Encyclopedia of Diets - A Guide to Health and Nutrition

(Nandana) #1

High glucose diet aids were marketed based on this
concept. One example was the Ayds diet candy, which
contained more sugar than regular candy, and was
widely marketed in the 1970s. These products were
found to be ineffective as an adjunct to diet and exer-
cise in a weight loss regimen. While Ayds was refor-
mulated to contain phenylpropanolamine, the
similarity of the name to the disease AIDS eventually
drove this product off the market.


Topical anesthetics
In 1983, the Food & Drug Administration approved
the use of benzocaine, a topical anesthetic widely used in
first aid sprays, as an aid to weight-loss programs. The
claim was that benzocaine, in the form of lozenges or
gums, would anesthetize the tongue, making food less
attractive. More recent studies have failed to show any
significant benefit to benzocaine as a weight loss.


Lipase inhibitors
In 1999 the FDA approved orlistat—the first of a
new class of anti-obesity drugs called lipase inhibi-
tors—for long-term use.Orlistat, marketed under the
brand name Xenical inhibits the pancreatic enzyme
lipase that breaks down dietary fat. This decreases
the body’s absorption of dietary fat by as much as
30%. The undigested fat is excreted in the stool.


Orlistat is prescribed for overweight or obese patients
whoalsohave:


high cholesterol


diabetes


high blood pressure


heart disease.


On February 7, 2007, the FDA approved orlistat
for non-prescription sale.

Other agents
A large number of other agents have been offered
for over-the-counter sale as weight loss agents, how-
ever they have not been either adequately studied or
properly standardized, and so can not be recom-
mended. One typical example is chitosan a fiberous
material made of shellfish shells. This material may
adsorbfats, preventing their digestion, and thereby
reducing caloric intake. Several studies have reported
favorably on the effects of chitosan, but a careful
analysis of these studies indicates that in the best con-
ducted studies, the overall weight reduction benefits
are trivial, and preparations containing chitosan can-
not be recommended.
Many of the products marketed as herbal have
been found to be adulterated with active drugs, includ-
ing sibutramine and amphetamine. People taking
these agents under the impression that they are safe
because they are labeled as natural products may be
taking inappropriate doses of active drugs. One Chi-
nese remedy was found to contain Aristolochic acid
which was found to be responsible for six deaths due to
kidney failure among patients at a Belgian health spa.
Another reviewer examined studies relating to
complimentary and alternative treatments forobesity.
None of the drugs reviewed appeared to show con-
vincing evidence of value based on published studies,
although hyponotherapy did appear to be of potential
value in weight reduction. While the overwhelming
majority of complimentary and alternative medicines
marketed for weight reduction are harmless, the lack

Diet pills approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Generic name Trade name(s) Drug type FDA approval date
Approved for short-term use
diethylpropion Tenuate, Tenuate dospan appetite suppressant 1959
phendimetrazine Bontril, Plegine, Prelu-2, X-Trozine, Adipost appetite suppressant 1982
phentermine Adipex-P, Fastin, Ionamin, Oby-trim, Pro-Fast, Zantryl appetite suppressant 1959
Approved for long-term use
orlistat Xenical lipase inhibitor 1999
sibutramine Meridia appetite suppressant 1997

SOURCE: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services

Most currently available weight-loss medications are FDA-approved for short-term use, meaning a few weeks, but doctors may
prescribe them for longer periods of time. Sibutramine and orlistat are the only weight-loss medications approved for longer-
term use in patients who are significantly obese. Their safety and effectiveness have not been established for use beyond two
years.(Illustration by GGS Information Services/Thomson Gale.)


Diet drugs
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