pills, particularly those available online or through unlicensed sources, have not undergone rigorous testing for safety or efficacy. Many of these products lack transparency regarding their ingredients, and some may contain harmful substances that are not listed on the label.
The use of unregulated diet pills can lead to a range of serious health issues. These can include organ damage, particularly to the liver and kidneys, as these organs are responsible for detoxifying and eliminating foreign substances from the body. Other physical health dangers include but are not limited to:
- Cardiovascular Issues
- Gastrointestinal Problems
- Electrolyte Imbalances
- Malnutrition
- Weakened immune system
- Hormonal Imbalances
- Reproductive issues
The misuse of diet pills can also exacerbate or lead to mental health issues. The stimulant properties of certain diet pills can increase the risk of anxiety and insomnia and even lead to more severe conditions such as psychosis or severe depression. The psychological dependency that can develop with the abuse of these pills, particularly those with addictive substances, poses a significant risk to mental well-being.
Another danger is the interaction of diet pills with other substances. Unregulated supplements may have adverse interactions with prescription medications, alcohol and various illicit drugs, leading to dangerous side effects or diminished effectiveness of the prescription drugs.
Diet pills and eating disorders
The relationship between diet pills and eating disorders is complex and deeply intertwined. Diet pills can both exacerbate existing eating disorders and potentially contribute to the development of new ones. This connection is rooted in the psychological and physical impacts of these pills, as well as the vulnerable populations they often attract.
Exacerbation of existing eating disorders
Individuals with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or binge-eating disorder may turn to diet pills as a means to control or reduce their weight. This is extremely dangerous as the use of diet pills can drastically worsen the symptoms of these disorders.
Contribution to eating disorder development
The use of diet pills can also contribute to the development of eating disorders in individuals who are predisposed to these conditions. In individuals with underlying mental health issues or a preoccupation with body image, a reliance on diet pills for weight management can evolve into more severe and dangerous eating habits and, ultimately, a dangerous eating disorder.
Risks of co-occurring disorders
The misuse of diet pills can lead to or coincide with other mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, which are common in individuals with eating disorders. The side effects of diet pills, such as mood swings, increased anxiety and sleep disturbances, can compound the stress and isolation associated with the conditions.
How is diet pill addiction treated?
The type of treatment offered would be dependent on the exact substance that has been misused. Individuals will usually have the choice of outpatient rehab, where they live at home and attend regular therapy sessions, and inpatient rehab, where they live in a residential facility for the duration of diet pill addiction treatment. While both have their advantages, inpatient diet pill rehab is more intensive and structured, providing a controlled environment that can be particularly beneficial for those with severe addiction or co-occurring conditions.
Effective treatment for diet pill addiction will usually follow a multi-stage process involving detox, rehab therapy and ongoing support:
Diet pill detox
Some diet pills create a physical dependence which needs to be broken before the next stages of treatment can begin. For example, amphetamines and methamphetamines require detox to purge the substances from the body and begin healing.
Withdrawal from these powerful stimulants can be potentially dangerous, so this is always safest when conducted under medical supervision:
This often takes place in a professional rehab centre where professionals monitor the individual’s health, provide medications to manage withdrawal symptoms and ensure the individual’s safety during the detoxification process.
For those with eating disorders and psychological eating disorder addictions, treatment should also involve psychological counselling and therapy. These are designed to address the underlying psychological aspects of addiction and eating disorders, such as body image issues, unhealthy attitudes towards food and weight and a history of trauma or mental illness. Once these have been identified, individuals can learn new coping mechanisms which can help them deal with stress and difficult life situations in healthier ways.
Call our admissions line 24 hours a day to get help.
Commonly used therapies include:
- Cognitive behavioural therapy
- Dialectical behaviour therapy
- Acceptance and commitment therapy
- Art therapy
- Dance/movement therapy
- Equine therapy
- Exposure and response prevention therapy
- Family therapy
- Interpersonal psychotherapy
- The Maudsley method
Individuals with co-occurring eating disorders and diet pill addiction may also require nutritional support to re-establish healthy eating patterns and correct nutritional deficiencies. This often involves working with a dietitian or nutritionist who can develop a personalised meal plan.
Ongoing support
After initial treatment, long-term strategies are crucial to prevent relapse. Addressing lifestyle factors, including diet, physical activity, stress management, and building new, healthy habits, is an essential element in every relapse prevention plan. Effective strategies include ongoing therapy, support groups and medications to manage cravings or underlying mental health conditions.
Get help for diet pill addiction today
If you are suffering from diet pills addiction, you should seek professional advice immediately to reduce the risk of serious harm. Your GP can diagnose your condition and help to refer you to the appropriate treatment services. Alternatively, you can contact professional rehab facilities who will advise you on the best detox and rehab options for your needs.
There is no need to spend another day suffering alone. Reach out for help today and take steps towards a healthier, brighter future.
Call our admissions line 24 hours a day to get help.
FAQ’s
Call our admissions line 24 hours a day to get help.
No matter where you live, there is a drug rehab center that can help you overcome your addiction. We'll help you find it.
Select a County