How to lose weight properly has always been a very popular argument and has escalated since the late 19th century when diet pills became introduced. One's weight can affect their daily life mentally, emotionally, and physically. As a result of society's portrayal of the "perfect" body image through advertising and social media, people are insisting on losing weight fast in order to keep up with the latest trend of being super skinny. Not everyone has the same "perfect" body image in mind but the majority has a "better" version of their body mentally pictured.  The urge to want to achieve the desired size is high; one in three overweight people resort to diet pills ("Diet Pill"). Even though diet pills have an ingredient, called diuretics, to control one's appetite, reduce the amount of water one's body can hold, and increase energy levels, these benefits do not outweigh the potential harm to one's body (Willet). Not only can diet pills cause kidney failure, severe liver damage, and high blood pressure, mental illness can potentially be a byproduct of taking them; "up to 50% of people with eating disorders use over-the-counter diet pills" ("Addiction Hope"). The adverse side effects of diet pills are not worth the price paid nor harm to the body. 

 Exercise is a healthy alternative to diet pills for losing weight that benefits one's body. Participating in exercise just a few times a week can prevent heart disease, colon, and breast cancer (Hatfield). One's mental function such as critical thinking, judgment and learning abilities improve from exercise as well.  Regular physical activity only 3-5 times a week for 30 to 60 minutes at a time can make a noticeable difference in one's lifestyle, both physically and mentally (Hatfield). Exercise offers a reliable and safe way to lose weight in replacing diet pills and without the negative consequences. Between the years of 2011 and 2012, studies found that 69% percent of adults the age of 20 years and older were either overweight or obese ("Overweight and Obesity"). Exercise is the healthy alternative to taking diet pills because the benefits of exercise outweigh the harmful effects of diet pills by preventing diseases, helping with one's mental health, and by being a safer and more controlled method of weight loss.

Obesity is not only a health concern, but also an epidemic in today's society that can negatively effect generations to come. The most common killers in today's society are chronic diseases or illnesses and obesity (Mercola). While losing weight can be a challenge, fighting against a chronic disease, like obesity, and the side effects that accompany it, can change one's life. Often times one's determination to lose weight interferes with their judgment when weighing out the pros and cons between these two weight loss options. This can push people to think that simply shedding pounds will keep them out of chronic diseases' way. Losing weight is not an easy task, and so people tend to rely on diet pills to simplify the job for them. Having trust in a "reliable" pill is not always the right choice. Fen-Phen is an example of a diet pill that was recalled and banned in the late 1990's because it was linked to heart attacks and promoting heart disease ("Harmful"). One may think they are escaping chronic illness by losing weight, when in reality they are causing more harm to their body. In this respect, diet pills may help one lose weight but do not chemically benefit the body or establish healthy lifestyle choices like exercise does, creating a bigger health problem in the end. 

Exercise can be a solution for a healthy way to lose weight compared to diet pills and the prevention against disease and cancer is a beneficial outcome of exercise. Exercise is vital in preventing the onset of two chronic illnesses, heart disease and colon cancer. Exercising helps prevent the onset of heart disease by regulating "one's insulin and leptin, [a hormone that regulates the energy balance by hindering hunger], levels" ("Chronic Disease"). One who regularly eats refined sugars and processed grains without exercising can build up an insulin and leptin resistance and has caused their body to develop the underlying factors of heart disease (Mercola). Exercise offers a way out of developing those factors and helps one lose the weight effectively and efficiently. Taking a pill with the mindset of becoming healthy is not worth the damage actually done to the body. Due to the severity of heart disease and simplicity of exercise, Dr. Mercola has done research studies to show the connection that "exercise alone can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by a factor of 3" (Mercola). This statistic is remarkable because it proves that exercising can prevent such a dangerous disease. Another chronic illness that through exercise can be prevented is colon cancer, also known as colorectal cancer. Through the roles exercise plays "[i]n energy balance, hormone metabolism, insulin regulation, and by decreasing the time the colon is exposed to potential carcinogens" the onset of colon cancer is prevented ("Physical Activity"). Participating in physical activity only 3 to 5 days a week can help one lose weight and alter a number of factors that leads to the risk of colon cancer. Greater awareness needs to be brought to this benefit by advertisements and health professionals because exercise is an easy solution to two serious life-changing illnesses. So why would one chose harmful diet pills over exercising and benefiting in more than one way than for the initial use? Exercise is generally used for cardiovascular benefits so the fact that it not only helps diseases for that area of the body but benefits other serious cancers such as colon cancer, while helping one lose weight proves how promoting exercise is the better option for one's body. 

In addition to the physical health benefits that are byproducts of exercise and not of diet pills, is the improvement of one's mental health. Mental health is just as essential to a healthy lifestyle as physical health and is used on a daily basis. Exercise physically enhances the body while, "directly [improving] the flow of blood in the brain and [enhanceing] the functionality of various neurotransmitters involved in cognitive processes" (Avent). Some cognitive functions, which directly benefit from exercise, are improved memory, learning ability, problem-solving ability, and judgment skills. People tend to think that being fit and in shape only require physical health but being mentally sharp is necessary for a healthy lifestyle. The same endorphins that secrete while working out that make one feel pleased are the same endorphins that help one concentrate while focusing and makes one feel mentally sharp enhancing one's learning ability (Avent). People are concentrated and determined to find a way to lose weight, they do not search further into side effects and outcomes causing one to choose diet pills instead of exercise ("Harmful").

Advertisements for supplements and diet pills assume one will go to great lengths to achieve their dream body; they use this knowledge to convince people that diet pills are the most effective way to lose weight. Manipulating the customers to think that the decision of choosing diet pills seems obvious to be the easiest choice. Exercise not only helps one lose weight, but also additionally improves mental health instead of harming one's mental wellbeing. While one exercises, the production of cells increases in the hippocampus, responsible for one's memory and learning, and improves those cognitive functions. When someone grows up they lose hippocampal volume leading to impaired memory and learning ability: "studies indicate that aerobic exercise training is effective at reversing that process"(Avnet). It is a natural function for one to lose hippocampal volume as they grow up but with exercise one can cause that to not happen entirely. It is one of the many benefits exercise offers that naturally improves important cognitive functions. Exercising to lose weight requires will power, time, and effort and is worth every minute of it because of the effortless benefits to one's mental health. Exercise is a free, harmless, and powerful medication for cognitive functions and mental challenges. Finding a diet pill that has consequences that sharpen one's brain functions and ability to learn is not likely; exercise guarantees it for free. Working out not only prevents chronic illnesses, aids with mental health, but is significantly more safe.  

The urge to be skinny and physically in shape is a sensitive topic since the majority of overweight or obese people are anxious to lose weight they do not think about precautions or consequences ("Diet Pills"). Diet pills are not only harmful to the body physically but are the cause of mental eating disorders, statistics show that "62.7 % of female teens have unhealthy weight loss control behaviors or have abused diet pills"("Diet Pill"). This is a reoccurring and dangerous trend in today's society, which can easily be put to a stop with exercise. Eating disorders are a serve case study of how one can be affected by diet pills. Society is unaware of how brutal diet pills are to one's body. According to Dr. Nissen," people who are over weight or obese are desperate to lose weight and vulnerable to snake oil salesmen pitching weight loss products. Sadly, action may not be taken until there is a high-profile death" causing lives to be harmed or taken from a little pill (Trebilcock). Eating disorders are a severe case study of how one can be affected by diet pills as well as proving the severity of diet pills. Unlike diet pills, exercise does not lead to extreme harmful health problems. Exercise offers a way to work through losing weight while becoming mentally and physically healthier. 

The Food and Drug Administration, also commonly known as FDA, does not have enough power to run the tests they would like on the majority of the diet pills, therefore; they are not FDA approved. Unlike diet pills, exercise is the healthy and safe way to lose weight. The packaging and labels on diet pills are disseizing and leave out important information about their products.  The FDA has more regulatory power over drugs and not as much over supplements. Due to that lack of authority, "[the FDA] cannot require intensive clinical trails before ones of these products goes on the market" (Trebilcock). For example the popular diet pill Meridia, or known as the generic drug Sibutramine, was approved in 1997 and after a recent 6-year study and recently 10,000 patients, the FDA withdrew Meridia from the market. The study showed that the diet pill raised one's risk of "cardiovascular events" such as heart attacks or strokes by 16 % (Trebilcock). This is not the only diet pill that this has happened to. Other popularly known diet pills such as Ephedra, Hydroxycut, and Fen-Phen were once "approved" then banned from the market once the FDA could run proper tests on the supplements. Ephedra was banned in 2004, put back on the market and could only be used in small dosages in 2005, then later in 2006 was officially off the market. Hydroxycut was banned in 2009 due to liver, kidney, and other vital organ damage. Fen-Phen was recalled because there was evidence it was linked to a numerous number of heart attacks ("Harmful"). Even when the product is on the market the FDA still does not have the power they would like to when it comes to run tests. They do their best at catching the harmful products but in some cases do not have enough power to take it off the market. These products are just a few examples of the hundreds of diet pills on the market and are not worth the risk (Theobald). The FDA's job is to keep society safe from harmful pills such as diet pills but due to their lack of power and authority that task is difficult to complete. Exercise does not require regulations for safety so, therefore; exercise is safer and more reliable. If one feels the need to heighten the intensity of their workouts then the risk is on themselves and their knowledge of their capability. No one knows their body better than themself, so therefore; the one exercising knows how to listen to their body to know when to stop. One can also control the intensity, duration, and frequency of their workout causing exercise to be extremely safe. Exercise is not meant to be dangerous but a free, healthy alternative to losing weight that simultaneously improves the body in multiple ways. 

The argument between diet pills and exercise and which form of losing weight is more effective has been an ongoing case. Losing weight is a constant struggle with the hectic lives people live; therefore, one thinks taking diet pills seems like the best option. People need to be aware that their decision about how they handle and maintain their body affects their every day life. Social media can be very influential and plays a role in getting the word out about diet pills. One way the media has covered this topic is by incorporating credible doctors and their medical advice in a debate about exercise and diet pills, such as the video on YouTube called "Dr. R on Wellness Hour" with Dr. Skversky. The media also portrays women and men as slender and super skinny, which sparks the thought in today's society that losing weight fast is a must. Advertisements for diet pills are falsely promoting diet pills on the television, the radio, and billboards. Due to the social media aspects and the health issues of 74% of men are overweight and 64% of women are over weight, people resort to diet pills. The public needs awareness and knowledge on this topic because it affects their every day life and lifestyle. One's life duration and functionality is determined by the key factors of: physical and mental health. Physical and mental health goes hand in hand and run the body efficiently when both are taken care of properly, instead of when they are harmed from supplements such as diet pills.  

Exercise offers the healthy alternative to diet pills, which has secondary benefits to losing weight that can change one's life for the better. Exercise releases and involves hormones that help with preventing chronic illnesses such as heart disease and colon cancer. These two illnesses are very serious; when diagnosed they both come with extensive care and medication for treatment. Exercise not only helps prevent the onset of these two illnesses but also improves one's cognitive functions. The brain is capable of a variety of cognitive functions and keeping them sharp is difficult as one grows up; exercise keeps the brain sharp and on top of its ability. The body and brain will develop and mature naturally but improving there skills and functions as the body takes action in that process can be very beneficial. By participating in regular exercise one can lose weight and improve "[one's] memory, learning ability, problem-solving ability, and judgment skills" (Bergland). Exercise is the safe, reliable and efficient way to lose weight in comparison to diet pills. People need to be aware of the health hazards from diet pills and weigh out the benefits to see that consuming diet pills are not worth the harmful risks of heart disease, kidney failure, headaches, liver damage, and blood pressure problems ("Harmful"). In short, living a healthy lifestyle by incorporating exercise benefits the body in more ways than one can imagine: mentally, physically, and emotionally. By exercising one's whole body would benefit chemically and physically in comparison to taking a diet pill and further harming one's body. Promoting exercise and making one aware of the harmful effects of diet pills will educate people on the many benefits that exercise provides and sway people to chose the healthier, safer, and more reliable alternative. 

