Good news for weight loss! FDA approves oral weight loss drug Belviq

Good news for those who want to lose weight easily! On the 27th, the U.S. Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) officially allowed a weight loss drug called "Belviq" to be legally sold. It is the second oral weight loss drug officially approved by the U.S. government after "Xenicals" 13 years ago. Although its clinical effect is poor, it does not have obvious side effects, which is the key to FDA approval.

According to the latest news from Reuters, the weight loss drug Belviq produced by Arena Pharmaceuticals in the United States had its application for approval rejected by the FDA in 2010 on the grounds that the drug had raised concerns about tumor formation during animal experiments. The pharmaceutical company subsequently provided results from human experiments to prove that the concerns did not exist, so the drug was approved and is expected to be officially launched in the United States in 2013.

The US FDA has officially approved the launch of the second oral weight loss drug Belviq. This alternative "little blue pill" is definitely a boon for those who want to lose weight easily. (Photo/From the British BBC)

The report released by the FDA shows that Belviq does not "activate" the chemicals that cause heart disease. Instead, it "takes a different approach" and allows the brain to release messages to reduce appetite or satiety earlier, reducing food intake and weight.

In human trials conducted by Arena Pharmaceuticals, subjects lost an average of 3% to 3.7% of their body weight after taking Belviq for one year, and 47% of patients without diabetes even lost 5%. The effect was relatively mild, but it met the standards set by the FDA. However, if the subjects did not lose the expected 5% of their body weight after taking the drug for three months, it means that the drug is not working as expected, and continuing to take it may harm the body, so it should be discontinued immediately.

The United States is the world's leading "obese country", with up to 35% of the population being morbidly obese. For those with a BMI of over 30, it is simply impossible to achieve weight loss through diet and exercise, so the demand for oral weight loss drugs is considerable. In 1997, the FDA issued a letter banning the sale of a popular weight-loss drug called "fen-phen" because long-term use could cause damage to heart valves and increase the risk of heart attacks.