Background and Miscellaneous Information

Articles

An archive of articles from publications such as the Medical Sciences Bulletin, MedWatch News, PNN Pharmacotherapy Line, and Obesity Meds and Research News.

Research News from Medical Meetings

Drugs Used in the Treatment of Obesity

Links to entries in DrugDB, our acclaimed database of information about specific drugs.

Other Sources of Information

Links to Websites and other Internet resources for Obesity information.

• Obesity Quiz - Results - See how well PharmInfoNet readers answered questions about obesity.
• Understanding Adult Obesity
• Statistices Related to Overweight and Obesity
• Are you obese? See: Body Mass Index Chart
• FDA NEWS: Olestra and Other Fat Substitutes

• Press Release: FDA APPROVES FAT SUBSTITUTE, OLESTRA
• Press Release: ADVISORY COMMITTEE VOTES ON DEXFENFLURAMINE
• Press Release: Dexfenfluramine Labeling To Be Updated

• GASTRO-EHLB is an email listserv for the discussion of the latest research and practical clinical treatment guidelines in the Gastrointestinal area.

  See the discussion: Pharmacotherapy for Obesity. Do the Benefits Outweigh the Risks?

• DrugFAQ: Redux (dexfenfluramine)
• DrugFAQ: Pondimin (fenfluramine)

• MISC: Anorexant Drug Resources

• Does Dietary Fiber Play a Greater Role in Heart Disease than Fat? Dec 99

Med-Brief

• New findings on fen-phen and heart valve problems Jan 99
• Study of the anti-obesity drug orlistat (Xenical) - Jan 99

Medical Sciences Bulletin

• Case Report: An Overdose of Dexfenfluramine - Sep 98
• Cimetidine and Weight Loss
• Dexfenfluramine Approved for Managing Obesity
• Eating Fat-Free Potato Chips Reduces Your Caloric Intake -Regardless of How Many You Eat! - Nov 98
• FDA Advisory Committee Recommends Dexfenfluramine Approval
• FDA Approves Olestra, Fat-free "Fat"
• Focus On... Obesity
• Metformin Approved for Non-insulin-dependent Diabetes
• Olestra and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Symptoms
• Orlistat: A New Option in Weight Loss - Sep 98
• Rapid-onset Insulin Lispro Approved
• Redux (dexfenfluramine) for Weight Loss
• Serotonin and Eating Disorders
• Sibutramine: Replacement for "fen/phen?"

MedWatch News

• FDA ANNOUNCES WITHDRAWAL OF FENFLURAMINE AND DEXFENFLURAMINE
• FDA Approves Xenical (orlistat) for Obesity - Apr 99
• FDA WARNS AGAINST DRUG PROMOTION OF "HERBAL FEN-PHEN"
• "FEN-PHEN" UPDATE - 28 Aug 1997
• HEALTH ADVISORY: CONCOMITANT FENFLURAMINE AND PHENTERMINE and VALVULAR HEART DISEASE
• Health Advisory on Fenfluramine/Phentermine for Obesity
• Interim Recommendations Issued for Patients Exposed to Fenfluramine and Dexfenfluramine
• Primary Pulmonary Hypertension and Redux More Extensively Defined
• Withdrawal of Fenfluramine and Dexfenfluramine: Q and A

PNN Pharmacotherapy Line

• AP Story on Redux in Error; Death Was Homicide
• FDA Looks at Dietary Aids
• Fen-Phen Associated with Heart Valve Problems
• Fen-Phen Valve Damage: Largest ADR Ever?
• Fen Drugs: 30% of Patients Have Heart-Valve Problems
• Koop: 300,000 Premature Deaths from Obesity
• Leptin: Still an Enigma
• Lipase Inhibitor Orlistat Approved for Weight Loss - Apr 99
• Obesity a Risk Factor in Breast Cancer
• Obesity Linked with Diabetes, Drugs Can Help
• Orlistat Obesity Study - Jan 99
• Prospects for Future Advances in Obesity Treatment
• Rezulin Warning Issued; Drug Pulled in U.K.
• Rofecoxib Scores Well in Two Published Trials - Dec 99
• Short-term Dexfenfluramine Therapy Not Associated with Heart-valve Damage
• Sibutramine Approved for Obesity Treatment
• Sibutramine Assessed for Antiobesity Potential - Sep 98
• Studies Confirm Valve Defects with Fen-Phen - Sep 98
• Valve Problems Overstated with Fen-Phen - Dec 99

Obesity Meds and Research News

• ACE INHIBITORS MORE EFFECTIVE THAN DIURETIC IN TREATING OBESITY-RELATED HYPERTENSION - Sep 97
• Chromium: Will it Help You Lose Weight? - Oct/Nov 97
• CSPI Survey on OLESTRA -Aug 97
• Doctor Argues That Olestra Should be Used With Caution - Jul 97
• Fat in the Diet: Is it Bad for You? - Oct/Nov 97
• FDA Advisory Panel Recommends XENICAL For Approval - Jun 97
• FDA ISSUES NEW RULES FOR DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS - Oct/Nov 97
• Gender, Chronic Fatique and Serotonin -Aug 97
• Is a Virus Responsible for Rise in Obesity? - Jun 97
• Lack of Exercise to Blame for Obesity? -Aug 97
• Leptin and Cholesterol: Predictor of Obesity? - Mar 99
• Leptin Causes Death of Fat Cells - Oct/Nov 97
• Leptin, Early Puberty and Obesity - Oct/Nov 97
• LEPTIN RESISTANCE CONTRIBUTES TO OBESITY - Sep 97
• Lifestyle Modification Counseling May Not be Necessary When Using Phen/Fen - Jul 97
• Meridia: Long-term Efficacy - Mar 99
• New England Journal of Medicine, Heart Valve Disease: one Physician's Rebuttal - Sep 97
• Obesity Genes Discovered -Aug 97
• Pfizer Tests an Exercise Pill - Jun 97
• Phen/fen and Heart Valve Disease (summary) -Aug 97
• Physician Says PROZAC Is A Better Choice Than FENFLURAMINE For Treating Obesity - Jul 97
• The Controversy Over Fenfluramine - Jun 97
• Tyrosine Phosphatase, Insulin Sensitivity and Obesity Resistance - Mar 99
• Weight Loss Has a Beneficial Effect on High-blood Pressure - Jul 97
• What are the risks of obesity? - Jan 98
• Wyeth-Ayerst to Study Redux and Neurotoxicity - Sep 97
• XENICAL (orlistat) Studies Reviewed - Sep 97

AHCPR Research News

• More prevalent severe obesity may explain black/white difference in stage at diagnosis of breast cancer

• Digestive Disease Week 1996
  • The gastric bypass surgery for obesity reduces the progression and mortality of noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM

• American College of Gastroenterology Meeting, 1996
  • Divided Gastric Bypass - A Safe Surgical Option for Obesity

• American Diabetes Association 1997
  • Drug Treatment of Overweight Diabetics
  • Beta-3 Agonists: New Drugs for the Treatment of Obesity?
  • Leptin Levels Increase in Proportion To Degree of Obesity

• dexfenfluramine (Redux)
• fenfluramine (Pondimin)
• orlistat (Xenical)
• sibutramine (Meridia)

Also, see New Obesity Drugs in Development and Pharmacotherapy for Obesity. Do the Benefits Outweigh the Risks?

Web Sites

• American Diabetes Association
• American Society of Bariatric Physicians
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Email Lists and Discussion Groups

• GASTRO-EHLB - for the discussion of the latest research and practical clinical treatment guidelines in the Gastrointestinal area. It is also for the dissemination of Electronic Highlights Bulletins (EHLBs) from important medical meetings such as the annual meeting of the American Society of Gastroenterology or the Digestive Disease Week annual meetings.

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