Scientific Data: The straight dope on weight-loss drugs

Despite abundant advertising hype, no drug (and no "natural" herb) offers a magic bullet against obesity. There are some new drugs though that may provide support in a balanced weight-loss program.

"Although Americans would like to have a pill to cure obesity, the best that will ever be available is something that will contribute to a lifestyle effort and make it less of a struggle," says Madelyn Fernstrom, PhD, director of the Weight Management Center of the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania.

By Prescription Only
The three most-prescribed prescription drugs are:
* Xenical (orlistat), approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1999. It interferes with the digestion of fats and prevents about 30 percent of the fat that you eat from being absorbed by your body.
* Meridia (sibutramine), approved in 1997. It boosts the levels of two neurotransmitters--norepinephrine and serotonin--in your brain to moderate hunger cravings and give you a feeling of fullness.
* Phentermine (available under Ionamin and Adipex-P), approved in 1957. Phentermine suppresses appetite by boosting norepinephrine levels. It is approved only for short-term use.

Over-The-Counter Options
The only FDA approved OTC weight-loss drug is Alli, which only works if the consumers follow a strict regimen of diet and exercise.

Beware Herbal Remedies
For the most part, the only diet medications now available without a prescription are herbal and other "natural" preparations. Dietary supplement manufacturers do not have to tell the FDA about adverse effects, and the product labels aren't good either. Conventional physicians and researchers consider most of them useless and some of them dangerous. "Herbal remedies are not well supported at all by clinical-trial data," says Belinda O'Connell, MS, RD, LD, a clinical dietitian at the International Diabetes Center in Minneapolis, Minn.

"Although they may look like medicine, herbal weight-loss remedies are neither effective nor - in some cases - safe," says Madelyn Fernstrom, PhD, of the University of Pittsburgh.

The FDA believes these people were wasting their money and risking their health. "Only a few herbal weight-loss remedies have been tested in clinical trials, generally with no evidence of benefit," notes Samuel Klein, MD, of Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.

For example, Ephedra's potential side effects can include high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, stroke, and seizures. A scientific measurement of the ingredients of 20 ephedra brands found that in half, the label was wrong by more than 20 percent. One brand had 10 times the amount of ephedrine alkaloids stated on the label. Another had none at all.

"Laxatives and diuretics may make people think they have lost weight, but it's only water weight," says Fernstrom. "They're not thinner, just dehydrated."

CHECK OUT THE FoxNewsChannel VIDEO HERE as well as the video posted below!



Fentress, D., & Agnew, B., from Diabetes Forecast, 4/2002, Vol. 55 Issue 4, 51-55.

Since when have dietary supplements been a hot topic issue? Why? Who all should care?

For decades, the Food and Drug Administration regulated dietary supplements as foods to ensure that their labeling was truthful and not misleading. An important facet of ensuring safety was FDA's evaluation of the safety of all new ingredients, including those used in dietary supplements, under the 1958 Food Additive Amendments to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act).

However, it's been a hot issue ever since the passing of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act in 1994, in which dietary manufacturers must make sure their product is safe and that their label is true and not deceptive. Dietary supplements are not regulated like pharmaceutical drugs or a food item, which means that manufacturers do not have to promise the ingredients of their products. This lack of regulation means that anybody can put their product in the market and could have too much of an ingredient or too little. We all know that having too much of a ingredient can be harmful to our health along with using dietary supplements to substitute for a meal or pills prescribed to us by our doctor. It is important for doctors to know if their patient is taking any of these “natural” supplements to avoid any drug interactions. Even though these supplements are considered “natural,” they may not completely be safe for everybody. It is important for consumers, nurses, and doctors to be aware of the myths regarding these supplements and the harmful effects they have can towards the individual. Can you believe that the use of dietary supplements is worldwide and over half of Americans take them? It is crucial for consumers to consult their nurse or physician regarding any dietary supplement.

http://www.dshedu.com/DSHEA_Legal/dshea.html
http://www.fdareview.org/glossary.shtml
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Be proactive and do your research!

To check out a product, FDA health fraud coordinators suggest:

Talk to a doctor or another health professional.
Talk to family members and friends.

Check with the Better Business Bureau or local attorneys generals' offices to see whether complaints have been made about the product.
Check with a health professional group (American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, National Arthritis Foundation, etc).
Contact the FDA office closest to you, or go to www.fda.gov/ora/fed_state/dfsr_activities/dfsr_pas.html.



http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1999/699_fraud.html

Diet danger? How the FDA feels!

FOX News released an informative video on December 23, 2008, regarding the FDA investigation of over 30 weight loss drugs containing hazardous ingredients. Click here to view!

Dr. Robert Ashton warns consumers of weight loss pills that the “ingredients in a lot of these dietary supplements that seem to be coming out of China but it's not actually listed…They can cause problems especially for people with heart related illnesses. So, the bottom line is: Do not take any dietary supplements for weight loss without a doctor's prescription and under his care. Zero. No question about that."

These weight loss pills are often called the natural fat busters and that sort of thing and people think, “Oh, if it's natural it's got to be good for me and not even dangerous."

"Well a lot of things are natural – we always talk about how marijuana and cocaine are natural substances but I don't think they're good for you. So, the answer is the only natural dietary supplement that I recommend is water. Drinking water instead of calorie juices and drinks is probably the best weight loss. Any dietary supplement that has weight loss attached to it, do not take without consulting a doctor.”

http://www.foxnews.com/video-search/m/21707789/diet_danger.htm#q=weight+loss+pills

Meaningful Quotes: What the experts are saying!

Sidney M. Wolfe, M.D., Director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group, Washington, D.C.: “No diet drug has ever had any evidence of long-term benefit.” He points to previously FDA-approved drugs like Dexatrim, which were eventually yanked off the market. “We’ve always advocated that the only way to lose weight is very slowly,” i.e., about a pound a week through diet and exercise. “Unless you believe in magic, these pills or crash diets don’t work. The history of over-the-counter weight-loss drugs is pretty grim.”

Caren Feingold Tishfield, R.D., Nutritionist at Foodtrainers, New York City, NY: “Historically, weight-loss medications have helped people lose weight, but there are important caveats. “If a weight-loss drug can help someone get on track with living a healthier lifestyle, and [it is] used in the short term, then there’s a place for it.” But the drugs “can't be used in place of changing your diet and exercising.”

CHECK OUT THE ABC News VIDEO HERE ("Diet Pill Myths Debunked")!

http://www.revolutionhealth.com/articles/alli-ticket-to-slim-or-empty-promise/article.2007-06-12.9891775917?ipc=B00497&section=section_00