Weight-loss pill hailed as 'holy grail' in fight against obesity

[nitpicker]

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/27/weight-loss-drug-belviq-not-linked-to-heart-problems-finds-study

Weight-loss pill hailed as 'holy grail' in fight against obesity

US study of 12,000 people shows drug lorcaserin does not increase risk of serious heart problems

Press Association

Mon 27 Aug 2018 03.25 BST First published on Mon 27 Aug 2018 00.27 BST

A weight-loss pill has been hailed as a potential “holy grail” in the fight against obesity after a major study showed it did not increase the risk of serious heart problems.Researchers say lorcaserin is the first weight-loss drug to be deemed safe for heart health with long-term use. Taken twice a day, the drug is an appetite suppressant which works by stimulating brain chemicals to induce a feeling of fullness.

A US study saw 12,000 people who were either obese or overweight given the pills or a placebo – with those who took the drug shedding an average of 4kg (9lbs) in 40 months. Further analysis showed no big differences in tests for heart valve damage.
(snip)

The Food and Drug Administration, the US medicines watchdog, approved lorcaserin’s use in some adults in 2012. The drug has been on sale there since 2013 under the name Belviq, where it costs $220- 290 (£155-225) a month.

The study into its long-term effects was led by Dr Erin Bohula, a cardiovascular medicine expert at the Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
(snip)

The results of the study into lorcaserin were discussed at the European Society of Cardiology in Munich on Sunday and have been published by the New England Journal of Medicine.
(snip)

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. Good. Any prescription abuse of it seen among eating disorders?

[Silver Gaia]

2. A 9 lb. weight loss in 40 months? Really?

Is that all? Why bother with it then?

[sinkingfeeling]

3. My take as well. If you skip eating bread a couple of times a week, you'd

lose that much.

[Nitram]

4. Not when you reach my age...