Not Another Quick-Fix Diet Pill

[Guest guest]

http://www.mercola.com/2004/nov/24/acomplia_pill.htm

 

Not Another Quick-Fix Diet Pill

 

The obesity epidemic in the United States has become a mounting

concern, as 44 percent of American's expanding waistlines have

triggered health risks such as high cholesterol and pre-diabetic

abnormalities. In fact, an excess of abdominal fat has been known to

predict a heart attack more effectively than one's weight or body mass.

 

Other obesity-related risks include cancer, cardiovascular disease,

sore joints and snoring.

 

With all the risks involved, it's surprising that the " geniuses " of

modern medicine haven't developed a pill to help people lose weight

and keep it off. But wait, they have. According to studies, people who

took an experimental weight loss pill (Acomplia), lost weight and kept

it off for two years.

 

Researchers tested the affect of the drug on 3,040 people throughout

the United States and Canada. Each subject was advised to cut 600

calories a day from their diet and was given either a high dose of the

drug, a low dose of the drug or a placebo.

 

At the end of a two-year period, researchers found:

 

*

 

Over 62 percent of people in the high dose group lost 5 percent

of their body weight, compared to 36.7 percent in the low dose group

*

 

Those in the high dose group lost 3.1 inches off their

waistlines, compared to 1.9 inches in the low dose group

*

 

HDL cholesterol rose 24.5 percent for those in the high dose

group, compared to 15.6 in the low dose group

 

Sound too good to be true? That's because it is. One major drawback of

the pill is that those who quit taking it after one year gained most

of their weight back. Thus, in order to continue losing weight and

keeping it off, one may have to take the pill for the rest of their life.

 

Some additional negative side effects of this " miracle drug " include:

 

* Anxiety

* Irritability

* Depression

 

USA Today November 10, 2004

 

ABC News November 10, 2004

 

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

 

If you are familiar with my twice-weekly newsletter, then you already

know that I have previously posted an article regarding the issue of

this " magic " diet pill. It was refreshing to know that the lead

researcher on the study admits the drug rimonabant is not a " cure-all "

for obesity.

 

That researcher can't be more right. In fact, a pill won't address the

underlying causes of a lifestyle condition like obesity. The only

effective way to lose weight and keep it off is to follow a diet that

fits your metabolic type and exercise regularly.

 

In order to eat a diet that best fits your metabolic type, you must

first discover what your metabolic type is.

 

Everyone has his or her own unique metabolic type, so what might be

good for your best friend might not be good for you. Once you discover

your metabolic type, you will be able to normalize your insulin levels

by eating the foods that are right for your body.

 

In conjunction with eating right, it is also important to exercise. In

fact, exercising is key to losing weight and staying healthy.