Diuretics - Good or bad

[Lady Greenfairy]

I've been noticing that lots of OTC weight loss pills contain diuretics. What's the reason for this? Other than making you have to pee all the time, do they really offer any value for weight loss?

[Bethie]

It's just a water pill with a fancy name. They trick people into thinking they've lost fat when really they're temporarily losing water which will usually come right back after a few days. They can actually be dangerous to a lot of people, too, so people should be careful before using them.

[BigBobby]

Diuretics can also be helpful for bodybuilders who want to show muscle and don't want the padding of all the water in their tissues. You really need to know what you're doing with them, though. They can cause a lot of health problems if you use them wrong.

[Lady Greenfairy]

Thanks. I think I'll just be on the safe side and I'll just stay away from them.