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A short history of diet pills

Diet pills are nearly two thousand years old. No, not the sleek capsulated gelcaps we have today, but other forms of anti-obesity medication existed around the time of ancient medical forerunners, specifically Soranus of Ephesus.

Soranus, the Pioneer

Besides having a very cool first name, Soranus of Ephesus was also quite an accomplished physician, considering his training (vintage 2^nd century). He was adept at gynecology, skin disorders, and, yes, obesity. His patent drugs for obesity, which stuck around for the next thousand years or so, was a strange form of massage and heat treatment. Although this treatments may have been a blend of Soranus’s spirituality and medicinal expertise, it nonetheless did the trick, especially when combined with exercise.

The Modern Era

It wasn’t until the 1930s, that science turned its attention to weight loss medication. At that time, a Stanford breakthrough discovered that the chemical dinitrophenol boosted the body’s metabolism to racing new highs, rapidly slashing caloric buildup and excess weight. Unfortunately, DNP, as the compound was called, was also blamed for several deaths, and the drug got the ax.

More Failed Attempts

A couple decades later, science once again reached a point of triumph they founded many diet pills that work. With the discovery of amphetamines in the 1950s, doctors found that these powerful nervous system stimulants could affect metabolism and appetite. Unfortunately, they were a bit too effective, and because of the deaths attributed to the pills and their addictive and harmful side effects, the FDA tightly regulated the use of the drugs to the point of their extinction as an obesity-fighter.

By the 90’s, researchers were spending their time on less-powerful, but still-effective drugs that curbed appetite. The most common one, fenfluramine became popular, although it also caused some heart complications in patients, contributing to the FDA’s also banning it.

Success at Last

Although most of science’s “Ah-hah” moments of anti-obesity medication breakthroughs were effectively terminated by the powers, herbal supplements and creative varieties have still taken to the market with some force. Now, the refined and tested varieties of diet pill, both drugs and over the counter, are helping millions of people overcome obesity problems.