Will Diet Pills Replace Exercise and Healthy Eating?

It has been 13 years since the FDA has approved a weight loss drug, and now they have approved two in the last several weeks. Belviq was approved June 27th, and Qsymia was approved July 17^th. Both operate primarily by reducing appetite.

Since obesity has been dubbed “the greatest public health crisis of the century” by the Dietary Guidelines for America, anything that might help would be welcomed. But let’s put their potential impact in perspective. Studies show the weight loss from both of the new medications to be moderate (5 – 10%)—and while that level of weight loss is associated with  significantly reduced risk, these medications are certainly not the magic bullet people are looking for. Like all medications there are potential side effects; in fact, in May of 2010 the FDA denied approval of Qsymia because of safety concerns, especially for pregnant women.  Neither Belviq nor Qsymia should be taken by pregnant women.

It should also be emphasized that when approved, Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research said that both Belviq and Qsymia should be “used responsibly in combination with a healthy lifestyle that includes a reduced calorie diet and exercise.”

There are no medications available now, nor do I believe there will ever be that will take exercising regularly or eating healthfully out of the equation.

For more information on these and all prescription medications, go to www.medlineplus.gov.