Phentermine is perhaps the most widely used appetite suppressant drug today. It works by increasing the release of the hormones / neurotransmitters epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonine and dopamine. The signals from these substances make the nervous system more alert for external action and reduce appetite. The drug acts both upon the thalamus portion of the brain and the adrenal glands. The released adrenal hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine also stimulate the fat cells to brake down stored fat, so that the drug also have a direct fat-removing action, but the most important weight-loss action is as appetite reducer.

Phentermine is a legal substance but bound to prescription in most jurisdictions. It is recommened only for short term use and only together with a process of learning a general lifestyle that over time will continue the weight reduction to its goal, and when the goal of weight reduction is fulfilled help to stay at a healthy weight.

Since phentermine releases hormons that sets the body and mind in an alertnes to respond with increased action, making the body and mind stressed, phentermine can cause exagerated processes of many kind in the body and mind. Side effects are tachycardia (increased heart rate), elevated blood pressure, palpitations, restlessness and insomnia. Additionally, phentermine can sometimes cause physical and psychological dependence.

The drug Fen-Phen that contained phentermine, fenfluarmine and dexfenfluarmine, was shown to cause heart valve failure. It was later proven that fenfluarmine and dexfenfluarmine could cause this side effect. It is believed that phentermine alone do not have this side effect when used as recommended.

Ephedrine is a central stimulant extracted from species of the plant genus Ephedra. The substance is banned in most communities as a appetite suppressor nowadays, but are used for other medical purposes, for example to stimulate heart activity and increase blood pressure. In some communities Ephedra as a herb is still used as a part of stimulating herbal preparations.

Sibutramine works by reducing the reuptake of the hormones / neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinefrine and dopamine and thus increases the effects from these substances, with increased alertness and reduced appetite as a result.

This is a new drug working by blocking signals receptors that increase appetite upon signals from neurotransmitters / hormones. These are the same receptors that react upon contact with substances in the narcotic herb Cannabis. The main action of this drug is appetite reduction. In addition to appetite reduction it also seems to help smoking cessation for certain smokers. Severe depression may be a side effect of this drug.

Because of the potential side effects of appetite suppressors from the amphetamine group, people often turn to herbal appetite reducers with a very long history of use in their country of origin without having shown the same side effects. The herbal appetite suppressors Hoodia Gordonii and pinnothine are two such herbal appetite suppressors of increasing popularity. Preparations containing these herbs generally also contain herbs that increase the burning of fat, or herbs that reduce the uptake of fat or sugar from the intestines.

This is a cactus-like plant native in the African dessert Kalahari. The San tribe living in this region has used the herb in centuries to suppress hungers during long hunting expeditions. In the long traditional use, the herb has shown to suppress hunger without side effects.

The plant contains substances whose molecules resemble glucose molecules. When there is enough glucose in the blood, the brain interprets it as a signal to reduce the hunger. The substances of the Hoodia Gordonii give the same signal to the brain, and thus reduce the appetite.

Leptine is a protein hormone produced by fat cells. The more fat stored in the fat cells, the more leptine is produced.  Leptine signals to the brain part called hypothalamus to decrease the appetite, and the hormone helps regulate the food intake of an individual. Leptine also increases the metabolism, that is the burning of fat and sugar. It is important to live in such a way that the leptine production is not reduced, and hopefully increased.

Getting enough sleep is a way to hold the leptine levels high.

It is also neccessary to get a minimum level of fat and carbohydrates each day. To be over-eager with the slimming efforts, will reduce the leptine levels to dangerously low levels, and this will make you break you slimming efforts by over-eating and it will decrease your burning of fat and sugar.

Some people report that it is useful to take a couple of days each week with a higher inntake of fat and sugar than the other five days, and that this action lures the body to hold the leptine levels high.

C. Insuline

The appetite is partly dependent of emptiness in the stomach, and partly dependent upon free capacity in the intestines to do digestive work.

By eating much food containing much plant fibers and much water, you can fill up the stomach well and reduce the appetite without getting too much of nutrient like fat and carbohydrates. Such food are veretables and full corn cereals. By adding bran you can bulk up the food even more so that the effect gets even stronger.

By eating food that it takes long time to digest you can also reduce appetite. Mushrooms contains very vauable proteins, have little fat and carbohydrates in them, contain much water and need a long time to digest. By havng a good portion of mushrooms in your dishes you both bulk up the food and make it slowly digestible.

Some people get a reduced appetite by eating more often, but small meals than sldome and bigger meals, but other people will increase the food intake this way. It can be an idea to try to change the number of meals each day and adjust the amount of food in each meal.

By eating something that contains a moderate amount of sugar as the first thing in the meal, you get a little elevated sugar level in your blood and that can make you eat less. Fruit is best for that purpose.