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Dr. Ronald Sha comments: FDA clears first new weight-loss pill in 13 years
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By: Matthew Perrone | Associated Press, NBC-17 Published: June 27, 2012 Updated: June 27, 2012 - 4:36 PM
The Food and Drug Administration has approved Arena Pharmaceutical's anti-obesity pill Belviq, the first new prescription drug for long-term weightloss to enter the U.S. market in over a decade.
Despite only achieving modest weightloss in clinical studies, the drug appeared safe enough to win the FDA's endorsement, amid calls from doctors for new weight-loss treatments.
The agency cleared the pill Wednesday for adults who are obese or are overweight with at least one medical complication, such as diabetes or high cholesterol.
The FDA denied approval for Arena's drug in 2010 after scientists raised concerns about tumors that developed in animals studied with the drug. The company resubmitted the drug with additional data earlier this year, and the FDA said there was little risk of tumors in humans.
Dr. Ronald Sha, medical director at Duke Diet and Fitness Center, said the FDA sets the bar high, which should hopefully mean the drug is safe.
The FDA realizes that as soon as theres a weight loss medicine approved, two-thirds of American adults are going to want to take it and the FDA realizes that if only a tiny fraction of a percentage of people have side effects, thats thousands of people who have side effects," he said
Still, he's not ready to prescribe it. He wants to wait a few months after it's on the market before allowing his patients to take it.
"There have been a large number of weight loss medicines approved in this country that have subsequently been taken off the market after theyve been found to have unpleasant side effects, so I think itd be wise to just wait and see if its completely safe," he said.
"The approval of this drug, used responsibly in combination with a healthy diet and lifestyle, provides a treatment option for Americans who are obese or are overweight and have at least one weight-related comorbid condition," said FDA's drug center director, Dr. Janet Woodcock, in a statement.
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Dr. Ronald Sha comments: FDA clears first new weight-loss pill in 13 years
Arena's Belviq is first new prescription weight-loss pill to win US approval in over a decade
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By Matthew Perrone, The Associated Press
WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration has approved Arena Pharmaceutical's anti-obesity pill Belviq, the first new prescription drug for long-term weight loss to enter the U.S. market in over a decade.
Despite only achieving modest weight loss in clinical studies, the drug appeared safe enough to win the FDA's endorsement, amid calls from doctors for new weight-loss treatments.
The agency cleared the pill Wednesday for adults who are obese or are overweight with at least one medical complication, such as diabetes or high cholesterol.
The FDA denied approval for Arena's drug in 2010 after scientists raised concerns about tumors that developed in animals studied with the drug. The company resubmitted the drug with additional data earlier this year, and the FDA said there was little risk of tumors in humans.
"The approval of this drug, used responsibly in combination with a healthy diet and lifestyle, provides a treatment option for Americans who are obese or are overweight and have at least one weight-related comorbid condition," said FDA's drug centre director, Dr. Janet Woodcock, in a statement.
Arena and its partner Eisai Inc. expect to launch the drug in early 2013.
With U.S. obesity rates nearing 35 per cent of the adult population, many doctors have called on the FDA to approve new weight loss treatments.
But a long line of prescription weight loss offerings have been associated with safety problems, most notably the fen-phen combination, which was linked to heart valve damage in 1997. The cocktail of phentermine and fenfluramine was a popular weight loss combination prescribed by doctors, though it was never approved by FDA.
In a rare move, the FDA explicitly stated in a press release that Belviq "does not appear to activate" a chemical pathway that was linked to the heart problems seen with fen-phen.
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Arena's Belviq is first new prescription weight-loss pill to win US approval in over a decade
US clears first new weight-loss pill in 13 years
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WASHINGTON (AP) The Food and Drug Administration has approved Arena Pharmaceutical's anti-obesity pill Belviq, the first new prescription drug for long-term weight loss to enter the U.S. market in over a decade.
Despite only achieving modest weight loss in clinical studies, the drug appeared safe enough to win the FDA's endorsement, amid calls from doctors for new weight-loss treatments.
The agency cleared the pill Wednesday for adults who are obese or are overweight with at least one medical complication, such as diabetes or high cholesterol.
The FDA denied approval for Arena's drug in 2010 after scientists raised concerns about tumors that developed in animals studied with the drug. The company resubmitted the drug with additional data earlier this year, and the FDA said there was little risk of tumors in humans.
"The approval of this drug, used responsibly in combination with a healthy diet and lifestyle, provides a treatment option for Americans who are obese or are overweight and have at least one weight-related comorbid condition," said FDA's drug center director, Dr. Janet Woodcock, in a statement.
Arena and its partner Eisai Inc. expect to launch the drug in early 2013.
With U.S. obesity rates nearing 35 percent of the adult population, many doctors have called on the FDA to approve new weight loss treatments.
But a long line of prescription weight loss offerings have been associated with safety problems, most notably the fen-phen combination, which was linked to heart valve damage in 1997. The cocktail of phentermine and fenfluramine was a popular weight loss combination prescribed by doctors, though it was never approved by FDA.
In a rare move, the FDA explicitly stated in a press release that Belviq "does not appear to activate" a chemical pathway that was linked to the heart problems seen with fen-phen.
The FDA said the drug acts on a different chemical pathway in the brain, which is believed to reduce appetite by boosting feelings of satiety and fullness.
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US clears first new weight-loss pill in 13 years
At new Lurie Children’s Hospital, ‘back to just taking care of kids’
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BY TINA SFONDELES Staff reporter tsfondeles@suntimes.com June 15, 2012 4:20PM
Updated: June 15, 2012 8:59PM
A sick child in need of an organ at the newly opened Lurie Childrens Hospital got express delivery this week.
With a live donor at nearby Northwestern Memorial Hospital, a transport team used Luries fifth floor bridge to carry over the harvested organ.
And new mothers at Prentice Womens Hospital at Northwestern also got an added bonus: traveling over the bridge to visit their sick newborns at Lurie.
Week one is over for the staff and patients at the Streeterville hospital, which safely transported 126 patients from its now shuttered Lincoln Park hospital on June 9.
Nearly 15,000 boxes were relocated; about 4,700 pieces of medical equipment were moved. And more than 1,200 computers and printers were brought over.
Less than 12 hours after the move, Dr. Tord Alden was performing an emergency brain surgery in one of the new operating rooms.
Within four hours, the neurosurgeon successfully removed a brain tumor affecting a boys vision.
Alden was the first to use Luries operating rooms. At first, he says, things looked a bit different. But when the boy came in, everything snapped into place.
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At new Lurie Children’s Hospital, ‘back to just taking care of kids’
World's youngest gastric sleeve patient says having risky weightloss surgery at 12 changed her life
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Betsy Sanchez, 14, has slimmed down from 15st to 10st following operation Controversial procedure carried out by her uncle Family say losing weight stopped bullies taunting the teenager
By Emma Reynolds
PUBLISHED: 06:44 EST, 12 June 2012 | UPDATED: 21:02 EST, 12 June 2012
The world's youngest gastric sleeve patient claims having risky weightloss surgery at 12 years old transformed her life.
Betsy Sanchez, from Coahuila in Mexico, is delighted to have slimmed down from 15 to ten stone since having 70 per cent of her stomach removed.
Having now taken up exercise for the first time, 14-year-old Betsy is no longer a target for cruel bullies who teased her about her size.
Radical change: Betsy Sanchez before the weightloss surgery, left, and after shedding five stone, right
Active lifestyle: Betsy, who was morbidly obese at 15st, is now 10st and enjoys horse-riding and spending time with friends
The change took place thanks to the her uncle, Dr Guillermo Alvarez, a bariatric surgeon who carries out the controversial permanent weightloss operations on adolescents.
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World's youngest gastric sleeve patient says having risky weightloss surgery at 12 changed her life
Teen texting behind wheel common, study finds
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Forty-two percent of Massachusetts high school students who drive admit they text while behind the wheel, according to a state survey to be released Friday.
The report, from the states Department of Public Health, also finds that texting while driving is most common among high school seniors, with 61 percent of drivers admitting to the behavior, more than three times the percentage for sophomore drivers.
A national survey released Thursday also found high rates of texting while driving. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey found that 33 percent of high school students said they texted or e-mailed while driving - although the wording of the question differed from the Massachusetts survey, making the results hard to compare.
The findings come a day after Massachusetts made headlines for the conviction of a Haverhill teenager who caused a fatal crash while texting - the first such verdict in the state.
Aaron Deveau, 18, was sentenced to a year in prison on Wednesday for the February 2011 accident that killed 56-year-old Donald Bowley of New Hampshire.
The state survey queried nearly 5,400 high school students in the spring of 2011 on a wide variety of health and behavior issues, from cyber-bullying to perceptions of obesity.
It found that overall, 16 percent of Massachusetts high school students reported being a victim of electronic bullying, via e-mail, chat rooms, websites, or texting. Females were more than twice as likely as males to endure the assaults, the report found.
On weight issues, the survey found that not much has changed since 2003 - except perceptions.
Roughly a quarter of the states high school students over the past decade have been overweight or obese, but the percentage of those who view themselves with a weight problem has measurably declined during that time, with just 28 percent indicating it as an issue last year, down from 31 percent in 2003 - a statistically significant difference.
Being overweight or obese has started to become the new normal, said Dr. Lauren Smith, medical director of the states health department, noting that this change could mean fewer students are motivated to lose weight.
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Teen texting behind wheel common, study finds
Rockies fall to Dodgers, lose Nicasio to knee injury
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The Rockies lost twice Saturday afternoon at Coors Field.
The Dodgers beat them 6-2, snapping the Rockies' five-game winning streak.
The Rockies also lost starter Juan Nicasio to a strained left knee in the second inning. After the game, Nicasio had trouble putting weight on his left leg but said he hoped to make his next start. That might be wishful thinking.
Manager Jim Tracy said the club would know more about Nicasio's status, and his possible replacement, today.
Turning point. Carlos Gonzalez had rented Superman's cape for nearly a week, driving in 11 runs in his past six games. But he twice failed in his role as hero Saturday.
Facing Dodgers starter Aaron Harang in the fifth, Gonzalez fouled out with one out and the bases loaded. CarGo slammed his bat in anger.
"That was just the frustration of the moment," Gonzalez said. "It was a pitch out of the strike zone, and I should have just taken the pitch."
CarGo had another chance in the seventh. With two on, he hit a screamer to first baseman James Loney, who turned a slick inning-ending double play.
On the mound. Nicasio twisted his knee on a sharp grounder up the middle by Elian Herrera. Herrera's two-run single put the Dodgers in front 3-1. Nicasio provided an uneven performance before his exit, needing 45 pitches (25 strikes) to get through 1 innings. He was charged with three runs (two earned) on four hits.
Lefty Matt Reynolds pitched two innings of relief, one good, one costly. In the sixth, Bobby Abreu hit a two-out solo homer, and then Andre Ethier doubled and scored on Adam Kennedy's single. The two runs gave the Dodgers a comfortable 6-1 lead.
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Rockies fall to Dodgers, lose Nicasio to knee injury
'Sixty stone' girl in hospital after house rescue
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'Sixty stone' girl in hospital after house rescue
Diet Doc hCG Diet Program Unveils Recent Report of People Losing 30 Pounds In One Month with Doctor Designed Diet
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Diet Doc hCG Weight Loss publishes recent report showing people losing 30 pounds in one month with a new doctor designed diet utilizing a personalized weight loss program, which speaks to each individual's health history resulting in rapid weight loss.
New York, NY (PRWEB) May 15, 2012
Diet Doc hCG Diet Program publishes the findings of their recent patient diet report showing an average of 30 pounds of weight loss (on average) per month.
Weight loss goals are being met all over the Nation, but the most remarkable is Diet Doc's latest report of 30 pounds in one month. Diet Doc personalizes a weight loss program for each person and utilizes prescription grade HCG and proprietary weight loss products for rapid, sustainable weight loss results.
Diet Doc is a nationwide weight loss program that is revolutionary with their state-of-the-art diet that sheds weight faster than patients have ever reported previously states Julie Wright, president of Diet Doc.
The Diet Doc's diet difference is in that they personalize a weight loss program for each person based on their health history, age, gender and lifestyle reports Wright. Add to that, the patient consults with diet doctors, weight loss nurses and nutritional coaches weekly and this is the basis for successful claims Wright.
Diet Doc utilizes prescription medications, specifically formulated weight loss shakes, and a unique diet oil. People eat regular grocery store food, but are asked to remove carbohydrates and sugar. A typical day; egg white omelets, shake, unlimited vegetables and a chicken breast, shake, chicken gumbo, then shake again reports Wright.
Diet Doc is a clinically based medically, supervised diet. They do not utilize fad diet techniques, such as the feeding tube diet, ke diet or k-e diet or hCG plus (drops). Their diet doctors rely on a specific, proven weight loss diet that is personalized and highly effective. Also, people might not understand that diets such as the feeding tube diet or k-e diet actually burn muscle which causes loose skin, and changes in the fat within normal parts of the body. Green coffee extract isn't strong enough reports Wright to burn weight and get the startling results achieved at Diet Doc.
Diet Doc provides medical weight loss to patients across the nation. Their proven techniques have helped thousands of people lose weight, now with reported results of up to 30 pounds per month, safely, with lasting results.
For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/5/prweb9504757.htm
Why Employees Should Attend Wellness Training (Video)
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Diana: Tony, I didn't see you at the employee wellness training session on successful weight management today.
Tony: Hi Diana. Yeah, sorry I had to take a phone call. Besides I actually didn't need the training. I work out a lot, so I can pretty much eat whatever I want and still stay in good shape.
Diana: Oh, yes I've noticed. So, you're saying you didn't need the training?
Tony: Um, well, I'm sure you did a great job training everyone so no offense. But yeah.
Diana: I have the quiz that attendees took at the end of the training session. Would you like to take the quiz?
Tony: Sure, why not?
Diana: Great! OK. Number one, in order to safely and effectively lose weight and keep it off, must you reduce calories, increase exercise, or do both?
Tony: Oh, that's easy. Increase exercise.
Diana: Actually, Tony the answer is do both. You need to reduce calories and increase exercise to safely and effectively lose weight and keep it off.
Diana: OK, next question. Once youre middle-aged, its easy to start gaining a pound or two a year even if you dont eat more.
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Why Employees Should Attend Wellness Training (Video)