Diet Pills Glossary of Weight Loss Terms

Adipex - A Brand Name for Phentermine, an appetite suppressant used to reduce calorie intake.

Adipocytes - The scientific term for Fat Cells, being various types of specialized cells found in adipose tissue used for fat storage. One could perhaps say this it is a rather obese term for Fat Cells. ;-)

Adipose - The fat found in Adipose tissue.

Adipose tissue - A specialized type of tissue for storing cellular fat.

Amino acids - The essential building blocks of Proteins, nine of which cannot be manufactured by the body and therefor have to be obtained through food intake.

Anorectic drugs - Pharmaceutical drugs designed as appetite suppressants to reduce calorie intake.

Anorexia Nervosa - A psychophysiological disorder characterized by an abnormal fear of becoming obese and therefor a distorted self-image. This results in an unwillingness to eat leading to severe weight loss. It can also be accompanied by vomiting, excessive exercise and other physiological changes.

Bariatric - The branch of medicine dealing with the causes, prevention, and treatment of obesity, both pharmacological and surgical.

Binge Eating Disorder - An eating disorder involving uncontrolled eating of large amounts of food but without vomiting or laxative purging.

Body Mass - a measurement of the mass of a body, usually human, expressed in kilograms (kg) or pounds (lb).

Body Mass Index (BMI) - A calculation used by researchers and physicians to estimate the ratio of your body weight to your height, thereby estimating the degree by which you are overweight or underweight and therefore the fat load on your body.

Body Weight - a more common term for Body Mass.

Bontril SR - An appetite suppressant that works by stimulating the nervous system.

Bulimia Nervosa - An eating disorder involving episodic binge eating followed by feelings of guilt, depression, and self-condemnation. It also often involves measures to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting, excessive laxatives, dieting, or fasting.

Calories - A unit of measurement for the amount of energy that is released from food upon oxidation by the body. Also the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1°C at 1 atmosphere pressure.

Carbohydrates - A group of organic compounds, including sugars, starches and fiber, that is a major source of energy for animals.

Cellulite - The dimples and bumps in the skin, usually around the thighs and buttocks, caused when the natural structure of the skin is stretched by Fat cells growing too large.

Compulsive Overeating - Also known as Binge Eating.

Didrex - An appetite suppressant that works by stimulating the nervous system.

Diet - The food and drink a person or animal consumes in their normal life, and a regulated eating plan for medical reasons or as a measure to promote weight loss.

Diuretics - A drug that increases the discharge of urine, used to move fluid through the body quickly as a form of purging..

Exercise - A physical or mental activity used as a method of maintaining or improving a level of fitness. An important part of an overall weight loss plan of action.

Fad Diets - Fashionable or Trendy diets that may or may not actually help in reducing weight. These diets should be used with caution and a professional medical opinion sought.

Fastin - A brand name for Phentermine previously manufactured by Smith Kline Beecham but no longer available.

Fat - Animal tissue containing glycerol and fatty acids. Also used to describe someone who has too much fat and is therefor plump or obese.

FDA - The Food & Drug Administration is the US Federal agency responsible for the regulation of biotechnology food products.

Generic Drug - A drug whose patent has expired thus enabling it to be manufactured by any company. Phentermine is an example of a Generic Drug.

Health - The overall condition of an organism at a given time in regard to soundness of body or mind and freedom from disease or abnormality.

Meridia (sibutramine) - A weight loss diet pill that suppresses appetite by inhibiting the re-uptake of applicable hormones.

Metabolism - The chemical processes that take place within a living cell or organism that break down substances to provide energy and/or raw materials which are then re-synthesized into new and necessary substances to support life.

Nutraceutical - A naturally occurring food (Garlic, Soy) or food supplement (Cod Liver Oil) believed to have beneficial effects on human health.

Nutritionist - An expert trained in the field of nutrition who is able give advice in regard to allergies or health problems, and plan healthy diets to assist in weight loss.

Obese, Obesity - The condition having and increased body weight caused by excessive accumulation of fat. This is usually indicated as having a Body Mass Index in excess of 30.

Overweight - The condition of weighing more than is normal or healthy for one's age or build. This is usually indicated as having a Body Mass Index higher than 25 but lower than 30.

Phentermine - An appetite suppressant that disrupts the transmission of signals from the neurotransmitters and is used in the management of obesity.

Proteins - A group of complex organic macromolecules that are the basic building blocks of all living cells and are therefore essential in the diet of animals for the growth and repair of tissue.

Saturated Fats - Fatty acids that are saturated with Hydrogen atoms, are mainly found in animal tissue, and should be restricted in the diet.

Simple Sugars - Single Molecule sugars such as glucose, fructose, and galactose.

Sucrose - A crystalline form of fructose and glucose found in many plants and extracted as ordinary table sugar.

Tenuate - An Appetite Suppressant that works by stimulating the central nervous system, increasing heart rate and blood pressure and decreasing your appetite.

Xenical (Orlistat) - A Diet Drug that works in the digestive system by blocking about one-third of the fat you eat from being digested.