New Diet Pill Gets Lukewarm Backing

On Wednesday, it was reported in numerous media outlets that an FDA advisory panel recommended the new weight loss pill, Contrave, for approval.  According to the FDA Advisory Committee briefing document, Contrave is a combination weight loss drug that includes both bupropion, a drug used to treat depression and reduce nicotine cravings, and naltrexone, a drug used to treat some addictive behaviors.  The lukewarm backing of the FDA Advisory Committee was clearly represented by the 13-7 vote to back Contrave’s approval.  This unenthusiastic appearing recommendation seems to partly be based upon Contrave’s modest weight loss benefits.

In the two primary weight loss studies described in the briefing documents and one published research article, obese men and women were asked to follow a reduced-calorie diet (reduced by 500 Calories/day), were given advice on lifestyle changes that included physical activity, and were asked to take Contrave or a placebo pill daily for slightly more than one year (56 weeks).  Individuals taking Contrave were divided into two groups, one group taking a low dose (16 mg naltrexone + 360 mg bupropion) and one group taking a higher dose (32 mg naltrexone + 360 mg bupropion). In these studies, individuals lost approximately 6% of their initial body weight after 56 weeks when taking the 32 mg version of Contrave and about 5% of their initial body weight after taking the 16 mg version of Contrave for 56 weeks.  According to the published research article, this amounted to a weight loss of about 11 pounds in the lose-dose group and 13 pounds in the high-dose group after 56 weeks in study volunteers who weighed about 220 pounds on average at the start of the study.  Additionally, only about half (48% in one study and 50% in the second study) successfully lost more than 5% of their starting body weight.  According to some of the news stories, some members of the FDA Advisory Committee apparently supported approval for Contrave, despite the modest weight loss benefits, due to concerns about suppressing the development of future weight loss pills during a time when about two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese.

Unlike weight loss pills that appear to provide only modest weight loss benefits, a well-structured weight loss plan that is easy to follow and includes adequate amounts of regular exercise can help nearly anyone lose the weight they want.  During a 16-week study, dieters lost about two times more weight on my diet eating and physical activity plan when compared to the dieters in the two main Contrave studies. Dieters in my diet study consumed approximately 1,200 calories per day, and participated in physical activity six days per week, while dieters in the weight loss pill study were instructed to consume a 500-calorie per day deficit diet. Dieters lost an average of 26 to 29 pounds on my plan compared to only about 11 pounds on the diet pill plan after 16 weeks. Average starting weight of study participants on my diet plan was 210 pounds, which was similar to the average starting weight of about 220 pounds in the Contrave weight loss pill studies.

Overall, it appears that dieters lost about 200% more weight on my diet and physical activity plan when compared to dieters using the Contrave weight loss diet pill. Therefore, you can lose more weight in less time on my diet plan...without diet pills.

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Avoiding Dangerous Weight Loss Pills

With approximately two-thirds of the adult American population considered obese or overweight, a lot of money is spent on weight loss pills in hopes of finding a quick and easy way to lose weight.  Weight loss pills are one of the most popular tools for weight loss.  They typically promise rapid weight loss and often do so by touting their ability to help us lose weight without diet and/or exercise.  These diet pills generally are said to work in one or more of several ways including suppressing appetite so we feel less hungry and eat less, enhancing metabolism so we burn more calories without necessarily having to do extra exercise, and blocking fat absorption so we consume fewer calories from fat. 

While all of the marketing messages and even the science behind some of these diet pill products appear promising, it seems that we are finding more and more frequently that many of these diet pill products are being adulterated with pharmaceutical drugs.  Just this month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced that two weight loss pills were found to be contaminated with pharmaceutical drugs.  In their first news release, the FDA warned that Que She weight loss capsules, marketed as “Slimming Factor Capsule”, contains fenfluramine, sibutramine, ephedrine, and propanolol, drugs either withdrawn from the market (fenfluramine) or known to pose risks to certain populations.  In their second related press release, the FDA announced that “Slim-30 Herb Supplement” contained traces of sibutramine and N-desmethyl sibutramine.  Sibutramine is known to increase blood pressure and heart rate in some people and can therefore be a substantial risk to some individuals.  While these might seem like isolated incidences, the FDA has warned us about many other similar diet pills that have been found to contain undeclared drugs like sibutramine, rimonabant, and phenolphthalein.

So what are we to do?  First, it is important to remember that the best weight loss plans still focus on diet and exercise.  As simplistic as it might sound, the basics of losing weight still rely upon a reduction in calorie intake and an increase in exercise (calories burned).  Weight loss pills can have a place in a healthy weight loss plan.  Many studies have shown that diet pills taken as part of a healthy weight loss plan based on caloric restriction and increased physical activity can boost weight loss by a few additional pounds.  However, it is important to be careful about the diet pills we choose.  If you decide to start a weight loss plan, be sure to discuss your plan with your physician and if you are going to make a promising-looking diet pill part of your overall weight loss plan let you doctor know what weight loss pill you intend to use.  Your physician might have information on the safety of the diet pill and any possible interactions it might have with other medications you might be taking.  In addition to talking with your physician, research your diet pill.  Visit the FDA’s website for current press releases and other safety information.

While many healthy weight loss plans are effective, they can also be difficult to follow.  My diet plan is both easy to follow and delicious.  Exercising 30-45 minutes per day most days of the week is an important part of my diet plan and can be as easy as taking a brisk walk every day.  Visit us at www.drtabor.com to learn more!

Oleanolic Acid Reduces Visceral Obesity in Mice

As I indicated in yesterday's blog on the increasing availability of energy-dense foods, it is becoming more important that we make appropriate food choices.  While we know that fruits and vegetables are nutrient-dense foods that can help us meet our nutritional needs without having to overeat, we are still learning about all the various compents in these foods that might have additional benefits.

A new study examined the effect of oleanolic acid, a natural compound found in many fruits and vegetables, on body weight, abdominal (belly) fat, blood sugar health, and more in mice fed high-fat diets.  For this study researchers fed mice high-fat diets for 15 weeks and treated them with either (1) nothing, (2) oleanolic acid or (3) sibutramine, a common weight loss drug.  Compared to untreated mice, the mice fed oleanolic acid showed decreased body weight and decreased belly fat.  Additionally, oleanolic acid consumption promoted better blood sugar health and better cholesterol health.  The benefits of oleanolic acid on body weight and belly fat were similar to what was observed in the mice treated with the weight loss drug sibutramine.

Oleanolic acid has been reported to have many potential benefits, partly due to anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.  These properties might also be responsible, at least in part, for the positive weight and fat loss results seen in this study.  Since oleanolic acid is commonly found in many fruits and vegetables, we have yet another reason to make sure we eat our recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables.  This study suggests that not only do fruits and vegetables help us meet our nutritional needs, they also contain naturally-occuring compounds that might help in weight management.

Make sure you eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day as part of any healthy eating plan, including my easy plan.  Visit us at www.drtabor.com to learn more.