With so many diet pills available you may wonder, what diet pills actually work for weight loss? The answer is there are a few diet pills that actually work, but there are no magic pills. You can't take any kind of diet pill, continue to eat everything in site, lead a sedentary life and expect to lose weight. Shrinking your waist requires a change in lifestyle. This means making healthy changes in your diet and getting your body up and moving.

Diet drugs have changed a lot over the past fifty years and while they are safer, they all come with their own risks. You shouldn't start taking any diet pill before you are educated on how it works and what health risks and/or side effects you may experience while taking the drug. Most importantly, you should always consult with a doctor before taking any diet pill or supplement. Here is a rundown of a few of the most popular diet pills available today.

Meridia (sibutramine)

Meridia works on the brain's appetite-control center and alters the chemicals norepinephrine and serotonin. These chemical regulate how full a person feels after eating. Meridia is available by prescription only and it intended for very overweight or obese individuals.

Meridia works well for some people who seem to never feel "full" after eating. If you have a ravenous appetite and never feel satisfied, Meridia could help you overcome that feeling. This drug is only prescribed to obese and overweight individuals. If you are struggling to lose that last ten pounds, Meridia is not the drug for you since its use is reserved for individuals with more serious weight issues.

Before you start taking Meridia you should talk to your doctor about what to expect on the drug. Meridia has a bit of a reputation. It can increase the risk of stroke or heart attack and it can raise your blood pressure. Meridia has been banned in Italy due to people suffering bad reactions after taking the drug. There have been groups requesting that it be banned in the United States. While it hasn't been banned in the U.S., the pill's safety is being monitored by the FDA.

Byetta (exenatide) and Glucophage (metformin)

Byetta is used to treat type 2 diabetes. It is an injectable diabetes medicine. Glucophage is also used for people with type 2 diabetes but it is an oral diabetes medicine. Both medications help control blood sugar levels.

Besides type 2 diabetics, people who suffer from hormonal conditions, which are linked to insulin resistance, that need to lose weight may be prescribed Byetta or Glucophage. Only a doctor can make this determination. Since these drugs are classified as diabetic medications, insurance companies will generally cover the cost of these drugs, unlike most other weight loss medications.

Zimulti (rimonabant)

Rimonabant is an anti-obesity drug. While pegged a potential blockbuster by industry analysts, it hasn't been approved by the FDA over concerns that it has been shown to increase the risk of suicidal thoughts. If, and when, the FDA approves this prescription drug, it will be marketed as Zimulti. However, it has been available in the European Union since 2006 under the name Acomplia.

Alli (orlistat)

Orlistat is a prescription drug used to treat obesity. Alli is a reduced-strength version of Orlistat and is available over-the-counter, but it is still recommended that you consult your doctor before taking it. Alli helps weight loss by preventing fat in the food you eat from being absorbed in the body, specifically by the intestines. The undigested fat is removed from your body through bowel movements. By decreasing the absorption of fat in the body, Alli essentially reduces the number of calories you absorb.

It is very important that you do not eat too much fat when taking Alli. Some users of this diet pill have reported loose stools and leakage when they have eaten too much fat. Many have resorted to taking extra clothing with them when they leave home! It is recommended that you consume no more than 15 grams of fat per meal after taking Alli to prevent these unwanted side effects.

Supplements

Don't take any diet supplements until you know what you are consuming. There are some supplements, such as bitter orange extract, whose safety is being questioned. Bitter orange extract is often used as a replacement to ephedra. Ephedra was banned in the United States because it caused strokes and deaths-and a myriad of adverse reactions in consumers.

Two supplements which do appear to be safe and are rising in popularity are green tree extract and hoodia gordonii. EGCG, an antioxidant that helps boost metabolism, is found in green tea. Hoodia, on the other hand, has been shown to be a potentially effective natural appetite suppressant without any side effects.

Diet pills - do they work for weight loss? As you can see, that depends. Some of the pills listed here may be beneficial and worth talking to your doctor about. Supplements may be a better alternative but there is no guarantee either that they are safer or equally as effective. Diet and exercise are the only tried and true methods for effective, long-term weight loss. However, if you feel compelled to try a diet pill or supplement, keep their limited role in perspective and always be sure to talk to your doctor first!