Medications Target Long-Term Weight Control

New drugs are the first approved by the FDA in 13 years

By James Limbach, ConsumerAffairs.com

More than one-third of U.S. adults are obese, and obesity contributes to a number of health conditions, including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol.

To help obese and overweight Americans who have been unsuccessful in getting their weight under control with diet and exercise, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two new medications -- the first drugs for long-term weight management that FDA has approved in 13 years.

Life-long meds

Marketed as Belviq and Qsymia, these prescription medications would be taken for the rest of a person’s life. “For many people, obesity is a life-long condition, but we don’t always think of it -- or treat it -- as such,” says Amy Egan, M.D., M.P.H., deputy director for safety in FDA’s Division of Metabolism and Endocrinology Products (DMEP).

“Qsymia and Belviq are considered life-long therapies in patients who respond to and tolerate them,” says Egan.

The drugs are meant to be used in conjunction with a balanced diet and exercise, says Mary Roberts, M.D., a medical officer in DMEP. “These drugs are another tool to be used by someone trying to reach and stay at a healthy weight,” she says.

Read the entire article here.

RECALL: AquaMax Products: Potential Elevated Vitamin D

PMI Nutrition International Initiates Voluntary Recall of AquaMax™ Products; Expands Voluntary Recall of Mazuri® and LabDiet®Feed Products Due to Potential Elevated Vitamin D Level

By FDA.gov

PMI Nutrition International is initiating a voluntary recall of certain varieties of the AquaMax™ feed products with specific lot codes listed below, due to the potential for elevated vitamin D levels. Although no customer complaints have been received to date, the products are being recalled due to analytical test results that indicate a potential for elevated levels of vitamin D.

The company is also expanding its previously announced voluntary recalls to include additional varieties of the Mazuri® and LabDiet® feed products with specific lot codes listed below due to analytical test results on additional lots of retained samples that indicate a potential for elevated levels of vitamin D. Elevated vitamin D levels may cause death, or otherwise be harmful to animals and fish if fed for extended periods potentially resulting in lack of interest in eating, weight loss and possible joint stiffness. These products are being added to those from earlier recalls announced on July 3, 2012 and July 6, 2012* which were initiated after receiving a small number of customer complaints which involved animal illness and small bird and guinea pig mortality.

All products included in these recalls were manufactured at the Richmond, IN feed plant and were distributed nationwide and to Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Mexico, Cambodia, Japan, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Chile, and the United Kingdom, starting April 2, 2012 through May 8, 2012. Dealers have been contacted and asked to hold these products and to notify and retrieve the product from customers. The affected product should not be used, and where applicable, be returned to the retail dealer.

Lot numbers are laser printed on the back of each paper bag, near the top. Lot numbers are formatted as follows: APR= Month / 17=Day of Month / 12 =Year / 2 =Plant Code.

See the complete list of recalled items and the entire article here.

Exercise and Weight Loss: 5 Truths

Experts Weigh In on How Much Exercise Affects Weight Loss and Weight Maintenance

By Miranda Hitti, WebMD

You've heard it time and again -- to lose weight, you need to exercise and watch your diet, so that your calories burned exceed your calories consumed.

But if you've been working out and your extra pounds won't budge, you may be wondering why that seemingly simple strategy isn't working.

Don't hang up your sneakers and throw in the towel. If you do, you're going to miss out on the biggest weight perk exercise has to offer, experts tell WebMD.

Read the entire article here.

Blood Pressure Medicine Linked To Severe Gastric Distress

Mayo Clinic doctors find olmesartan can cause nausea, vomiting and weight loss

By Mark Huffman, ConsumerAffairs.com

Olmesartan is a commonly prescribed medication that helps patients control their blood pressure. But Mayo Clinic researchers say it can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss and electrolyte abnormalities -- symptoms common among those who have celiac disease.

The findings are published online in the medical journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Their discovery took shape over a three year period, from 2008 to 2011. Doctors at Mayo Clinic treated 22 patients with symptoms similar to celiac disease who suffered symptoms like chronic diarrhea and weight loss. The median weight loss was 39 pounds, and one patient lost 125 pounds. Fourteen of the 22 were hospitalized because of the severity of their symptoms.

Read the entire article here.