New Diet Drug Tanking Just Like Its "Treatment Effects" By Martha Rosenberg

[Demeter]

http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_martha_r_080418_new_diet_drug_tankin.htm



Since GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) high profile launch of alli last summer, the first FDA approved diet drug sold over the counter, the only figures that have flattened are sales...Two million starter packages sold in the first few weeks at $49.99 for 60 pills and $69.99 for 120 thanks to a $150 million populist rollout that included displays in Targets, Wal-Marts and warehouse clubs. But that revenue growth "will be down a notch" in 2008 Jean-Pierre Garnier, GSK's outgoing CEO cautioned financial analysts, "because you won't have as much growth coming out of alli, although we have some."

Of course all diet products generate dropouts who don't like the results they're getting or the dietary restrictions. And GSK admits alli results are slow and close to placebo. But not all diet products feature the "oily bowels" and "anal leakage" that made alli an instant success on the comic circuit...Because the active ingredient in alli, Orlistat, blocks the body's absorption of fat and ushers it out the bowels, sometimes before a person is ready or warned, GSK originally cautioned users to bring backup underwear with them or wear dark colors...Users could even exchange "accident support group" tips on alli's online message board...

"With Allies Like This, Who Needs Enemas?" asked Prescription Access Litigation.
"Maybe it should come with a coupon for Depends," quipped Philadelphia-area pharmacist Maria Taylor.
"The Diarrhea Diet" and "Sh-t Yourself Thin" spoofed bloggers.

GSK said the dreaded "treatment effects" which occur when users exceed 15 grams of fat a day--a fast-food hamburger has 30--could teach people to avoid fatty foods through aversion therapy, like Antabuse does with alcohol. (One specialist even suggested users shouldn't get so upset about a little bowel incontinence.)

But critics said if eating right is doing the heavy lifting, why do you need alli to begin with...


Authors Bio: Martha Rosenberg is staff cartoonist for the Evanston Roundtable.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. Some info from a source that might never point you to

My Alli even if it had stock in it.


http://www.lef.org/protocols/metabolic_health/obesity_01.htm
Why Middle-Aged Men Gain Weight

About age 30 to 35, most men (and some women) notice they are gaining weight around the middle. Their pants become tight and at some point no longer fit. The words “pot belly,” “beer belly,” or “spare tire” are sometimes used to describe the medical condition called “abdominal obesity.” This sort of fat accumulation greatly increases the risk of cardiovascular and other diseases.

Low testosterone = abdominal fat gain

As it turns out, there is a scientific explanation for the tendency toward abdominal obesity among middle-aged men. As men age, their levels of free testosterone decline, and levels of estrogen and insulin increase. This is partly because aging men convert much of their testosterone into estradiol, a form of estrogen. Of the remaining testosterone, much is bound to sex hormone–binding globulin, a protein in the blood, and is not biologically active. Studies have shown that men with low free testosterone have higher rates of coronary artery disease, mental depression, and dementia (Tan et al 2004).

The idea behind testosterone replacement therapy is to restore the level of free testosterone to that of a healthy 25-year-old to counteract the effects of increased estrogen. Studies have shown that fat cells, particularly abdominal fat cells, convert testosterone to estradiol (Schneider et al 1979; Kley et al 1980; Killinger et al 1987; Khaw et al 1992). The more belly fat a man accumulates, the greater the conversion of his testosterone into estradiol. As long as free testosterone is low and the ratio of estrogen to insulin is high, most aging men will store fat around their belly (Abate 2002).

Clinical studies have shown that testosterone replacement therapy can provide a variety of benefits.

* In one study of 86 men aged 50 to 70, waist-to-hip ratio and blood pressure markedly decreased after 60 days of testosterone therapy (Li et al 2002).
* Another testosterone-replacement study in middle-aged obese men showed improved waist-to-hip ratio along with a decrease in plasma insulin and an increase in glucose disposal, suggesting improved insulin sensitivity (Marin et al 1992).
* In another trial, abdominally obese middle-aged men showed improved glucose control, decreased abdominal body fat, and improved sexual function after testosterone therapy (Boyanov et al 2003).

[Juche]

2. Just take it with metamucil

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez

OBJECTIVES: This placebo-controlled open study was designed to test the hypothesis that most of the gastrointestinal (GI) side events induced by treatment of obese patients with orlistat (a gastrointestinal lipase inhibitor) could be prevented or ameliorated by concomitant use of natural fibers (psyllium mucilloid).

DESIGN: Two groups of obese women (BMI>27 kg/m(2)) were treated with orlistat 120 mg three times a day. One group (A, n=30) was randomized to receive orlistat and, approximately 6.0 g of orange-flavored psyllium mucilloid dissolved in water and the other group (B, n=30) received orlistat and orange-flavored placebo. At the end of 30 days and 2 weeks of washout, group A switched to placebo and group B received psyllium while continuing orlistat three times a day.

SUBJECTS: Sixty professional women, more than 21-y-old with a body mass index (BMI) between 27.3 and 48.0 kg/m(2), who were not receiving any other medication.

MEASUREMENTS: Assessments included weekly visits to attending physician, filling a form in which GI events were recorded, monthly measurements of body weight, blood pressure and serum lipids. The frequency and severity of GI events were evaluated by a score system, based on information provided by the patients.

RESULTS: Both groups A and B significantly lost (P<0.01) weight after 60 days of orlistat (A=96.8 to 94.9 kg and B=98.7 to 96.5 kg). Similarly, BMI values declined significantly in both groups. While in the psyllium plus orlistat group (group A) the mean +/-s.e.m. of the scores reflecting GI events was 13.0+/-1.8, the placebo plus orlistat group (B) had a value of 35.9+/-2.7 (P<0.01). When the reverse situation was instituted the placebo and orlistat group presented a mean score of 36.1+/-3.6 and the psyllium plus orlistat a mean score of 8.9+/-1.5 (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: Psyllium hydrophilic mucilloid concomitantly prescribed to obese patients receiving 120 mg of orlistat three times a day is an effective and safe adjunct therapy that is helpful in controlling the GI side effects of this pancreatic lipase inhibitor.

Taking it with something like glucomannan may help too, don't know. I don't know of any studies on that subject but there are studies on glucomannan as a stand alone diet drug.

[Skittles]

3. it never ceases to amaze me

the efforts people will go to not just do the right thing - eat everything in moderation and EXERCISE