Weight gain is a common complaint among women taking oral contraceptives. According to The Mayo Clinic, birth control pills do not contribute to weight loss or weight gain, but they can have side effects that create the illusion of weight gain.

Nicotine was first promoted as a weight loss aid for women in the 1920s. The manufacturer of Lucky Strike cigarettes advertised its product as a better choice for weight control than sweets. The ad campaign was eventually followed by research.

You can lose weight with water pills, but the weight loss only lasts until your next drink. Plus, these types of pills may not be good for your health. When it comes to weight loss, you're better off sticking with what works -- a reduced-calorie diet and planned exercise.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, adults should consume from 1,200 to 2,600 calories per day depending on their gender, age, and activity level. Many extreme diets encourage people to lose weight through calorie restrictions that fall well below these requirements.

Mixing alcohol and diet pills can cause undesirable side effects. Alcohol and diet pills both contain stimulants, but the stimulants found in each substance are different. Diet pills often contain stimulants known as uppers that increase heart rate, breathing and blood pressure.

Any diet plan promising fast and easy results is nearly impossible to resist, and the Medifast plan is no different. By featuring ready-made meals and snacks, delivered direct to your home, the plan promises to make weight-loss effortless and delicious.

Mucinex DM cough suppressant (dextromethorphan-guaifenesin) is an over-the-counter cough remedy for children and adults. By affecting signals in the brain that initiate a cough reflex, the medicine works to suppress coughs. It is also an expectorant, helping to loosen chest congestion and making coughs more productive.

Phentermine and ephedra are stimulants used to aid in weight loss. Despite some similarities, ephedra has been banned by the Food and Drug Administration while phentermine is still prescribed to treat obesity.

It sure would be nice to be able to simply pop a pill and lose weight. While there is some evidence that cayenne pepper may increase your metabolism, you may be better off losing the pounds the old-fashioned way -- through diet and exercise.

Alli is the first Food and Drug Administration approved weight loss pill. Alli contains half the prescription strength of the weight loss drug orlistat. To avoid unwanted side effects, users of Alli are advised to follow a low fat diet.

Getting too much of certain vitamins can cause adverse and even dangerous side effects. Because of this, the Institute of Medicine establishes something known as a tolerable upper intake level for many vitamins. This is the highest amount you can take without risking side effects in most cases.

You've probably gulped down a meal or two when you've had more obligations than time. The occasional rushed meal won't cause many problems, aside from a stomachache now and then.