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PRT Favors Healthy Lifestyles, Not Supplements
Sailors at the National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) are gearing up for the Physical Readiness Test (PRT) fall cycle. NNMC leaders are reminding service members how to stay fit throughout the year not only in the weeks before the exam.
Sailors are also encouraged to avoid taking drastic measures to meet exam standards.
"When you put on the uniform, you should be ready every day," said Zizette Makary, a staff physician who works in NNMC's Internal Medicine Clinic.
That means maintaining a healthy diet and getting adequate exercise, she said. Those who go on crash diets or restrict their eating will ultimately regain the weight.
To pass a PRT, scheduled every six months, Sailors must perform at a satisfactory level, at the very least, in order to be eligible for promotions and advancements.
Larry Grubb, an outpatient psychiatrist in NNMC's Behavioral Health Clinic, said many Sailors become concerned they won't meet weight standards as the PRT quickly approaches.
"Because of that concern, many Sailors turn to over-the-counter weight loss pills and programs, go on restrictive diets and even use laxatives and diuretics to lose weight before the weigh-in," Grubb said.
These weight loss supplements are sold over-the-counter without FDA regulation because they are not classified as "medicine," Makary said. Though these drugs are considered "food supplements," derived from herbs or plants and are not administered to relieve illness or disease, they can still be dangerous, she said.
"Just because it's from a plant, doesn't mean it's safe, depending on the amount you take and formulation [of the supplement]," Makary said.
In addition, manufacturers don't need to register a product with the FDA or get approval before selling a supplement, Grubb said. The FDA has no legal authority to evaluate these dietary supplements before they hit the market; once they are on the market, it can take years for the FDA to review the product.
Though there is no pre-approval process for dietary supplements, they are still treated like other products on the market, said Sebastian Cianci, an FDA press officer. Manufacturers must label their products in a way that is truthful and not misleading.
In addition, the manufacturer is responsible for ensure their product is safe for consumption, Cianci said.
Because weight loss supplements are not FDA approved, there's no guarantee what the manufacturer says is in the bottle is what's actually in the bottle, Makary said. In addition, each bottle could contain a slightly different product; therefore, a person could consume a dietary supplement over the counter and be okay, then take a pill from another bottle and have harmful side effects, she said.
The FDA can take action against an unsafe supplement once it's on the market, Grubb said, but because the FDA looks at dietary supplements only after they are on the market, a majority of cases with serious side effects never get reported and don't come to the FDA's attention. Since December 2007, any serious adverse event reported to the manufacturer must now be reported to the FDA within 15 days.
Before anyone consumes an over-the-counter drug, they should always consult their doctor, Makary said.
Sailors should also seek help from their primary care provider for a complete evaluation for medical issues, if they are unsuccessful in attempts to lose weight, said James West, a psychiatrist and department head of Mental Health at NNMC.
Because the adverse effects of dietary and weight loss supplements are not well studied, West said, service members should know that they could be exposing themselves to unnecessary risks.
There are many healthy ways to lose weight, Makary said. An individual who consumes 100 fewer calories while burning an additional 100 calories each day could potentially lose as much as 20 pounds over the course of a year.
In addition, service members and staff can also sign up for the weight management and nutrition programs that NNMC's Health Promotion Office offers, Makary said.
The safest way to prepare for a PRT is to follow a balanced diet and get adequate exercise, said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Brandon Hahn, president of the Junior Enlisted Association at NNMC. Hahn said he has not seen many Sailors at NNMC consuming these products to prepare for their PRTs. From his perspective, many Sailors are aware of the harmful effects.
Health care professionals and consumers are encouraged to report serious adverse side effects or problems with the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online, by mail, fax or phone.
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