CELEBRITY STYLE SPY: See all the latest celeb photos

The new wonder diet pill

Print
Share
Comment

marie Claire Health news: Obesity

A new wonder diet drug that promises to double the weight loss of any other treatments on the market is being created by scientists.

The once-a-day diet pill works by focusing on the part of the brain that controls appetite, controlling the urge to snack and making people feel full more quickly.

Tests of the drug on volunteers saw patients lose an average of over 24 pounds, or 11 kilograms, across a six month period.

The drug, called tesofensine, was tested on more than 200 men and women in Denmark who took the drug for six months and were more careful about their daily diet. The average weight loss was almost 10%, which is the equivalent of stone and a half – or two dress sizes.

Professor Arne Astrup, president of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, said: 'We were quite astonished when we saw the results. It is extremely promising.'

She added: 'Tesonfensine had the potential to produce twice the weight loss as currently approved drugs.'

Tesofensine was initially tested as a treatment for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, when experts discovered it contained anti-obesity properties.

Professor Steve O’Rahilly, an expert in obesity at the University of Cambridge commented on the findings saying: 'The results with this new drug demonstrate that, over a six month period, it is quite effective.

'However as the drug is likely to have actions on parts of the brain not involved in weight control, the risk of serious side effects on longer term administration will need to be watched very carefully.'

Although further studies are needed to confirm scientists initial findings, the drug could potentially be on the market within the next five years.

FOR MORE HEALTH NEWS CLICK HERE.

Thursday 23 October 2008

Have your say ...

Add your own comment

Fantastic, I know how hard it is to lose weight but so many of these new drugs are hailed as "miraculous" until the side effects become well know. Here's hoping this one is relatively safe and has no unpleasant side effects and is available here SOON!
Comment by Adele on October 23 22:12