As proudly South Africans, realize what we are doing to our health. South Africa weighs in at 3rd place as the heaviest country in the world, as the study conducted by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) reports. Taking the lead is USA and Brittan. The scariest observation about this study is that there are more obese people in the world than underfed!

Obesity (or being a “little” overweight) can cost you your life! Being overweight are not just about physical appearance, but you live in the constant shadow of serious illnesses like Diabetes, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, High Blood Sugar Levels and High LDL Cholesterol. Not to mention the toll it takes on your organs and bone structure. No wonder we all believe the fairy tales weaved around weight loss products. Believing that there is a „miracle pill‟ that will take your fat away and fly it to the moon (or wherever unwanted things go in fairy tales).

Unfortunately, we don’t always know what is hidden inside the „magic potions‟, because only 31.9% consumers actually read and understand the product labels.

The majority of slimming products contain the chemical sibutramine (or a structured form thereof). South African consumers only became aware of the danger around this chemical, when a number of „miracle products‟ was exposed in February 2010. Sibutramine was dubbed the “Obesity Cure” in the late 90‟s, but was soon banned in several countries like the UK and EU due to the side effects.

Cardiovascular events and Strokes are the most commonly known and major side effect of sibutramine. This includes: Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), Heart Palpitations, Hypertension (high blood pressure), Flushing and Uncontrolled Sweating. Other side effects include: Depression or Anxiety, Sudden Mood Changes, Dry Mouth and Sore Throat due to dehydration of body cells, Complete loss of Appetite, Insomnia, Headaches and Bladder Infections.

Thankfully due to „whistle-blowers‟, serious investigations on sibutramine was done. On December 22, 2008 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), issued an urgent alert to consumers, naming “dietary supplements” for weight loss that illegally contains undisclosed amounts of sibutramine. Another independent report was released in March 2009, on the study of sibutramine poisoning in cases from similar Chinese “herbal supplements” sold in Europe, containing as much as twice the dosage of the legally licensed drug. In addition to the escalating problem, another similar alert was issued in January 2010, for Chinese counterfeit versions of “over-the-counter weight loss drugs” sold over the internet. Instead of the claimed active ingredient Orlistat, the drugs contained high concentrations of sibutramine.

February 2010 brought South Africa under the same spotlight with the “one-a-day pill” and in March 2010, Health Canada warned the public about illegal “Herbal Diet Natural” products on the market.

Within the clinical trials, patients taking drugs containing sibutramine under the close monitoring from healthcare professionals did lose weight, but still showed signs of numerous side effects, as well as gaining back weight. Why? Sibutramine is a monoamine-reuptake inhibitor, which increase the activity of chemicals in the brain, called norepinephrine and serotonin.

These are natural chemicals created in your body which triggers the satiety feeling. But, like all other chemical induced drugs, when taking it, creates a chemical change in the brain. Basically, the drug is actually telling the brain not to create these chemicals, because something else is doing it. When you stop taking the drug, the brain become chemically unstable and you will gain all the weight you lost, and a little extra, due to the norepinephrine and serotonin not being produced naturally. To restore balance in the brain you need to supply it with the right building blocks from which the brain makes its own natural chemicals – the ones that the drug has been mimicking. These building blocks are nutrients: the natural chemicals that are part of the brains evolutionary design.

This leaves me asking the same question again: You want the best for your body, don’t you? Something that is not chemically induced that can be harmful to your body. Something pure that works with your body, and not forcing it into unnatural cycles. Something that assists you to manage your weight and lose those unwanted extras you have to carry around. Something that you could improve your lifestyle, looking and feeling great. Something that has been tested and verified by numerous South African universities. Something where Science and Your Body's Balance come together!