2008 Woodie Awards
Magic Diet Pills: Not So Magic After All
Josh Hockett
Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: Health
These days, many Americans are looking for a quick means to lose weight and reclaim their glory days of fitness, health and a slim, trim physique. Sadly, many continue to look high and far for the proverbial magic pill to get them to this former state of bliss as soon as possible with minimal effort. Just pop a pill, sip some water and voila; you're a lean, mean, fighting machine once more! I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it never works out this way. Several medications and drugs now exist, both prescription medications and over the counter (OTC) drugs. As of late, the count of popular weight loss drugs is four according to major study completed by the British Medical Journal in November 2007, which had scientists from Canada, Brazil, Europe and the US review the effectiveness of these particular drugs. The results were not supportive for those who might be thinking about an easy way out. "Drugs are not the magic cure and are not for everybody," said Dr. Raj Padwal, an assistant professor at the University of Alberta in Canada. "But in specific patients, they have great benefits." To give some insight on the studies under review, let me give some examples of the outcomes these studies had over a duration of one to four years.
In the sixteen trials that tested Orlistat, which involved 10,631 people (Orlistat works by preventing fat digestion), Orlistat helped people lose about 6.6 pounds on average and also reduced diabetes and improved their cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Up to 30% of patients had unpleasant digestive and intestinal side effects, such as incontinence. The drug Alli is a low dose of orlistat sold in US markets.
In the ten trials on Sibutramine, which involved 2,623 people, study participants lost about nine pounds on average and had improved cholesterol levels. In up to 20% of patients, Sibutramine caused side effects including raised blood pressure and pulse rates, insomnia and nausea.
In four Rimonabant studies involving 6,365 people, scientists found that users lost on average about eleven pounds. Rimonabant also improved their blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The risk of mood disorders increased in 6% of patients. (Sibutramine and Rimonabant work by interrupting nerve signals in the brain that lead to hunger.) Another study published in The Lancet also showed that Rimonabant raised the risk of psychiatric problems such as depression and anxiety. The Food and Drug Administration in June 2007 found that 26% of people on Rimonabant -- versus 14% of those given a placebo -- developed symptoms that included depression, anxiety and, in severe cases, suicidal tendencies. The FDA refuses to authorize the drug for use is the US.
In the sixteen trials that tested Orlistat, which involved 10,631 people (Orlistat works by preventing fat digestion), Orlistat helped people lose about 6.6 pounds on average and also reduced diabetes and improved their cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Up to 30% of patients had unpleasant digestive and intestinal side effects, such as incontinence. The drug Alli is a low dose of orlistat sold in US markets.
In the ten trials on Sibutramine, which involved 2,623 people, study participants lost about nine pounds on average and had improved cholesterol levels. In up to 20% of patients, Sibutramine caused side effects including raised blood pressure and pulse rates, insomnia and nausea.
In four Rimonabant studies involving 6,365 people, scientists found that users lost on average about eleven pounds. Rimonabant also improved their blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The risk of mood disorders increased in 6% of patients. (Sibutramine and Rimonabant work by interrupting nerve signals in the brain that lead to hunger.) Another study published in The Lancet also showed that Rimonabant raised the risk of psychiatric problems such as depression and anxiety. The Food and Drug Administration in June 2007 found that 26% of people on Rimonabant -- versus 14% of those given a placebo -- developed symptoms that included depression, anxiety and, in severe cases, suicidal tendencies. The FDA refuses to authorize the drug for use is the US.
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