Belviq Is First New Prescription Weight Loss Drug in 13 Years

By Salynn Boyles WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

June 27, 2012 -- For the first time in more than a decade, the FDA has approved a new drug to help people lose weight.

Today, Arena Pharmaceuticals' Belviq (lorcaserin hydrochloride) became the first prescription weight loss drug approved by federal regulators in 13 years.

The FDA approved Belviq as an addition to a reduced-calorie diet and exercise, for use in chronic weight control.

The approval is specifically for use in adults with a BMI above 30 (considered obese), and for adults with a BMI of 27 (considered overweight) or above if they also have at least one weight-related medical condition, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol.

Belviq should not be used during pregnancy.

Today's move comes almost two years after the FDA refused to approve the drug, citing concerns about its safety and effectiveness.

But last May, an FDA advisory committee overwhelmingly endorsed making the drug available to people who are obese and those with health issues related to being overweight.

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FDA Approves Diet Pill Belviq

Job worries for parents may mean poorer nutrition for kids Job worries for parents may mean poorer nutrition for kids The more work-related stress parents experience, the more likely their children are to eat unhealthy meals, a new study shows.More >> The more work-related stress parents experience, the more likely their children are to eat unhealthy meals, a new study shows.More >> Pictures of fatty, sugary foods may spur cravings Pictures of fatty, sugary foods may spur cravings Looking at pictures of hamburgers, cupcakes and other high-calorie edibles can trigger cravings for fattening foods, especially if you're drinking something sweet at the time, according to a new study.More >> Looking at pictures of hamburgers, cupcakes and other high-calorie edibles can trigger cravings for fattening foods, especially if you're drinking something sweet at the time, according to a new study.More >> 'Dessert' with breakfast boosts weight loss 'Dessert' with breakfast boosts weight loss Starting your morning with a high-protein food and a "dessert" -- such as a doughnut or a slice of cake -- may help you lose weight and keep it off, a new study suggests.More >> Starting your morning with a high-protein food and a "dessert" -- such as a doughnut or a slice of cake -- may help you lose weight and keep it off, a new study suggests.More >> Money really can't buy happiness Money really can't buy happiness Contrary to popular belief, happiness in life has more to do with respect and influence than status or wealth, according to a new study.More >> Contrary to popular belief, happiness in life has more to do with respect and influence than status or wealth, according to a new study.More >> 10 best appetite-suppressing foods 10 best appetite-suppressing foods Forget the fad diets and diet pills, which can be harmful anyway, and try eating a diet filled with appetite-suppressing foods, like the following 10.More >> Forget the fad diets and diet pills, which can be harmful anyway, and try eating a diet filled with appetite-suppressing foods, like the following 10.More >>

(CNN) - According to research done by a group of European and American scientists and professors, long term low-carb, high protein diets could be bad for women's health.

They found that a one-tenth decrease of carbohydrate intake or an increase in the amount of protein eaten, statistically raised the frequency of cardiovascular disease.

The researchers sampled more than 43,000 Swedish women between 30 and 49 years old.

They followed up with the women for an average of about 16 years.

The goal was to study the long term consequences of low-carb diets on heart health, when there's no consideration of the protein sources.

The study says high protein diets may be okay nutritionally if the protein is plant based, like quinoa or almonds.

The study is published by the BMJ Group.

Copyright 2012 CNN. All rights reserved.

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Study: Low carb/high protein diet bad for women?

DENVER, Colo., June 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. has requested that the British Medical Journal (BMJ) retract its false and misleading statement that, according to a recent Swedish study, an "Atkins-style" diet is to blame for increased risk of cardiovascular disease among a specific female population in Sweden.The study itself never mentioned the term "Atkins-style" and the diet in the study did not in any way resemble the Atkins Diet.

The diet tested in the study is not the Atkins Diet.

It appears that BMJ, to draw public attention to its story, misleadingly inserted the false suggestion that an "Atkins-style" diet was used in the study, and omitted the conclusion of the Swedish researchers that diets similar to the actual Atkins Diet do not necessarily harm cardiovascular health. Atkins has demanded an apology and corrective action from the British Medical Journal.

Key studies done to date measuring the Atkins Diet's effect on heart health have shown diminished risk. Examples include a 2010 study published in Circulation (lead researcher Shai) demonstrated that a 2-year weight loss diet can induce a significant regression in heart disease markers and decline in blood pressure. Additionally, a 2010 study published in Annals of Internal Medicine entitled "Weight and Metabolic Outcomes After Two Years On a Low-Carbohydrate Versus Low-Fat Diet: A Randomized Trial" demonstrated better outcomes for risk factors for heart disease and blood pressure in the low-carbohydrate participants.

Dr. David Haslam, GP bariatric physician and former chair of the British Obesity Forum adds, "The editorial to this Swedish research is below the standards one expects of the British Medical Journal and betrays the lack of awareness of scientific principles or the requirement of checking facts before publication. The Atkins Diet is a scientifically validated one, which is balanced and contains the foods deemed important by this paper. Furthermore, Atkins is a diet I recommend to my patients."

Monty Sharma, CEO of Atkins Nutritionals, states "We request those media outlets who have unwittingly republished the British Medical Journal's incorrect statements to speak with Atkins and learn what the Atkins Diet really is a healthy, scientifically proven diet that includes healthy carbs, doesn't cut out any food groups, and is being passionately supported by millions of successful dieters across the globe."

About Atkins Nutritionals, Inc.

Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. is a leader in the $2.4 billion weight control nutrition category, and offers a powerful lifetime approach to weight loss and management. The Atkins Diet focuses on a healthy diet with reduced levels of refined carbohydrates and added sugars and encourages the consumption of protein, fiber, fruits, vegetables and good fats. Backed by research and consumer success stories, this approach allows the body to burn more fat and work more efficiently while helping individuals feel less hungry, more satisfied and more energetic.

Atkins Nutritionals, Inc., manufactures and sells a variety of nutrition bars and shakes designed around the nutritional principles of the Atkins Diet. Atkins' four product lines: Advantage, Day Break, Endulge and Cuisine appeal to a broad audience of both men and women who want to achieve their weight management goals and enjoy a healthier lifestyle. Atkins products are available online at atkins.com and in more than 30,000 locations throughout the U.S. and internationally. For more information, visit atkins.com.

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British Medical Journal Summary Stating "Atkins-Style" Diet Increases Cardiovascular Risk is False and Misleading

A doctor who advocates an austere "be hungry" diet defended a mother charged with murder after her teenage daughter died weighing only 40 pounds, claiming the cause of death may have been contaminated water and not the diet.

Ebony Berry is charged with child cruelty and murder in the June 15 death of her daughter, Markea Berry, 16, who officials say starved to death.

Dr. Andrew Chung, who calls Ebony Berry a "friend through Facebook" and a "sister in Christ," suggested the jailed woman's daughter "picked up something from the water when she was missing [in 2010]," which could have contributed to her weight loss.

Markea Berry wandered away from home in 2010 when she was 14. She was found safe at a Walmart the next day. Her mother told the Atlanta Journal Constitution at the time her daughter had special needs.

Chung visited Berry at a Cobb County, Ga., jail on June 22, a jail official confirmed to ABCNews.com.

"She is a friend through Facebook. I really didn't want to see her, but she is a sister in Christ," Chung said. "It was right for me to visit her."

The Emory University-educated cardiologist, who preaches people be "wonderfully hungry" and eat no more than two pounds of food per day, said he met Berry at a health fair in 2008. He said she showed an interest in his teachings.

Berry, who lives in the same area as Chung, had reportedly been a follower of the doctor's "Be Hungry" teachings, which he says are healthy for the heart and help combat obesity.

"Guard the body by holding the right amount of food," he said, summing up his belief, which he says is rooted in science. "Everyone goes around talking as it's starvation but medically it's not. Starvation is terrible."

Chung declined to further discuss Berry's case, saying he didn't want to speak for her.

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Diet Doctor Defends Mom of Teen Who Died Weighing 40 Pounds

(MoneyWatch) COMMENTARY It's big news and it's all over the internet: A study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that a diet based on healthy carbohydrates -- similar to a Mediterranean diet of fish, vegetables, fruit, nuts, beans, whole grains and healthy fats like olive oil -- is better for you than a low-fat or low-carb diet.

And this is news? We've known this for decades. It's how I've eaten for as far back as I can remember. It's how nearly all the healthy people I know eat.

Yes, I know, I'm forgetting about the Atkins Diet, South Beach Diet, Low-Fat Diet, Low-Carb Diet, Beverly Hills Diet, Hollywood Diet, Acai Berry Diet, and all those other diet fads that come and go because everyone wants a quick fix these days.

The only problem is quick fixes and fad diets don't work. Common sense works. It's the same thing with leadership, management, your career. It's exactly the same. The way to achieve a lasting competitive advantage, a high-performance organization, a successful business, or a fulfilling career, is through common sense and hard work - not fads and silver bullets.

Meanwhile, we're bombarded with book after book, blog after blog, website after website, and article after article about the one, seven or 10 things that will magically change your career or your company, make all the bad stuff go away and make everything wonderful.

Doesn't that sound remarkably like diets that promise to make your pounds just effortlessly melt away and leave you looking like someone from People magazine's Most Beautiful list?

7 things great employees do You won't achieve the American Dream by dreaming Trendy fads won't help your career

Here's an idea: Instead of the latest management fad; instead of all the Utopian platitudes and parables about leadership; instead of the endless obsessing over productivity, time management, employee engagement, emotional intelligence, other people's habits, personal branding, positive thinking, burnout, Gen X, Gen Y, Gen Z or how to be like Steve Jobs; why not try a little common sense for a change.

Here's the leadership, management and career equivalent of that old Mediterranean diet we've all known about forever. Let's just call it the Fad-Free Management Diet: 10 ingredients to business health and career success. Best of all, it's fad-free.

- Make smart decisions based on real-world experience, logical reasoning and solid ideas that pass the laugh test.

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The fad-free management diet