NEW YORK, June 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

Global Weight Control Products Industry

http://www.reportlinker.com/p080438/Global-Weight-Control-Products-Industry.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Diet_Food

This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Weight Control Products in US$ Million by the following Product Segments: Low-Fat & Fat-Free Dairy Products, Carbonated & Other Liquids, Light Foods, Prepared Intakes, Herbal Supplements, and Dressings. The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Rest of World. Annual estimates and forecasts are provided for the period 2009 through 2017. Also, a six-year historic analysis is provided for these markets. The report profiles 135 companies including many key and niche players such as Abbott Laboratories, EAS Corp., Abbott Nutrition, The Coca-Cola Company, Genisoy Food Company, Inc., HJ Heinz, Idea Sphere Inc., Twinlab Corp., Kraft Foods, Inc., Mead Johnson Nutritionals, Nestle SA, PepsiCo, Inc., Rexall Sundown Inc., The Groupe Danone, Unilever, Slim-Fast Foods Co., and Schiff Nutrition International, Inc. Market data and analytics are derived from primary and secondary research. Company profiles are primarily based upon search engine sources in the public domain.

I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & PRODUCT DEFINITIONS Study Reliability and Reporting Limitations I-1Disclaimers I-2Data Interpretation & Reporting Level I-3Quantitative Techniques & Analytics I-3Product Definitions and Scope of Study I-3Low-Fat & Fat-Free Dairy Products I-4Carbonated and Other Liquids I-4Light Foods I-4Prepared Intakes I-4Herbal Supplements I-5Dressings I-5II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. MARKET DYNAMICS II-1

A Quick Market Primer II-1

Obesity Grows to Alarming Levels: A Statistical Review II-2

Table 1: Obesity Rates in Major Countries Worldwide (2008):

Percentage of Total Population in the US, Mexico, Europe,

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Global Weight Control Products Industry

SAN DIEGO, June 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. (OREX) today announced that the Light Study, a long-term research study of Contrave (naltrexone SR/bupropion SR), a new, investigational drug being evaluated for weight loss, has begun enrolling patients at clinical sites throughout the United States. The Light Study is designed to assess the cardiovascular health outcomes of Contrave.

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Nearly 93 million Americans are affected by obesity, and that number is predicted to increase to 120 million Americans within the next five years.[i] More than one-third of adults in the United States are affected by obesity[ii]. Obesity increases the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer, sleep apnea, and a variety of other conditions. Medical research suggests that losing just five percent of your body weight can significantly improve your health and reduce the risk of complications from type 2 diabetes and heart disease.[iii],[iv]

"We need new alternatives to fight the growing obesity epidemic in the United States," said Steven E. Nissen, M.D., Lead Investigator of the Light Study and Chairman of the Robert and Suzanne Tomsich Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic.[v] "One critical test of any weight loss treatment is its impact on cardiovascular health. The Light Study uses an innovative design that focuses on determining the safety and effectiveness of Contrave in patients who actually lose weight during treatment. This approach simulates how weight loss drugs are used in clinical practice. We think this trial design is a potentially important innovation in the development of new obesity therapies because it is sufficiently rigorous for regulatory authorities and feasible for drug developers, while also incorporating specific elements to help protect the safety of patients."

"Most people cannot achieve long term weight loss by diet and exercise alone," said Steven R. Smith, M.D., Professor and Scientific Director of The Florida Hospital Sanford-Burnham Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes. "The Light Study is an important clinical research study evaluating the cardiovascular health outcomes of Contrave, which is designed to reduce appetite, increase metabolism, and control cravings and overeating behaviors."

In an effort to raise awareness of the obesity epidemic, the potential need for new and diverse treatment options, the benefits of reducing weight to improve certain measures of health and well being, and the Light Study, the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) has partnered with Orexigen to launch the "Take Five to Live Light" campaign. The campaign encourages those affected by obesity to take five minutes to learn how losing just 5 percent of their weight can benefit cardiovascular health and to take five minutes to get screened for the Light Study. Individuals interested in participating in the Light Study can visit http://www.lightstudy.com to see if they qualify.

"We are proud to join forces with the OAC to educate the millions of Americans affected by obesity about the health benefits of weight loss," said Michael Narachi, President and Chief Executive Officer of Orexigen. "The OAC is a strong voice for those affected by obesity and an important partner in the fight against this epidemic. We encourage those who are interested in joining this cause to consider becoming a member of the OAC."

"The disease of obesity is extremely complex and requires a multidisciplinary team approach to treat it," said Joe Nadglowski, OAC President and CEO. "Many individuals affected by the disease of obesity need access to safe and effective treatment options; however, options are currently limited and new weight-loss management approaches are desperately needed. The OAC is excited to work with Orexigen to support obesity research for safe and effective options through the Light Study. This type of research is imperative in order to offer individuals affected by obesity valid, safe and effective tools to combat their weight and increase their quality of health."

Individuals may qualify for the Light Study if they are men age 45 or older or women age 50 or older; need to lose weight; and have a cardiovascular risk factor, such as heart disease or type 2 diabetes with certain heart risk factors.

In addition to the potential to receive Contrave, all who qualify and choose to participate in the Light Study will be part of an innovative, comprehensive weight management program called WeightMate. Delivered through an internet-based platform by accredited health and fitness professionals, WeightMate provides a convenient, progressive nutrition and exercise program with goal setting and tracking tools. WeightMate is powered by Sharecare, an interactive health and wellness social platform providing people with access to expert-developed answers, information and programs to live their healthiest life. Sharecare was created by Jeff Arnold, the founder of WebMD, and Dr. Mehmet Oz of "The Dr. Oz Show", to connect individuals with health experts and simplify the search for high-quality healthcare information.

Originally posted here:
The Light Study, a Long-Term Research Study of Investigational Weight Loss Drug Contrave®, Begins Enrolling Patients ...

WARWICK SMITH/Fairfax NZ

NOW AND THEN: Andrew Dickson's weight loss experience led to his thesis on weight anxiety and the role he says the dieting industry plays in perpetuating it.

Fat is a moral issue, according to new research that says the multibillion-dollar weight loss industry profits from manipulating people's anxieties.

Massey University PhD student Andrew Dickson decided to look into the industry after losing about 40 kilograms over four months from a starting weight of 135kg.

His thesis, The Other Side of Weight Loss, says those involved in the industry, such as Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers as well as government anti-obesity campaigns, personal trainers and reality TV shows such as The Biggest Loser were all complicit in giving "people something to attach to their anxiety".

Mr Dickson's own rapid weight loss in 2006 continued when he was prescribed the now-banned appetite suppressing drug Reductil.

He began feeling "ludicrously happy" as he started shedding about 5kg a week. Exercising about once a week "to the point of moderate dehydration", he would weigh himself "to get the thrill of a low weight appearing on the digital read-out. The scales and calorie counters were my gospel."

The dieting see-saw forced him into a cycle of "anxious tailspins" and that was when he decided to get to the heart of the phenomenon dubbed "weight anxiety".

After dropping to a low of about 85kg, Mr Dickson, a Massey management lecturer, now weighs 105kg. "The Western world is obsessed with the the 'right body' there's no right body and no wrong body."

He said one of the key props of the "fattist regime" was the Body Mass Index a flawed formula that divides weight by height-squared, which he said overstated the link between size and health.

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Weight loss industry 'feeds off fat anxiety'

Over the years, brides-to-be have taken drastic measures to lose weight ahead of the Big Day: drinking a concoction of lemon juice, water, syrup, and cayenne pepper, wiring their mouths shut, and taking a pregnancy hormone while following the 500-calorie hCG diet.

But a feeding tube?

Yes, indeed. News media were abuzz recently with stories of brides resorting to the K-E Diet, in which a feeding tube funnels a slow drip of 800 calories of protein, water, and fatno carbs from the nose, down the esophagus, and into a person's stomach each day for 10 days. The draw: Patients can lose up to 20 pounds, says Oliver Di Pietro, a Florida-based internal medicine physician who charges $1,500 for the plan. One bride, his patient, reportedly had the tube removed after eight days because she had already lost the weight she wanted.

Medical and nutrition professionals immediately responded. "Rapid weight loss increases the risk of heart arrhythmias, dehydration, and electrolyte disturbances," says Ethan Lazarus, a family doctor in Denver who specializes in obesity medicine. Shedding pounds this quickly, he says, makes it likely that you will lose more lean body mass and water than fat. This can slow metabolism and result in an instant regain of weight once you go off the diet. "You may gain more than you lost," says Lazarus. Other effects include shrunken fingers and feet and a drooping facewhich can result in a loose wedding ring, flopping shoes, and a blushing bride with a dull expression, he says. And while the risk of inserting a feeding tube is small, Lazarus notes the possibility of lacerations in the sinuses (the tube goes down through the nose) and the esophagus, and some brides may experience vomiting and nausea.

Besides, a bride who wants to lose 20 pounds should start at least 10 weeks before the wedding, based on safe weight loss of no more than about two pounds a week, says Heather Mangieri, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (People who are much heavier can safely lose more, especially when they are first starting a weight-loss program, says Melina Jampolis, a physician nutrition specialist and author of The Calendar Diet . Eventually things will level out to 1 to 2 pounds a week for the average person, she says.)

Extreme measures like the K-E Diet aside, taking steps to accelerate weight loss as a key date approaches is perfectly okay if done sensibly. Below, experts share "final countdown" tips (no feeding tubes required).

Eliminate carbs or go low-carb. "The reality is in the short term, there is no question that low-carb diets work better, [for most people]," says Jampolis. "For a 10-day program, the lower you can go," the more weight you'll likely lose, she says. But Jampolis cautions against eating too few carbs, advising that brides consume between 50 and 75 grams per day to safely speed up weight loss. This can be achieved by eating lean protein, leafy greens, and healthy fats, such as nuts and seeds (watch the portions), and cutting back on processed grains, dairy, soy, sugar (including fruit sugar), and starchy vegetables. "Most women don't feel great if they go too low," she says. In the long run, know that low-carb diets have pitfalls, such as being unbalanced and difficult to stick to, says Jampolis.

Shrink and multiply. Eat five or six times a day, spaced out every two, three, or four hours, says Amira Lamb, a holistic nutritionist and personal trainer in New York. This can be three meals and two snacks or all mini meals. Eating regularly helps to maintain stable blood sugar and control hunger, she says. She adds that small meals are also better for digestion.

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Safe Weight-Loss Tips for Wedding Season

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Name: Stephanie Cupo Age: 31 Height: 5'6" Before Weight: 252 pounds

How I Gained It: I have always been a "big girl." I considered myself to be "fat" in 5th grade, and all the skinny girls started making fun of me. I realized at that point what my ballet teacher meant when she said I had feet like an elephant, and that I should probably give up ballet for something where I could make more noise, like tap. I remember praying at night to wake up and be skinny. I was a very athletic child, so while I was never skinny through high school, I was able to maintain a normal weight of between 140 and 150 pounds.

It wasn't until after high school that I really began packing on the pounds. I dropped out of college at 19, and then dated a guy who liked "big girls" and made it his mission to ensure I was only attractive to him. I didn't break the 200-pound mark until my early 20s, and I decided to start trying crash diet after crash diet. I grew up in a family of naturally skinny people, so I never really learned how to eat properly or diet effectively.

Throughout my 20s, my weight fluctuated between 170 and 220 pounds, depending on what was going on in my life. I met my current husband when I was 24 and 190 pounds, and over the course of four years, my weight ballooned up 250 pounds. I couldn't believe the scale when I went to the doctor's office. At that time, we decided we wanted to try to have a child, and I was having some difficulty getting pregnant and also having health issues with blood pressure and cholesterol -- at 27 years old. So I once again started dieting and exercising the best I knew how and lost 20 pounds.

At 230 pounds, I became pregnant with my beautiful baby girl, Harper. I had such awful morning sickness, I actually ended up losing another 20 pounds in the first four months of my pregnancy and only gaining about 10 back up to her delivery. I had an emergency C-section with Harper on September 1, 2009, and walked out of the hospital five days later at 206 pounds.

Since I had a C-section, I was unable to exercise for several weeks, and once again, I started eating garbage food -- fast food because it was easiest with a husband working full time, a 15-year-old stepson and a newborn. I also had the strangest cravings for Red Bull and Double Stuf Oreo cookies for months after Harper's birth! I thought that was supposed to be over after I was no longer pregnant! I continued to wear my maternity clothes, and I felt myself get bigger and bigger and bigger. Finally, at a doctors' appointment, I weighed in at 252 pounds, my heaviest weight ever. I stopped weighing myself at that point because the number was so depressing, but I believe I probably was up to 260 pounds at my heaviest.

Breaking Point: I had blood work done and found that my weight had caused my triglycerides to spike to over 400. I ended up in the hospital a couple of months later in excruciating pain, only to have my gall bladder removed from gallstones. I learned that the gallstones were most likely in direct relation to my weight and extremely high triglycerides, and that if I didn't start losing weight and lower my cholesterol, I could end up in the hospital again with a much more serious issue -- or dead. At 29! Also, I was diagnosed with a herniated disc in my back with sciatica and was losing feeling in my toes, and I was told I could be crippled by the time I was 40 if I didn't lose some weight. My family, particularly my baby girl, made me realize that my weight no longer just affected me. If I was gone, it would destroy my family -- I couldn't do that to them. And I knew it was all in my control! I knew why I was fat! I wasn't fooling myself by saying "Oh, I've always been fat and I'll always be fat." I ate like crap and didn't exercise! Also, as materialistic as it sounds, I was fitting into plus size 18 to 20, and those clothes were getting tight. I couldn't bear the thought of having to buy a 22/24 size. I was disgusted with myself and allowing myself to get to this point. So instead of getting depressed and eating (like I used to do!), I decided it was time for a change!

How I Lost It: After considering gastric bypass and Lap Band surgery, I decided I was going to try this the old-fashioned way -- diet and exercise! I'm a very goal-oriented person, however I also get bored and disappointed very easily, so I knew I had to start setting some realistic, short-term goals to keep myself motivated. My first goal was a simple one: get down to the weight I was before I was pregnant. That weight came off pretty easily, so I kept setting weight goals. When I was bored with the weight-related goals, I started giving myself more materialistic goals, like shopping at non-plus-size stores.

At 209 pounds, I hit a wall. I just couldn't get any more weight or inches to come off. And like some kind of sign, my work decided to start a Weight Watchers at Work program, and I think I was one of the first people to sign up! I love the Weight Watchers program: realistic goals, no food plans to follow, earning points for exercise. I constantly feel like I'm being rewarded, and not being told there is something that I simply can't eat, I just have to eat less of it! Also, weighing in every Friday in front of my co-workers keeps me very honest. I even come to the meetings on Friday mornings on my days off to keep me on track. My coworkers and I call each other out if we see each other eating something in the caf we shouldn't be!

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Weight Loss Success: Stephanie Cupo Wanted To Get Healthy For Her Daughter And Lost Nearly 70 Pounds