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It never fails to amaze me how scientists can spend DECADES uncovering physiological causes of obesity and yet -- despite this -- the public rarely hears about anything except the sloth and gluttony theory of obesity. For example, look at how the press covered the recent FDA approval of Xenical, the fat-blocking drug. An article from the Austin American-Statesman started off by saying that "Until now, Americans looking for a pill to help them lose weight have had only one option: appetite suppressants" (1-NP). It appears that the author is not even aware of the existence of thermogenic supplements and drugs. A Reuters article started off by mentioning the heart problems with fenfluramine (2-NA). Then, after shooting the duck, it went on to describe Meridia as a drug that "acts in the brain to help people feel full" (2-NP). No mention was made of the thermogenic effect of Meridia -- despite recent journal articles like "Thermogenic effects of sibutramine [Meridia] in humans" (3). Forgive the chest-pounding but I looked at its mode of action and told people it was a thermogenic drug way back on Feb 15, 1998 in my newsgroup post "Meridia: another Trojan Horse." This should have been painfully obvious to anyone who has studied obesity. |
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With Friends Like These . . .Eventually, the Reuters article got around to discussing Xenical. After explaining that it does not suppress appetite but instead works by blocking the absorption of dietary fat, obese people were warned that "the drug offers no excuse to overeat and then pop a pill in the hope of escaping the consequences" (2-NP). Yep, there is no "escape" -- us gluttons are busted -- and we got "no excuse." This obnoxious "news" article makes obese people look like alcoholics who want a pill to let them go on a binge without getting a hangover. Who would hire such moral degenerates? Indeed, we are lucky they don't throw us in prison. After all, we got no "excuse" or "alibi" for our gluttony. Of course, no mention was made of the fact that research clearly shows that large appetites are usually caused by biochemical imbalances. That fact would be most inconvenient to the mindless stereotypes that form the basis of these "news" stories. In the event that any of us gluttons are lucky enough to avoid Skid Row and the Crossbar Hilton (jail), it seems doubtful that we will avoid hellfire and damnation. At least that's the impression I got when Dr. Richard Atkinson, president of the American Obesity Association (AOA), warned that obese people who "eat the pizza and milkshake and take this drug and think it's going to absolve them of all their sins, they're going to be in for a surprise" (4-NP). I find it particularly revolting that someone from a so-called "Obesity Association" would make a statement about "absolving" us of our "sins." I am reminded of the saying "With friends like these, who needs enemies." Pretty lame, Dick. Excuse me while I puke. Unrepentant "sinners" can contact the AOA about this Associated Press "news" article at (800) 986-2373. Is it any wonder why doctors and regulators have such a hostile attitude toward these "hedonistic" obesity drugs. "Best keep an eye on THAT stuff, and at the first sign of any problem pull it off the market. After all, it's not like they NEED it -- they just need to eat less." Is it any wonder why jaw-wiring was actually thought to be a sane way of treating this disease? |
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1-NP.) Stolberg, Sheryl Gay "Drug to counter obesity approved. Pill prevents absorption of dietary fat, but some questions remain." Austin American-Statesman/Austin 360 1999 Apr 27. 2-NP.) Fox, M "U.S. FDA approves new diet drug." Reuters 1999 Apr 26. 3.) Hansen, DL, Toubro, S, Stock, MJ, Macdonald, IA, and Astrup, A "Thermogenic effects of sibutramine in humans." Am J Clin Nutr 1998 Dec, Vol 68 (6), Pg 1180-6, PMID: 0009846844. 4-NP.) "Wonder pill? Newly approved diet drug not for everyone." Associated Press 1999 Apr 27. 5-NA.) Bray, GA "Barriers to the treatment of obesity [editorial] [see comments]" Ann Intern Med 1991 Jul 15, Vol 115 (2), Pg 152-3, PMID: 0001760006. |
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