FDA approves another fat pill

[SnakeBoy]

FDA Approves Weight Loss Drug Qsymia

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the diet drug Qsymia, the agency's latest move to give doctors and their patients more tools to fight excessive weight gain as obesity rates continue to bulge in the U.S. and around the world....
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/fda-approves-diet-drug-qnexa/story?id=16797062

Was dissapproved 2 years ago due to cardiac risk, impaired cognitive function, and birth defects but I guess now the FDA has realized that fat america would rather take these risks instead of eating healthy & exercising.

I find it pathetic that people will gobble these pills up but that didn't stop me from loading up on stock just before the decision. Tomorrow should be a great day for me.

[mavs>spurs]

probably kills your kidney and liver too

[baseline bum]

I8JrDO0QzD4

^ only good part of GTA4

[Wild Cobra]

Well, I saw something in the news today. If it's the same thing I read about, the pill is a combination of two ingredients known of for years. One is an appetite suppressant, and the other makes the food you eat more satisfying. If I recall, it had an average 12+% fat loss over a years time.

Thing is. people don't always eat because of hunger or lack of satisfying food. For them it's an empty promise.

[Wild Cobra]

Well, I saw something in the news today. If it's the same thing I read about, the pill is a combination of two ingredients known of for years. One is an appetite suppressant, and the other makes the food you eat more satisfying. If I recall, it had an average 12+% fat loss over a years time.

Thing is, people don't always eat because of hunger or lack of satisfying food. For them it's an empty promise.

[SnakeBoy]

Yeah it's a combo drug, from the article...


Qsymia is a combination of two FDA-approved drugs: phentermine, a stimulant related to the amphetamines that suppresses the appetite, and topiramate, a drug used to treat migraines and epilepsy that has weight-loss side effects

[SnakeBoy]

Meth will be cheaper.

[Wild Cobra]

Meth will be cheaper.
LOL...

Wouldn't it be funny if meth had fewer side effects?

[mavs>spurs]

I'd stay away from the poison guys

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/14/us/14florida.html


Legal Drugs Kill Far More Than Illegal, Florida Says
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By DAMIEN CAVE
Published: June 14, 2008
MIAMI — From “Scarface” to “Miami Vice,” Florida’s drug problem has been portrayed as the story of a single narcotic: cocaine. But for Floridians, prescription drugs are increasingly a far more lethal habit.

An analysis of autopsies in 2007 released this week by the Florida Medical Examiners Commission found that the rate of deaths caused by prescription drugs was three times the rate of deaths caused by all illicit drugs combined.

Law enforcement officials said that the shift toward prescription-drug abuse, which began here about eight years ago, showed no sign of letting up and that the state must do more to control it.

“You have health care providers involved, you have doctor shoppers, and then there are crimes like robbing drug shipments,” said Jeff Beasley, a drug intelligence inspector for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which co-sponsored the study. “There is a multitude of ways to get these drugs, and that’s what makes things complicated.”

The report’s findings track with similar studies by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, which has found that roughly seven million Americans are abusing prescription drugs. If accurate, that would be an increase of 80 percent in six years and more than the total abusing cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, Ecstasy and inhalants.

The Florida report analyzed 168,900 deaths statewide. Cocaine, heroin and all methamphetamines caused 989 deaths, it found, while legal opioids — strong painkillers in brand-name drugs like Vicodin and OxyContin — caused 2,328.

Drugs with benzodiazepine, mainly depressants like Valium and Xanax, led to 743 deaths. Alcohol was the most commonly occurring drug, appearing in the bodies of 4,179 of the dead and judged the cause of death of 466 — fewer than cocaine (843) but more than methamphetamine (25) and marijuana (0).

The study also found that while the number of people who died with heroin in their bodies increased 14 percent in 2007, to 110, deaths related to the opioid oxycodone increased 36 percent, to 1,253.

Florida scrutinizes drug-related deaths more closely than do other states, and so there is little basis for comparison with them.

It has also witnessed several highly publicized cases in recent years that have highlighted the problem. Only last year, an accidental prescription drug overdose killed Anna Nicole Smith in Broward County.

Still, the state has lagged in enforcement. Thirty-eight other states have approved prescription drug monitoring programs that track sales. Florida lawmakers have repeatedly considered similar legislation, but privacy concerns have kept it from passing.

As a result, federal, state and local law enforcement officials say, Florida has become a source of prescription drugs that are illegally sold across the country.

“The monitoring plan is our priority effort, but that is not enough,” William H. Janes, the Florida director of drug control, said in a statement accompanying the study. He said Florida was also looking at ways to curb illegal Internet sales and to encourage doctors and pharmacists to identify potential abusers.

Some local police departments have taken a more novel approach.

In Broward County on May 31, deputies completed a “drug takeback” in which $5 Wal-Mart, CVS or Walgreens gift cards were distributed to 150 people who cleaned out their medicine cabinets and turned in unused drugs in an effort to keep them out of young people’s hands.

“The abuse has reached epidemic proportions,” said Lisa McElhaney, a sergeant in the pharmaceutical drug diversion unit of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. “It’s just explosive.”

[boutons_deux]

America has been convinced, hypnotized by BigPharma's and BigFood's $100B+/year marketing that taking their shit solves problems. It's nothing but old timey 19th century snake oil.

As with BigFood, it's all about YOUR Benjamins, $B of them, getting into their pockets, not about your health. BigFood makes you sick and BigPharma doesn't make you unsick.

[MannyIsGod]

Thats what the pharmacutical lobby gets you.

[Oh, Gee!!]

here's a wonder drug: eat nutritional meals, exercise 4 to 5 times a week, get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night, and use alcohol in moderation.

[Drachen]

here's a wonder drug: eat nutritional meals, exercise 4 to 5 times a week, get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night, and use alcohol in moderation.

I don't do any of that...(well I don't drink very much any more) and yesterday I just officially crossed the threshold from obese to merely overweight (according to the BMI index) though I am pretty sure that I would not have been considered obese even 10 lbs ago since I have a wide frame.

Edit: To be fair I almost do all of that. I eat whatever I want (as long as I stay under 2k calories), ride bike 2-3 times a week, and get 5-6 hours of sleep. LOL, I am just being a dick.

[Oh, Gee!!]

I don't do any of that...(well I don't drink very much any more) and yesterday I just officially crossed the threshold from obese to merely overweight (according to the BMI index) though I am pretty sure that I would not have been considered obese even 10 lbs ago since I have a wide frame.

Edit: To be fair I almost do all of that. I eat whatever I want (as long as I stay under 2k calories), ride bike 2-3 times a week, and get 5-6 hours of sleep. LOL, I am just being a dick.

cheers on the weight loss and exercise. jeers on the being a dick.

[TeyshaBlue]

I don't do any of that...(well I don't drink very much any more) and yesterday I just officially crossed the threshold from obese to merely overweight (according to the BMI index) though I am pretty sure that I would not have been considered obese even 10 lbs ago since I have a wide frame.

Edit: To be fair I almost do all of that. I eat whatever I want (as long as I stay under 2k calories), ride bike 2-3 times a week, and get 5-6 hours of sleep. LOL, I am just being a dick.

Dick!:ihit

[Drachen]

Dick!:ihit

well, that is part of the reason that my weight said obese, but my body didn't look it.


BAZING!

[TeyshaBlue]

*rimshot*:lol

[Drachen]

cheers on the weight loss and exercise. jeers on the being a dick.

Thank you, and Thank you. 35 lbs in 4 months (had a two week plateau in there). I am now 5'10" 208. I have 28 more lbs to go to reach my goal.

[Oh, Gee!!]

good. everybody should strive to be healthy, not necessarily perfect-looking, just healthy and active.

[leemajors]

I can't believe BMI is still considered valid even though it is wildly inaccurate if you have any significant amount of muscle mass.

[TeyshaBlue]

good. everybody should strive to be healthy, not necessarily perfect-looking, just healthy and active.

and a dick.

[Oh, Gee!!]

and a dick.

mavericks fans have that part covered by virtue of being mavs fans

[boutons_deux]

I can't believe BMI is still considered valid even though it is wildly inaccurate if you have any significant amount of muscle mass.

Almost nobody has "significant muscle mass".

The other myth I hear from fat ladies is they have "big bones". :lol

(no, silly lady, you're fat because you eat too much, eat badly)

BMI is not precise, but "wildly inaccurate" due to the above two items isn't why.

BMI is useful because it's generally "good enough"

[TeyshaBlue]

mavericks fans have that part covered by virtue of being mavs fans

:lol:lol

[Ginobilly]

America has been convinced, hypnotized by BigPharma's and BigFood's $100B+/year marketing that taking their shit solves problems. It's nothing but old timey 19th century snake oil.

As with BigFood, it's all about YOUR Benjamins, $B of them, getting into their pockets, not about your health. BigFood makes you sick and BigPharma doesn't make you unsick.

The only way to lose weight and get into shape is to diet and exercise. The whole works! Diet, Cardio, weight lifting. in that order!

[leemajors]

Almost nobody has "significant muscle mass".

The other myth I hear from fat ladies is they have "big bones". :lol

(no, silly lady, you're fat because you eat too much, eat badly)

BMI is not precise, but "wildly inaccurate" due to the above two items isn't why.

BMI is useful because it's generally "good enough"

Based on your posts, it's hard to believe "good enough" is good enough for you.

[clambake]

mavericks fans have that part covered by virtue of being mavs fans


:lol:lol

as one immortal figure would say:

gfy

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

Almost nobody has "significant muscle mass".

The other myth I hear from fat ladies is they have "big bones". :lol

(no, silly lady, you're fat because you eat too much, eat badly)

BMI is not precise, but "wildly inaccurate" due to the above two items isn't why.

BMI is useful because it's generally "good enough"
BMI bases your ideal weight and what your estimated body fat % off height and gender as the only variables. To act like that's useful is pretty stupid.

[boutons_deux]

DOK, what do you propose that so much more useful, accurate than BMI?

I'm not championing BMI, just saying it's a pretty good indicator.

More accurate is looking at someone. Damn hard to hide 30+ pounds of fat.

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

What's more useful and accurate is measuring the actualy body fat % and as you said looking in the mirrior :lol. There are some skinny people with bad genetics which keeps their cholesterol high, but more often than not, cholesterol is also a good measure imo.

Serena Williams for example would probably be borderline obese according to BMI but her actual body fat % is probably much lower than what's needed to be considered healthy.

[boutons_deux]

"What's more useful and accurate is measuring the actualy body fat %"

how do YOU do that?

[Drachen]

What's more useful and accurate is measuring the actualy body fat % and as you said looking in the mirrior :lol. There are some skinny people with bad genetics which keeps their cholesterol high, but more often than not, cholesterol is also a good measure imo.

Serena Williams for example would probably be borderline obese according to BMI but her actual body fat % is probably much lower than what's needed to be considered healthy.

I don't measure my body fat % because I don't have the little pinch an inch tool or whatever you use. I know that I wasn't obese 5 lbs ago. I have a very broad chest and shoulders and even when I was 243 lbs I barely looked overweight (in clothes). I am just using BMI as a very loose goal. If I was following it hard core, then I would not target 180 as my goal weight since I would have to go much lower to be "normal" (I wouldn't cross out of the overweight into the normal weight threshold until 173).

As far as your serena williams example, its not really relevant as the issue of "significant muscle mass" has been addressed upstream.

[baseline bum]

BMI is bullshit. You can be in much better health being a few pounds overweight than someone who is skinny and doesn't exercise.

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

I don't measure my body fat % because I don't have the little pinch an inch tool or whatever you use. I know that I wasn't obese 5 lbs ago. I have a very broad chest and shoulders and even when I was 243 lbs I barely looked overweight (in clothes). I am just using BMI as a very loose goal. If I was following it hard core, then I would not target 180 as my goal weight since I would have to go much lower to be "normal" (I wouldn't cross out of the overweight into the normal weight threshold until 173).

As far as your serena williams example, its not really relevant as the issue of "significant muscle mass" has been addressed upstream.
The Serena Williams thing was in response to Boutons saying "almost no one has significant muscle mass" and "some girls use the excuse they're big boned." Serena Williams is both big boned and has significant muscle mass.

I'm the same as you where I've got broad shoulders and can hide extra weight pretty well, especially since my body distributes extra weight extremely evenly throughout my body. Even at my fattest of 280 I looked fat but not like someone who weighs close to 300 pounds.

I'm not sure what the point of your post was tho since I agree you can weigh more than what BMI says...

[Drachen]

The Serena Williams thing was in response to Boutons saying "almost no one has significant muscle mass" and "some girls use the excuse they're big boned." Serena Williams is both big boned and has significant muscle mass.

I'm the same as you where I've got broad shoulders and can hide extra weight pretty well, especially since my body distributes extra weight extremely evenly throughout my body. Even at my fattest of 280 I looked fat but not like someone who weighs close to 300 pounds.

I'm not sure what the point of your post was tho since I agree you can weigh more than what BMI says...

I guess my point is that BMI has some use as long as people aren't taking it as law. It is a really easy (and easy to calculate) loose guide for people losing weight. Body fat percentage while better for accuracy, requires tools and such, that is more money (or in my case, some money as my only tools are a free bike and a free app) - lol.

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

I guess my point is that BMI has some use as long as people aren't taking it as law. It is a really easy (and easy to calculate) loose guide for people losing weight. Body fat percentage while better for accuracy, requires tools and such, that is more money (or in my case, some money as my only tools are a free bike and a free app) - lol.
Oh ok I see what you mean.

imo, weight loss should be determined simply by getting to a weight where you're happy with and confident in how you look while you're also healthy.

[jack sommerset]

Change is not easy. It takes displine and desire. A pill does not attack the real issues. I recommend a healthy diet of food,drink and exercise daily to help with any excess weight you would like to lose. Drink lots of water and get 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. I start my day off with a light jog, followed up with reading and meditation. Hopefully get some cardio and weights in before nightfall. Life is busy, you have to make time. For the summer, the kids are out of school, I have to get up at 6 in order to start my day off with some positive energy. I can't just hit the gym up like I do durning the school year so to adapt, change my routine up, I am swimming every other day, playing basketball, soccer with kids along with about 20-30 minutes of weights I sneak in while at the house. I prefer the gym. Try your best not to use diet pills. It's a short fix that could do you more harm than good in the long run. God bless.

[boutons_deux]

Pills don't work

dieting doesn't work

I'm so sick of USA's OB-FUCKING-SESSION with overweight. What a sick society.

[lefty]

So is it available in SA ?

[baseline bum]

Oh ok I see what you mean.

imo, weight loss should be determined simply by getting to a weight where you're happy with and confident in how you look while you're also healthy.

I think the only thing that should matter is how you feel. I remember I used to bust my ass to lose 10 pounds before going on trips where I'd do lots of hiking, thinking it would make things easier. I found the opposite to be true; that I was better off keeping the weight. In my case completely getting rid of a small gut seems to be pretty counter-productive.

[cantthinkofanything]

Is 1 lb. too heavy for 8"?

[Trainwreck2100]

so has croutons been confirmed for a fat ass with his pro fat agenda here? America's obsession with overweight is cause it costs a shit ton of money to care for fatties. Or were you saying you don't like Americans thinking fat is okay?

[InRareForm]

THere is a good bullshit episode on BMI

[SnakeBoy]

I think the only thing that should matter is how you feel. I remember I used to bust my ass to lose 10 pounds before going on trips where I'd do lots of hiking, thinking it would make things easier. I found the opposite to be true; that I was better off keeping the weight. In my case completely getting rid of a small gut seems to be pretty counter-productive.

No that's not all that matters. My wife had a new patient that was a triathlete & totally fit/lean who came in for a routine physical. After talking to this person about diet, family history, etc. she ordered an advanced lipid panel and a CIMT (Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Ultrasound) and the super healthy triathlete had 40% blockage and was well on the way to a stroke.

My wife uses BMI, waist circumference, and risk factors (bloodwork, family history, etc.) to get a picture of one's overall health. So BMI is important but it's not the end all be all. Waist circumference is probably more important because belly fat is more active in causing obesity related diseases. So the 6' 210lb guy with chicken legs/arms and a fat gut is at more risk than the guy with the same weight distributed over his body.

[baseline bum]

You're right about needing medical checkups, but my main point (I guess not that clearly articulated, as phrased above) was that trying to look skinny shouldn't be important. In this country if you have thick hips and legs a lot of people consider you a fatass even when you can be in way better shape than a skinny person.

[boutons_deux]

"they've shown" that greasebags can be fit, and being fit somewhat counters the medical disadvantages of being a greasebag.

"looking skinny" isn't the objective. An what's long with looking skinny, anyway?

but being a fatass, to greater or lesser, degree is now normalized as acceptable. With 2/3+ of USA overweight or obese, it's way past average.

[SnakeBoy]

You're right about needing medical checkups, but my main point (I guess not that clearly articulated, as phrased above) was that trying to look skinny shouldn't be important. In this country if you have thick hips and legs a lot of people consider you a fatass even when you can be in way better shape than a skinny person.

Well I don't disagree that appearance doesn't mean a whole lot in terms of someones fitness or health. At the same time though you have to be careful equating being in shape with healthy. You can go to any triathalon, marathon, or cycling event and see plenty of fatties who are in great shape but probably not very healthy.

I consider myself in decent shape and last year I went jogging on a trail near my parents house. This very fat chick passed me up only she wasn't really running, it was more of a really fast waddle like a duck. I couldn't keep up with her though...man that pissed me off.

Anyway that's the biggest downside to these fat pills. If people can lose weight without changing their diet/lifestyle they are going to think they are somehow healthier when really they are still at high risk for daibetes, cardiovascular disease, and other obesity related diseases.

[SnakeBoy]

On another note, I normally stay away from "hot" stock trades but I took a risk on this one. The amount of manipulation of this stock on the day of the FDA announcement was amazing. USA Today published an online artice saying it had been approved before it had then retracted it saying it was an innocent mistake, The Street posted that morning that the stock "was minutes away" from being halted for the decision to be announced when it wasn't made until after hours on and on. I lost my nerve and bailed with a lousy $230 profit on a $70K investment. Good thing as the stock has tanked following the approval.

[boutons_deux]

You think the stock market is tricky, manipulated?

BigPharma, who do their own testing, suppress negative results, hype positive results, usually on very small human populations, so when you take a new drug, you're really beta test, field testing, the drug.

Ask the Vioxx victims how that goes (the ones still alive).

[Winehole23]

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