Recent Studies Uncover Risks and Benefits of Weight Loss Drugs

To those who have struggled mightily with the scale, the idea of a "magic pill" that can put weight loss within reach for everybody can be very tempting. Although most of the so-called miracle drugs and over-the-counter concoctions out there that purport to help speed up the weight loss process aren't truly effective, researchers are now focusing in on a new generation of pharmaceutical interventions for weight loss that may prove to be more help than hype.

As the worldwide obesity epidemic continues to spiral out of control, scientists are searching for treatments that can help reverse the weight gain that can, over time, lead to obesity and a wide range of other health problems. A safe and effective weight loss drug could aid those for whom traditional weight loss methods such as calorie-counting and exercise are difficult or otherwise out of reach.

However, because of past controversies and health scares that have surrounded popular weight loss drugs in the past, these recent research efforts have been carried out carefully and gradually, with a great deal of emphasis now being placed on safety concerns and long-term health implications. This week, we'll take a look at some of the recent research targeting the development of new weight loss drugs.

New Diet Drug Shows Promise as Treatment for Obesity

The search for a safe, effective pharmaceutical treatment for overweight and obesity has been a goal of scientists around the world for decades. However, the process of finding a treatment that offers both safety and efficacy has been fraught with difficulty and unforeseen challenges.

A recent breakthrough by scientists at Tel Aviv University's Sackler School of Medicine may offer new hope to people who are struggling with excess pounds. According to Dr. Nir Barak, the leader of a research team that has been formulating and assessing different weight loss treatments for several years, a new drug that is based on a compound that is used in the treatment of vertigo may represent a significant step forward in the treatment of obesity.

In a preliminary study, the new drug was found to block a number of key hunger receptors in the brain that are responsible for regulating the feeling of satiety and fullness. When taken by overweight and obese patients, the drug has been found to significantly diminish cravings for fatty foods. For reasons the researchers have not yet been able to determine, the drug is particularly effective in female patients.

In the study, the group that took the drug lost approximately 7 times the amount of weight lost by the control group, who took a placebo. No serious side effects were reported. The results also indicated that the new drug might be effective as a means of reducing cholesterol.

More testing is needed before the drug can be released to the public, but because the early research was partially subsidized by a pharmaceutical company, the general release of the product -- now known as Histalean -- could be relatively swift.

Study Finds that Most Diet Drugs Can't Work Miracles

Despite dieters hopes to the contrary, the results of a recently released study conducted by British researchers indicated that three of the most popular weight loss drugs resulted in only mild to moderate weight loss in most cases.

In an experiment that compared the performance of popular diet drugs -- orlistat. rimonabant, and sibutramine -- participants lost an average of only 11 pounds. Of the three, rimonabant was generally found to be most effective.

Although the drugs were found to be somewhat helpful in kick-starting weight loss, the researchers emphasized that they should not be relied upon as substitutes for the most reliable dieting standbys -- namely, reduced calories and increased exercise.

Despite Controversy, Over-the-Counter Diet Drug Shown to Speed Weight Loss for Some

The first FDC-approved over-the-counter diet drug was released to great fanfare and criticism in the summer of 2007. Known popularly as Alli, the drug orlistat has elicited mixed reactions from critics, users, and health advocacy groups.

However, despite the controversy surrounding the drug, several recently released studies have confirmed that the formulation is effective in enhancing weight loss results for most users, with relatively few side effects.

In a recent study conducted by British scientists, orlistat -- which is a milder version of long-established prescription weight loss drug Xenical -- was shown to significantly boost weight loss for those in the moderatately-overweight category. Compared to the control group, the participants who took orlistat lost an average of five percent of their initial body weight. The most dramatic results were seen among those who paired the drug with a consistent low-fat diet regimen.

Although orlistat does not offer users rapid weight loss, the scientists emphasized that the gradual shedding of pounds is a healthier path than dramatic declines in body weight. With these findings, orlistat has now been proven effective in the treatment of a broad range of weight problems, ranging from mild overweight to morbid obesity.

If you think a prescription or over-the-counter diet drug might help your weight loss efforts, talk to your doctor to get a recommendation that's right for you. Don't forget to check back each week to get more of the breaking diet news you need to make your weight loss journey a success.