FDA Approves First Anti-Obesity Drug In A Decade

An advisory panel to the US Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday gave its approval to an anti-obesity drug, in what could be the first new approved drug for losing weight in more than a decade.

Contrave, a drug developed by the California-based Orexigen Therapies, was given the nod by a 13-7 vote by the FDA expert panel, which advises the US regulatory body.

Quiz on Obesity

“We are indeed much more than what we eat, but what we eat can nevertheless help us to be much more than what we are”. - Adelle Davis

There are thousands out there battling ‘the bulge’. With childhood obesity on the rise even children are not spared. If your weight issues are threatening to weigh you down learn more about obesity by taking part in this quiz.

The FDA usually follows its recommendations, and is expected to make a final decision in January.

The panel said the drug was only modestly effective and was found to cause slight boosts in blood pressure and pulse. It also urged a wider trial to assess potential heart attack risks.

The FDA earlier this year acted on the panel's recommendations and denied two new obesity drugs, Qnexa and Lorcaserin, over cancer and heart risks.

Tips to Control Obesity in Children
Obesity is resistant to instant remedies and its management is a long-term endeavor. Here are a few tips to control obesity in children.

The same agency in October requested US pharmaceutical company Abbott Laboratories pull its obesity drug Meridia from the US market after European tests found the key ingredient increased the risk of serious heart problems.

About one third of Americans are obese, and the only FDA-approved prescription diet pill on the market is Switzerland-based Roche Holding AG's Xenical, which was approved by the FDA in 1999.

Ideal Body Weight - A Global Issue
India and China, which are epicenters of a booming economy, are now witnessing a steady rise in obesity. Globalization is the prime accused.

Source-AFP

Body Mass Index
The BMI calculator helps you assess your weight indicating if it is normal or if you are underweight or overweight, based on your height.