Articles filed under 'DIET & WEIGHT LOSS'
Xenical is a prescription weight loss drug primarily intended for adults who are obese, with a body mass index of 30 or higher. It can also be used effectively in those who are considered overweight (BMI of 27-29). Persons with other risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease or diabetes can also benefit from taking Xenical (orlistat) for weight loss.
Xenical must be taken in conjunction with a regular exercise program and a nutritionally balanced diet containing no more than 30% calories from fat. Taking a daily multivitamin supplement is also important, as Xenical reduces the absorption of vitamins from food.
This weight-loss drug works differently from other diet drugs, as it does not suppress your appetite. Instead, Xenical blocks the absorption of a portion of your dietary fat intake to produce weight loss. As a result, Xenical produces gastrointestinal side effects that usually occur in the first weeks of treatment. Side effects usually taper off after the first few months. You may experience side effects such as gas with oily discharge, underwear stains, and an increased number of bowel movements. These side effects can be minimized by staying within the 30% dietary fat guidelines.
If side effects become distressing, discuss the symptoms with your prescribing doctor or pharmacist. You should not take Xenical if you are pregnant, nursing, have food absorption problems or reduced bile flow. Children should not be given Xenical for weight loss.
Several clinical studies have shown that after 52 weeks, persons on a reduced fat diet who took Xenical as prescribed lost an average of twice as much weight as those (in the control group) on the diet alone. That is, 13 pounds, compared to about 6 pounds. Within the first three months, those on Xenical had lost 3% of their body weight. There is clear scientific evidence to demonstrate that obese or significantly overweight persons who lose as little as 5% to 10% of their body weight can improve their health.
The clear health benefits of the effects of weight loss with Xenical on other weight-related health problems such as high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure have been assessed in seven studies of 1 to 2 years. These studies involved multicenters, double-blind, and placebo-controlled clinical trials. More than 4,100 patients took part.
Clearly, there is now a weight loss drug that effectively takes weight off and helps improve general health if your excessive pounds put you at risk. The question is, will the side effects be tolerable to you? Will you be motivated to do the following:
- Set realistic, achievable weight-loss goals with your doctor?
- Take Xenical three times daily with meals?
- Record your food intake each day, and eat a reduced-calorie diet with 30% or less calories from fat?
- Take one multi-vitamin daily — 2 hours before or after taking Xenical or at bedtime?
- Maintain a realistic exercise program?
An over-the-counter version of Xenical, a reduced-strength version, is now being sold under the name “alli.” This drug is approximately half-strength of the prescription version. Alli is also intended for use along with diet and exercise programs. Taking the drug without the other components is unlikely to produce the desired results.
The FDA recently approved the sale of alli without prescription. The agency cautioned that people who had organ transplants should not take orlistat (Xenical) or alli because of possible drug interaction side effects. Those taking blood-thinning medications or being treated for diabetes or thyroid disease should also consult a doctor before using alli, according to the agency.
Sources: xenical.com; cnn.com
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February 12th, 2007
Latest results in Phase III studies of the experimental weight-loss drug Accomplia (rimonabant) created growing excitement over this potentially major breakthrough in treating obesity. Over 3,000 patients took part in this two-year study in which roughly half took a 20 mg dose of Accomplia, and half the placebo (fake) pill.
(Note: If you are looking for the best price on Acomplia you should take a look at the online Pharmacy SelfServeRX.com)
The results published in a February 2006 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) article indicated that Acomplia helped obese people lose significant weight (11.7 pounds on average for those taking Accomplia, compared to 3 pounds in the control group). All participants experienced weight loss and reduced caloric intake by about 600 calories.
In addition to weight loss, waist circumference was reduced by 2 inches for the study group, versus 0.7 inches for the placebo or control group. In other positive measures, Accomplia raised good cholesterol, lowered triglicerides, and reduced other cardiac risk factors. In studies of obese diabetics, Accomplia reduced their all-important HbA1c level – a measure of blood sugar control.
Results of four clinical trials totaling 6,000 participants (RIO-Diabetes trial, RIO-North American, RIO Europe, and RIP Lipids) have been submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and European regulators. Researchers hope to gain approval to market Accomplia widely by summer 2006. This development is exciting news for millions of obese and seriously overweight Americans and Europeans.
Side effects of the Acomplia were mainly mild and occurred during the first few weeks of starting the drug therapy, after which they usually disappeared. Nausea (12 percent), dizziness (9 percent), diarrhea (7 percent), vomiting (6 percent), low blood sugar (5 percent), fatigue (5 percent) and anxiety (5 percent) were among the symptoms that caused a small number of participants to leave the study (about 3 percent on the high dose of Accomplia and 0.9 percent in the placebo group left the study before completion.)
Acomplia is the first of a new line of medications that affect the body’s cannabinoid receptors. In most persons, these receptors act much as marijuana does, altering the mood and increasing the appetite. Because the new drug targets these receptors that elevate mood, some people taking Acomplia became somewhat depressed.
Despite feeling a bit down, they continued the drug, completed the study, lost weight and kept it off as long as they remained on the drug. Study investigators point out that Accomplia is for chronic treatment and patients need to stay on it indefinitely to maintain weight loss and other benefits.
Richard Kahn, chief scientific and medical officer of the American Diabetes Association, noted that the drug has created excitement, but “the real issue is post marketing surveillance.” The true test of Accomplia’s safety will take place when persons taking the drug number in the hundreds of thousands.
Sources: Dr. Dean Edell program on ABC, 2/16/06, Oakland Tribune, reporting from article in Newsday by Jamie Talan, 2/16/06
The Web-based material included here is from an independent news site reporting on rimonabant, a diet drug developed by Sanofi-Synthelabo Inc., which plans to market it under the trademarked name Accomplia. Nothing on this site is intended to infringe on that trademark. Nothing on this site is intended as medical advice. The information provided here is for informational purposes only. Always consult a doctor or other medical professional with questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
March 24th, 2006
A study of 48,000 women ages 50 to 79 on a low fat diet and who were followed for eight years showed little statistical benefit in reducing their risks of heart disease and cancer. The study was published in the Journal of the American Association (JAMA) in early February.
The conclusion, women who limited fat intake had basically the same rates of breast cancer, colon cancer, heart attacks and strokes as those who ate any foods they liked. However, a statistically insignificant decline in breast cancer was seen in women with lower fat intake.
Some, such as Dr. Dean Ornish — founder of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, CA — disputed the study results. Dr. Ornish expressed the idea that the women failed to reduce their fat intake to low enough levels or eat enough fruits and vegetables. Eight years was insufficient time to be a true test, he said.
Other prominent physicians reacted by saying that controlling the diet a woman eats is not enough. We must examine how much they eat, whether they smoke, and if they are too inactive. Genetics or family history also plays a big role in a woman’s risks for heart disease or cancer.
Although all study participants were women, the results should also apply to men’s risk of heart disease (www.Americanheart.org), according to Dr. Jacques Rossouw, project officer for the Women’s Health Initiative.
The highly reputable study was carried out under the auspices of the National Institutes of Health. (The NIH’s Women’s Health Initiative study on hormone replacement therapy) also found that HRT after menopause might have more risks than benefits.
Cardiologist Nanette Wenger, on staff at Emory University, concluded that a modest reduction of fat and a substitution with fruits and vegetables did little for prevention of heart disease, stroke, breast cancer or colorectal cancer. She added, “It doesn’t say that this diet is not beneficial.”
Most medical researchers agree that it makes good sense to eat well, control weight and exercise regularly. The lesson is that simply reducing your total dietary fat is not enough.
Dr. Dean Edell’s take on the subject was that women’s health habits before the age of 50 may have more significance for developing or preventing disease than what they do later in life. He also pointed out that the types of fat that women consumed were not clearly delineated in this study. Apparently, the study was conceived before evidence pinpointed the chief dietary hazards leading to heart disease – transfats and saturated fats.
Saturated fats found in dairy products and meat and the transfats in processed foods — such as doughnuts, pastries, cookies, and fries — are thought to be problematic. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats in vegetable oil and fish oil may be beneficial or less harmful. Another long-term study is needed to separate out the types of fats consumed, according to Margaret Warner’s guests appearing on PBS’ The News Hour.
Sources: New York Times (2/8/06) (www.nytimes.com); San Francisco Chronicle (2/8/06; 2/12/06) (www.sfgate/chronicle.com); Dr. Dean Edell broadcasts on ABC (2/7/06 and 2/8/06) (www.healthcentral.com); The News Hour, Margaret Warner, on PBS (2/8/06) (www.pbs.org)
March 22nd, 2006
