Dieting to Death: What Every Consumer Should Know

It`s no wonder that millions of overweight Americans are searching for a quick fix. Yet, that quick fix could leave long lasting consequences. Most diet supplements make a lot of claims about how they can help users lose weight quickly. But, it`s what they don`t say that can hurt you. "They always say everyone has a cross to bear," Ruthie Jones, a Benton resident said, " and I`ve always felt like this is my cross." When it comes to dieting, Ruthie Jones has done it all. "I just progressed to every diet pill on the market, " Jones said. She is not alone. More than 120 million Americans are overweight and 9 million of them are severely obese. Ruthie`s weight problems started when she was just 12 years old. At her heaviest, she weighed 330 lbs. She says she tried every diet available and nothing seemed to work. That is when her doctor offered what she thought was a solution: Redux. It was called a miracle drug that helped the overweight eat less and shed the pounds. Ruthie took it twice a day,but, she had no idea that her magic pill could nearly take her life. "I was in the hospital a whole week in the cardiology unit," Jones said. She developed obstructive pulmonary disease and a host of other heart problems. Her doctors say Redux and other diet pills are probably to blame. After Redux was linked to severe side effects, the drug was pulled off the market. Today, Ruthie says she is still paying the price. "I was just devestated and I felt guilty because I had been taking those diet pills," Jones said. Debra Wiggins, a Haughton resident, says she has been there. At one point, she weighed more than 285 lbs. and also turned to diet pills. Shreveport surgeon Dr. Charles Black says that is a common mistake. "It`s like a yo-yo effect," Black said," they go up and down with their weight and they never do keep it down successfully for an extended period of time." With Dr. Black`s help, Debra made a life changing decision. She underwent gastric bypass surgery and in just two years, she has lost more than 110 lbs. "It`s been wonderful," Wiggins said. Ruthie also underwent weight loss surgery. However, she admits that she is slowly gaining the weight back. This time, though, she is determined to fight the healthy way.