Amy Triche and Kristalynn Kindschuh know the pressures to stay thin in American society all too well.
Diet pill companies target women and men across the United States to see diet supplements as miracle pills, but four brands were recently levied for unproven claims.
The Federal Trade Commission fined Bayer One-A-Day Weight Smart, TrimSpa, Xenadrine EFX, CortiSlim and CortiStress more than $25 million for deceptive marketing of the diet drugs.
Claims made by diet pill producers must match research done on the product, said Louis Day, alumnus professor of mass communication. In the case of the fined diet pill makers, the claims were not backed by scientific evidence.
Triche and Kindschuh, colorguard members, turned to diet pills as a means to lose weight after coming to college.
Triche, anthropology and international studies junior, said she started taking diet pills as an easy way to lose weight, but she soon developed an addiction for the pills.
“I was addicted to them because I wanted to lose weight, and I needed [them] to study,” she said.
Kindschuh, accounting junior, was on a scholarship for colorguard and had to meet a weight requirement in order to perform each week.
“During tryouts we are weighed and measured,” she said. “The weight we are at tryouts is the weight we have to maintain.”
Members of the colorguard had additional pressure to stay thin and to always look their best, Kindschuh said. The uniforms are designed to show off feminine features.
“You think you have a great body, and then they tell you [that] you don’t,” Kindschuh said.
Triche said each day is a struggle. If she takes the pills there are side effects, but if she doesn’t the weight does not come off as easily and studying becomes more difficult.
Triche also said her decision to take diet pills came because of an ongoing struggle with weight and a family history of eating disorders.
“It was more of an internal need to look good, not the colorguard,” Triche said. “The only thing [the colorguard director] has ever said was she wanted us to look healthy.”
While taking Hydroxycut, Triche experienced many of the side effects such as energy boosts, mood swings and racing heartbeat.
“The Hydroxycut used to keep me up [because of] excessive energy,” Triche said. “I had mood swings and was emotional. It came to the point where I couldn’t take them anymore.”
As far as exercising along with the pills, Triche said she felt like she could run and lift weights forever while taking the pills. But it never felt like a workout while she was doing it.
“Plus I’d drink juice in the morning and just eat dinner late at night,” she said.
Triche stopped taking Hydroxycut after about four months, but during her sophomore year she started taking SlimQuick.
“I started taking SlimQuick because it was supposed to be a women’s diet pill,” she said. “I saw it on an infomercial and just decided to order it, but it didn’t work as good as the Hydroxycut.”
Triche said her struggle with diet pills was rough. She does not think taking diet pills is worth the risks that come along with them.
Nicole Whatley, Student Health Center registered dietician, said she thinks there needs to be more regulation on products like diet pills.
“[There is] extensive testing for food, but supplements can too easily get through,” she said.
Whatley said supplements get removed from the market only after someone gets hurt.
“[The diet pill companies] may offer a disclaimer, which is the right thing to do, but it’s kind of like the Surgeon General’s warning on cigarette boxes. It’s there, but it never gets read,” said Stephanie King, psychology junior.
Like many, Triche did not read the small print that says the FDA had not approved the product. Triche said knowing diet pills are not regulated by any governmental organization was scary because it is a stimulant and can be addicting.
Whatley said diet pills could also give the placebo effect, and sometimes eating is more of a mental issue.
Whatley said she recommends diets like Weight Watchers for people who truly want to lose weight.
Triche agrees with Whatley, and said the best way to lose weight is through proper proportions and exercise, something she learned when she came to college.
“Be wary [of diet pills]; it’s an addiction,” Triche said. “I deal with it everyday and [I’m] learning to be OK with myself.”
Renee Duplantier, dietetics senior, said she doesn’t think the FTC’s actions against the diet pills will deter consumers from buying other diet pills.
“These pills generate millions, and one lawsuit will not stop [the companies] from selling them,” Duplantier said.
—–Contact Tara Summer at tsummer@lsureveille.com