From Your Health Journal…..”One of my favorite places to read health related news is the Houston Chronicle. They have some excellent stories, and I highly recommend your visiting their site. Today’s article being reviewed is about the new weapons to fight obesity. The FDA approved 2 new drugs, although they should not be considered quick fixes for the problem. With 1/3 of the US population considered overweight or obese, there may be many running to the drug store to give this a try. The article is quoted as saying, “As obesity has increased in the United States, so has the incidence of diabetes, heart disease, stroke and arthritis. The Trust for America’s Health estimates that if current trends continue, obesity could contribute up to 6 million cases of Type 2 diabetes, 5 million cases of coronary heart disease and stroke, and more than 400,000 cancer diagnoses in the next 20 years.” But, readers should remember, this may not be for everyone, and when the time comes, one should speak to their doctor to see if would be appropriate and safe to use. For many, the best way to lose weight is to increase physical activity while decreasing the calories consumed. For some, this does not work, so maybe there may be some hope in the future.”
From the article…..
FDA has approved two drugs in the battle against fat, but experts warn that the medicines are not a quick fix – just more tools in the campaign
It had been 13 long years since a prescription weight-loss drug had received federal approval. But within a month last summer, the Food and Drug Administration approved two new drugs designed to help patients manage their weight.
Qsymia, a combination of an anti-convulsant and the appetite suppressant phentermine, is on the market already; Belviq, which increases serotonin to suppress appetite, will be available early next year. Both are designed for people who are obese, with a body mass index of 30 or higher, or who are overweight with related health problems.
That’s a big market: More than one-third of adults in the United States are obese, and another one-third are classified as overweight.
The drugs aren’t a quick fix. Over time, patients lose a modest amount of body weight when they combine the medication with exercise and sensible eating. But that’s a start, said Erik Wilson, medical director of bariatric surgery at Memorial Hermann – Texas Medical Center and chief of elective general surgery for the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
“They do have relatively modest effects so far,” he said, “but they’re something.”
Wilson, who works with obese and overweight patients every day, sees the obesity epidemic firsthand. He’s relieved that the FDA has given doctors two more tools to battle what has become a national crisis.
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