Dehydration, liver failure, and kidney failure can result from taking unregulated weight-loss drugs.
Wanting to lose weight to have a beautiful figure, Ms. NTTY, 38 years old, from Nhon Trach, Dong Nai , was recommended an effective weight-loss tea, so she went online to buy weight-loss pills to drink.
After finishing the first box, Ms. Y. lost nearly 4 kg but felt tired, ate less, and had cold feet. Her neighbor experienced similar symptoms and stopped taking the medication. However, Ms. Y. wanted to lose more weight, so she continued taking it. After about two boxes, she lost 7 kg. After the third box, she found the results slower and felt tired, so she stopped taking the medication.
About half a month after stopping her weight-loss medication, she experienced abdominal pain and vomiting. She bought stomach medication from a pharmacy but it was ineffective. She was admitted to the emergency room at Le Van Thinh Hospital in Thu Duc City (Ho Chi Minh City) in a state of fatigue and exhaustion. Doctors diagnosed her with moderate to severe acute pancreatitis and blood triglycerides that were 100 times higher than normal.
The patient's blood sample showed two layers: fat and blood, after a period of taking weight-loss medication.
According to MSc-Dr. Nguyen Viet Quynh Thu, Head of the Nutrition and Dietetics Department at FV Hospital, the key to scientific weight loss includes two main factors: balanced nutrition and proper exercise. The use of weight-loss medication must be prescribed on a case-by-case basis and, of course, must be drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
"The use of unregulated, unlicensed weight-loss drugs often causes weight loss by dehydrating patients, causing diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of micronutrients... These symptoms lead to weight loss, but it's due to water and muscle loss, not fat loss. These drugs often cause side effects that affect liver and kidney function and cause electrolyte imbalances," Dr. Thu shared.
Furthermore, according to Dr. Thu, some patients who go to beauty clinics for weight loss are given weight-loss drugs of unknown origin after returning home. The drugs are given in unlabeled bags, posing many potential dangers to the liver and kidneys, and affecting their health.
Completely cut out carbohydrates.
According to nutritionist Dr. Nguyen Thu Ha from Nam Saigon International General Hospital, completely eliminating carbohydrates to lose weight is a mistake. When applying a carbohydrate-reduction diet for weight loss, it's essential to understand that a lower-carbohydrate diet is not the same as a carbohydrate-free diet.
Some suitable and beneficial carbohydrates for weight loss include brown rice, whole-grain pasta, and whole-wheat bread, which are good for the weight loss process because they are high in fiber, have a low glycemic index that helps stabilize blood glucose, and are rich in B vitamins that are good for the nervous system.
"Many people have a habit of eating rice during the day but completely avoid carbohydrates in the evening for fear of weight gain, which is incorrect. In fact, dinner meals not only provide energy but also help improve sleep quality. In addition, consuming carbohydrates in the evening in moderation is also very beneficial for those at risk of nocturnal hypoglycemia," Dr. Ha explained.
Completely cutting out carbohydrates to lose weight is a mistake.
However, evenings are usually a time for rest and less physical activity, so you need to consider and control your intake of excess energy from any source.
In addition, according to Dr. Ha, some people, to avoid white rice, often turn to corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, etc. However, these also belong to the group of starchy foods like rice, and are not in the group of foods rich in fiber.
"Combining starchy foods with high-fat ingredients like cream sauces, butter, etc., or preparing them by baking or frying, will result in a higher calorie count," Dr. Ha noted.
Eating according to menus available online, without considering any health conditions.
According to Dr. Quynh Thu, many people, wanting to lose weight quickly, fast or drink sugarcane juice instead of rice, etc. However, after a short period of fasting, the body becomes weakened and electrolytes are imbalanced. Fasting can cause rapid weight loss in a short time, but it results in muscle and water loss instead of fat loss. After this period, many people often crave food and eat more, causing the body to gain weight even faster than before.
"Furthermore, many people only focus on the aesthetic aspect when losing weight. They follow ready-made meal plans found online or buy meal plans without considering whether they are suitable for their body type or who the meal plan is designed for. For example, a meal plan might be 1,000-1,200 calories, but before designing it, doctors usually check the patient's blood sugar, blood pressure, blood lipids, fatty liver, etc., to balance the food so that the patient can lose fat while maintaining good health and stabilizing existing conditions," Dr. Thu noted.
>>> Stay tuned for the next article: " Various weight loss methods: Half an ice cream cone contains 100 calories, how to eat it to stay healthy and beautiful" .
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