Transplantation

It is no secret that obesity is beyond an aesthetic issue and a real health concern. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , approximately 33% of American adults are considered obese. This epidemic can be contributed to a variety of reasons including a more sedentary lifestyle as well as poor dietary choices. While many doctors debate on what is the best coarse of action to manage this rise in obesity, pharmaceutical companies are trying their best to find cures or at least drugs to help curb the growing problem. One such medication that has recently received a recommendation from a FDA panel advisory committee is Qnexa®

Qnexa, created by Vivus Inc, is a unique combination of Phentermine and Topiramate, two already prescribed medications on the market. Phentermine is mainly prescribed to fight obesity and Topiramate is most often prescribed as an anticonvulsant and used for migraines. But it is their particular combination in specific amounts that has shown in clinical trials to be very effective in fighting obesity and now the FDA's panel advisory committee agrees. It was back in July of 2010 that a panel advisory committee originally voted against its approval 10-6 but after further testing had taken place and the results made known, the February 22nd 2012 vote was a unanimous 20-2 in favor of approving it. The next major step in its possible FDA approval is tentatively set April 17th, 2012.

While this can be viewed positively for many, others hold their concerns. Diet drugs have not always shown to be very safe regarding their side effects. Many of us can remember the toxic cocktail called Fen-Phen that ended up leading to deaths and billions of dollars worth of lawsuits from fatal pulmonary hypertension caused by the Fenfluramine ingredient. The FDA and other world governing health organizations also recently removed Sibutramine, an obesity drug, which was shown to lead to cardiovascular events such as strokes. While in all probability that if Qnexa is approved a post approval study will be required to ensure safety, it would not necessarily remove all doubts. Such a move to approve a diet drug can be a touchy topic to say the least. Others claim there is either no need and that a proper diet and sufficient exercise would suffice.

Our society has become accustomed to getting what they want in a short period of time and if possible, with a low degree of effort. There often seems this same approach with weight loss. There even seems to be a large ignorance in what foods are truly good for you and which ones you should avoid. Exercise is another area of ignorance and the amounts one should attain. One does not have to look too far back in our history to see that obesity levels where far lower than they are now and many will contribute this to lifestyle differences in both diet and exercise. Their argument is simply eat well and get exercise and all is well.

While this in theory sounds good, life is not this simple and as a result people are gaining weight and accumulating health problems which is taking its toll not only on the individual, but also those around them and society as a whole. Perhaps there is a bit of truth in both sides of the story of whether or not medication is needed to treat the obese, and peoples views will always differ and perhaps they should since not everyone is in the same situation and what might work well for one, may not work quit as well for another.