XENICAL DEIT PILL BLOG

100-Calorie Snack Packs: Do They Help With Weight Loss?

June 28, 2006

These days, quite a few snack foods are available in 100-calorie packs - like Pringles chips, Nutter Butter cookies, and even the 8-ounce mini Coke serving size.
These portion-controlled servings may be convenient, but they typically cost more per ounce than larger serving packages.

Are 100-calorie bags worth the cost?

“We are a nation on the go, looking for convenience and used the right way, there is nothing wrong with them,” said dietitian Julie Walsh. “Used the wrong way and you are going to pile on a lot of additional calories that don’t add a lot of nutrients to the diet.”

I recently bought snacks in all sizes and flavors - chips, cookies, pretzels and soft drinks. The first thing I noticed was that there wasn’t much in each serving.

“One of the downsides is that the serving size for 100 calories isn’t a lot,” Walsh said. “Now that may not fill up … too many people.”

You’re going to pay more for the packaging, too. With a full bag of pretzels, the cost is about 17 cents an ounce. Divided into 100-calorie packs, the same pretzels cost nearly 40 cents an ounce, more than double.

According to Walsh, “Whenever you pay for convenience, there’s going to be a higher price.”

What else can you eat that is 100 calories? A container of yogurt or an apple flavored with a tablespoon of peanut butter, which is a much healthier snack, Walsh said.

“The problem with some of the snack chips is that there is not, not much nutrition, not much fiber,” Walsh said. “So you’re not getting anything that’s going to fill you up.”

Many of the 100-calorie pack items are free of trans fats and low in sugar, but don’t confuse them with a nutritious snack, experts say. That’s because they’re highly processed, and not nearly as good for you as fresh fruits and vegetables.

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Taiwan Quick Take: DOH warns against `diet pill’

June 14, 2006

STAFF WRITER , WITH CNA
Sunday, Jun 11, 2006,Page 3

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The Department of Health (DOH) issued a warning on Friday that Qualicana, registered in Hong Kong solely for use as a thyroid medication, has been illegally advertised in Taiwan as a diet pill. Hong Kong’s health department last month ordered the suspension of sales of Qualicana. The DOH added that UK-made Reducil and Swiss-made Xenical are the only two brands registered as weight-loss treatments in Taiwan. Reducil works on the the central nervous system and helps lower the absorption of adrenalin, which makes people feel fuller after eating less food than they normally would. However, its possible side effects are constipation and insomnia. Xenical contributes to the inhibition of lipase in the intestines and prevents one third of fat eaten from being turned into energy in the body. Its side effects include diarrhea.

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Diet Drug Xenical (Orlistat) Under Renewed Attack by Consumer Advocates

June 11, 2006

Prescription diet drug Xenical (orlistat) has come under renewed attack by a consumer-advocacy group even as the Food and Drug Administration weighs approval of an over-the-counter version of the diet pill.

Public Citizen, in a letter to the FDA, charged that undisclosed data linking Xenical to a higher risk of colon cancer was not provided to FDA advisory panels that earlier this year recommended permitting a half-strength version of the diet drug to be sold without a prescription as Alli (pronounced Al-EYE).

Two FDA advisory committees, following a Jan. 23rd meeting at which they heard arguments both for and against approving the low-dose version of Xenical, voted 11-to-3 in favor of non-prescription sale of the drug.

The newsletter Cancer Letter, in its June 2nd edition, reported that FDA reviewers were aware of studies linking Xenical with precancerous lesions in the colon of animals, but did not provide the data to the advisory committees before their January meeting.

“The advisory committee wasn’t alerted to the information,” said Sidney Wolfe of the advocacy group Public Citizen. “What’s the point of having FDA advisory committees if you’re not going to give them all the information to made a decision?

“There is more than enough evidence to take orlistat off the market as a prescription drug and thereby end the process of switching it to over-the-counter status,” Wolfe added.

Dr. Neal L. Benowitz of the University of California at San Francisco, a member of the Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee, said he was troubled by the idea that information had not been shared with the panel, but didn’t “think this would have changed anything.

“I think the FDA should definitely consider this, make sure there’s no evidence of cancer risk, and make sure there’s long-term surveillance,” Benowitz told the Newark Star Ledger.

GlaxoSmithKline, which hopes to market the over-the-counter version of Xenical, contended in a statement that the pill is safe and that the issue raised by the Cancer Letter was reviewed before Xenical was approved as a prescription diet drug in 1999.

Glaxo said human and animal data has confirmed there is “no association” between colon cancer and orlistat.

“The concerns raised by Public Citizen have been addressed and dismissed by leading scientists,” said Glaxo.

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Advocacy group objects to weight-loss drug

June 8, 2006

consumer-advocacy group yesterday renewed its call for regulators to ban Xenical, a prescrip tion weight-loss pill a federal advisory panel earlier this year recommended for over-the-counter use.

In a letter to the Food and Drug Administration, Public Citizen cited previously undisclosed data about colon cancer risks that weren’t provided to the review panel. The information was published last week in the Cancer Letter, a newsletter, which reported agency reviewers were aware of the data before the drug was approved for prescription use in 1999.

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“The advisory committee wasn’t alerted to the information,” said Sidney Wolfe of Public Citizen, which last month petitioned the FDA not to approve the over-the- counter version. “What’s the point of having FDA advisory commit tees if you’re not going to give them all the information to made a decision?”

Wolfe was referring to a pair of studies that raised concerns about a particular biomarker, which is a characteristic scientists use to measure responses to a medical treatment. In the studies, the biomarker suggested laboratory rats given the drug may form cancerous lesions in the colon, according to the newsletter.

In a statement, GlaxoSmithKline argued the pill is safe and effective, and that the issue was reviewed before Xenical was approved as a prescription diet pill in 1999. The drugmaker also maintained human and animal data confirmed there is “no association” between colon cancer and its drug, which works by blocking the body’s ability to absorb fat.

“The concerns raised by Public Citizen have been addressed and dismissed by leading scientists,” said Glaxo, which struck a deal with Roche to market an over-the- counter version of the pill, called Orlistat. Glaxo contends the biomarker hasn’t been confirmed as a precursor to cancer.

The FDA recently issued Glaxo an approvable letter, but has stopped short of granting full approval.

One member of the FDA’s non- prescription drug panel yesterday expressed concern that the information was not provided by the agency at the January meeting.

“I don’t think this would have changed anything,” said Neal Be nowitz, a professor of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco. “But I’m always troubled when information isn’t shared. I think the FDA should definitely consider this (data), make sure there’s no evidence of cancer risk, and make sure there’s long-term surveillance

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Diet Drug Debut

June 5, 2006

May 24, 2006 - It would be the first FDA-approved weight loss aid for sale without a prescription. Its chemical name is orlistat, but many people know it as Xenical. FDA approval of a non-prescription version could make it very desirable to consumers. But one consumer advocacy group says the risks associated with the drug far outweigh the benefits.

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So, you want to lose weight. There’s no shortage of products promising to help you do that and no shortage of consumers willing to take them.
“I want something to work fast and I’ll try everything,” said one consumer.

At the Bella Mia salon in Chicago diet pills are a hot topic. Now, there is talk of a new pill, one that will have the federal government’s approval, a first in an over-the-counter diet drug.

Blerta Hoxha says she would certainly give it a try.

“A woman that wants to lose weight will try anything,” said Hoxha, salon owner.

The diet drug waiting to debut is currently a prescription drug called Xenical, but if the government gives the OK it will be sold on store shelves under the name Alli and will have half the strength of Xenical.

“It’s a pretty safe medication. That’s probably the reason they are going to consider over the counter,” said Dr. Reed Berger, nutrition specialist, UIC Medical Center.

Xenical works by blocking the body from absorbing about 30 percent of dietary fat. It has has been around since 1999 but has not been a blockbuster drug. People don’t’ lose a massive amount of weight– only about 7 to 15 pounds a year.

And then there’s the embarrassing side effects. Overeating fatty foods can result in severe gas, diarrhea and even incontinence.

“It kinda curbs my appetite for wanting something greasy,” said Cynthia Chamberlain, weight loss patient.

Cynthia Chamberlain says the drug forced her to eat healthy. Over a two year period she lost 40 pounds. Once she stopped taking it, the weight returned. Now she’s on Xenical again, eating right and exercising.

UIC Dr. Reed Berger says if you are looking for a magic bullet, this pill isn’t it.

“Like all medication out there for weight loss, nothing is strong enough now to help people lose a significant amount weight without proper diet and exercise,” said Berger.

Dr. Berger says the value of this pill is that it’s generally safe for people who are on medications to take. But she worries patients who take the over-the-counter version won’t do well without a physician. Glaxo says it is providing all kinds of support, including a 250-page diet advice booklet and access to an online nurse.

Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, says the marketing plan can’t cover up a drug that it says doesn’t work and may be dangerous. It adds, there is research showing the diet drug could lead to colon cancer. Public Citizen recently asked the FDA to pull Xenical off the market.

“This is a drug whose risks clearly outweigh the benefits. It shouldn’t be on the market at all, either in prescription or over the counter,” said Dr. Sidney Wolfe, Public Citizen.

The medical director for Glaxo says, “This is a drug that has been used by 22 million people in 145 countries and it’s been used safely.” She also adds there is plenty of research showing there is no link to colon cancer. Glaxo hopes to have Alli on store shelves by the end of the year.

Alli will cost about $2 to $3 a day.

Public Citizen has a “worst pills” Web site that details its concerns on the drug.

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The root causes of obesity

June 3, 2006

Kathleen Arnold has been larger than she wanted to be - as a teenager her weight was about 14 or 15 stones (88-95 kgs).

Other children tease her and she was reluctant to do sport.

Getting dressed and undressed in front of her classmates became a weekly torture.

Her confidence was very low and she overeat. She tried a number of diets, including attending slimming classes but nothing seemed to work.

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As she got older she put on even more weight and, after the birth of her third child, she noticed that the scales had begun to nudge 20 stones (127kg).

“I had always thought I would never get beyond 21 stones and here I was at 20 stones. I knew I had to do something about it.

“My health had started to suffer, I had an arthritic hip and asthma and my breathing was getting worse.”

Desperate for help, she went to her GP who referred her to the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, where they are pioneering an innovative way of tackling obesity.

Rather than just focusing on reducing the weight the team, which includes a psychologist as well as the usual obesity specialists and dietician, try to address any primary issues which affect why somebody has become obese, or how they feel about themselves during the weight-loss process.

David Kendrick, the psychologist at the clinic, said: “Many people who are overweight experience problems associated with low self-esteem and guilt.

“This is not just because they believe that others think they are greedy, but more because they feel out of control in their eating behaviour.

“Eating is often of high functional value to the overweight in the short term - it serves a purpose, even though there are enormous negative consequences in the long term.

“Helping people to understand why they are eating too much can eliminate the guilt, raise self esteem and in doing so, give them back the control they need to modify their eating behaviour.”

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Determining the Efficacy of Diet Pills

June 1, 2006

Diet pills are of a recent origin. The preceding generation was unaware of products such as these. In fact, back then the problem of obesity was not as widespread. If you talked to them about a product such as diet pill, they would have given you a blank look. The advice from their side would have been to keep off from such pills. Instead, go for natural methods of dieting and physical exercise.

Before we pronounce a judgement on the efficacy of the advice, let us state that diet pills do not isolate individuals from dieting or physical exercise. They only accelerate the pace with which the benefits are received from dieting and physical exercise. Therefore, the older generation only views one aspect of the pills and not whole. Therefore, it is not giving the entire picture.

Diet pills are safe for use. However, an important point to be noted while using the pill is that they are not for cosmetic use. You have to attend a friend’s marriage and you want to lose those extra pounds. Diet pills may not find use in such cases. These pills may be used only by the obese people. Obesity is not how you perceive yourself (if it is thus, then every woman will think of herself as obese). Obesity has been defined as having more than 30% of the ideal weight or Body Mass Index of 30 or more. Moreover, if obesity has resulted into any disease such as high blood pressure and heart problems, then these pills may be prescribed. Most of the diet pills are not recommended for children below the age of 16.

The diet pills may be classified into broadly two categories- prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs. Prescription drugs may not be used unless otherwise recommended by the doctor. In this category, popular diseases include Meridia and Xenical come.

In case of over-the-counter diet pills, user can purchase directly from the chemists shop. No prescription of the doctor is required.

Diet pills with natural or herbal ingredients too have emerged in the recent decades. This is because of the popular belief that chemical drugs cause allergies. As compared to them, herbal diet pills are safer. In addition, their effects are more stable. While these are available in traditional chemist shops, one can also purchase them from health food and nutrition stores. Diet pills with herbal supplements will have written ‘all natural’ on them.

Diet pills of different varieties work in different ways. Some work by suppressing the appetite. They affect the Hypothalamus in our brain, which regulates appetite. Lipase is an enzyme that breaks down the fat. Prescription fat blockers act as lipase inhibitors and thus remove fat from the body instead of breaking it. A few diet pills affect appetite related hormones. Ghrelin is blocked and brain gets the signal that stomach is full.

Diet pills are not entirely free from drawbacks. They have been associated with side effects such as cramping in the stomach, formation of gas and sometimes diarrhea. The user may also experience rise in blood pressure and heart rate. The user is in greater risk of heart attack.

Nothing can compete with the natural remedies. Discipline in diet and physical exertion is always necessary, whatever diet pill one is using.

Joseph Jones received training as a healthcare scientist. He has been working in the same field and writes informative articles for weight loss subject.To find Buy phentermine online,Cheap phentermine,phentermine diet pills visit

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