Diet Pill Use & Eating Disorders
Diet pills are a gateway to eating disorders. Girls and young women who use diet pills to control their weight are at an increased risk for developing an eating disorder. Diet pills are unregulated substances that can lead to serious medical complications including the potential for dependence and addiction.
By: Anna Capetola
What Are Diet Pills?
Over the counter medications, prescription drugs, and herbal supplements that are intended to reduce or control weight fall under the description of diet pills. Many diet pills are designed to disrupt the body’s healthy and natural response to food by suppressing appetite, increasing metabolism, preventing fat absorption, and elevating energy levels.
Media Influence
It can be astoundingly difficult to avoid the massive influx of weight loss advertisements on social media outlets. Countless ads aim to catch viewers’ attention by promising false claims about diet pills that can lead to potentially harmful side effects. The truth is that many over the counter and herbal supplements aren’t subject to FDA approval, therefore, they are being sold without proof that they are safe and effective.
To put things into perspective, in 2003, a dietary supplement known as Ephedra was linked to the death of a pitching prospect for the Baltimore Orioles, Steve Belcher. At the time, Ephedra was advertised as an herbal stimulate intended to assist with weight loss and increase energy. The FDA later banned the herb after reports revealed the side effects included elevated blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, stroke, seizures, heart attacks, nausea, vomiting, and mood changes. These side effects are also listed under many diet pills that are currently being advertised.
Diet Pills and Eating Disorders
A recent study by Levinson et al. (2020) showed that 15% of adults reported using diet pills to control their weight throughout their lifetime. The longitudinal data that was taken from the Levinson et al. (2020) study revealed that diet pills and laxative use for weight control functioned as an entryway for the development of an eating disorder. The study included 6977 women ranging from 14-36 years old. None of the women were previously diagnosed with an eating disorder. The results showed the women who reported using diet pills or laxatives to manage their weight were more likely to receive an initial eating disorder diagnosis after 1-3 years compared to the women who were not using diet pills or laxatives (Levinson et al., 2020). According to Levison et al. (2020) the use of weight controlling behaviors contributed to psychological dysregulation, behavioral dysregulation of eating, and physiological dysregulation of digestion.
Approximately 64% of individuals with an eating disorder diagnosis use over the counter pills or prescribed supplements. It is important to note that many individuals with eating disorders already experience the same health concerns that were previously listed as side effects of weight loss supplements. With that being said, misusing diet pills has the potential to exacerbate existing health problems for individuals with a diagnosed eating disorder.
Additionally, studies have shown that diet pills may become addictive, as many of them are stimulants. The withdrawal symptoms from diet pills may include chest pain, dizziness, insomnia, vomiting, and swelling in the lower extremities. It is imperative to consult with a doctor or seek medical attention if these symptoms occur.
At BALANCE eating disorder treatment center, our clinical treatment team has extensive experience working with clients with co-occurring disorders and diet pill use. We are dedicated to treating the spectrum of eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, compulsive overeating, and other disordered eating behaviors and body image issues. We understand that each client is unique and requires a customized treatment program.
Our admissions team would be happy to answer any questions you may have about our programs and services. Book a free consultation call with our admissions team below or read more about our philosophy here.
This post was written by BALANCE intern, Anna Capetola.
Anna is a second-year graduate student at New York University pursuing her Master’s in Social Work. She completed her undergraduate education at Quinnipiac University, majoring in psychology and minoring in sociology. She previously worked for Vibrant Emotional Health, formerly known as The Mental Health Association of NYC, where she conducted assessments, provided short-term counseling, and offered crisis intervention services to individuals who were struggling with an array of mental health and substance use concerns. Anna also has experience working with the Traumatic Brain Injury population, as well as individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and Autism Spectrum Disorder. She is devoted to learning about the mind-body connection, health, and overall wellness. She is deeply passionate about eating disorder awareness and recovery. Anna believes everyone has the right to feel supported, accepted, understood, valued, and cared for.
Resources
Appetite Suppressants and Eating Disorders. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://centerfordiscovery.com/appetite-suppressants-eating-disorders/
Diet Pill Abuse, Addiction and Treatment. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.addictioncenter.com/stimulants/diet-pills/
Elkins, A. (n.d.). Diet Pills. Retrieved from https://www.drugrehab.com/co-occurring-disorder/eating-disorders/diet-pills/
Levinson, J. A., Sarda, V., Sonneville, K., Calzo, J. P., Ambwani, S., & Austin, S. B. (2020). Diet pill and laxative use for weight control and subsequent incident eating disorder in US young women: 2001-2016. American Journal of Public Health, 110(1), 109–111. https://doi-org.proxy.library.nyu.edu/10.2105/AJPH.2019.305390
Publishing, H. (n.d.). The dangers of the herb ephedra. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-dangers-of-the-herb-ephedra
Roeder, A. (2019) Diet pills linked with eating disorder diagnosis. Retrieved from https://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2019/11/diet-pills-linked-with-eating-disorder-diagnosis/