Obesity Facts and InformationInformation on obesity, weight management solutions and medications

Most people are aware of the negative health effects of being overweight or obese.

Now, it appears that obese patients may have poorer outcomes if diagnosed with prostate cancer for at least two distinct reasons.

It appears that obese men tend to be diagnosed with more aggressive forms of the disease as compared to non-obese men. The reason for this is that it appears that the PSA blood test is not as reliable in obese men as a predictor of prostate cancer.

In a recent study of 3400 men who had PSA testing, researchers found that the risk of an aggressive cancer diagnosed by an elevated PSA was twice as high in obese patients as compared to non-obese patients.

The reason postulated for this is that obese patients have greater blood volume which may dilute the PSA and lower results. By the time a PSA was elevated in obese patients, the cancer was more spread.

Researchers suggest therefore that the index of suspicion be higher for obese patients and that PSA levels which would be considered as worthy of further investigation be lowered in obese patients.

It should be noted that the definition of obesity is a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or above.

OBESITY AND PROSTATE CANCER SURGERY

A second recent study showed that obese patients were 60% more likely to have recurrence of prostate cancer after surgery for prostate cancer removal.

In this study of 1434 men, obesity was defined as a BMI of 35 or over.

The reason postulated for the increased recurrence rate was the technical difficulty of operating on obese patients.

So, here’s two more good reasons to lose that excess poundage.

One of easiest ways to start is trying anti obesity medication called Acomplia, which also helps to stop smoking.

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Smartness of an individual can only be gauzed by the action he or she takes to get out of a problem. Whatever may be the complexity of such a problem, only a smart individual can get out of it with flying colours. Obesity is one such problem which is really complex. It needs a lot or determination, willpower and patience if someone is thinking to get out of it. Even individuals who are smart in other spheres of life come to their wits end, to get out of obesity.

Obesity can result from excessive intake of food, lack of physical activities, lack of knowledge on balanced diet and genetic factors etc. Obesity can also be visible as a result of side effect of some certain kind of medications. Obesity is considered as a disease by the medical fraternity as it may give rise to future health risks like – heart ailments, diabetes, prostate cancer, high blood pressure, and hypertension etc. Hence, it is important to get rid of obesity when time is left.

Acomplia is a diet pill is a sympathomimetic amine and is known as ‘anorexigenic’ or ‘anorectic’ drug too. This diet pill stimulates the central nervous system and its periphery thus helps in increasing heart rate and blood pressure. This increase in blood pressure and heart rate helps one decrease his or her appetite. Acomplia is a short term appetite suppressant to be used in tandem with controlled diet and exercises. As Acomplia is a diet supplement it cannot directly help one get out of obesity rather it helps in supplementing the process of weight loss through exercises.

Before starting its dosage individuals with thyroid problem, anxiety, epilepsy, allergy, and diabetes should tell their doctor about it. One should not take Phentermine if he or she has – heart disease, high blood pressure, glaucoma or have a history of drug abuse. Acomplia is a prescription drug hence this drug should not be taken without proper medical guidance. An obese can have online prescription for the drug from a number of online facilities. These online prescriptions are free of cost, i.e. one does not need any fee to pay to avail these services.

Acomplia side effects might include confusion, headache, hallucination, abnormal behaviour, blurred vision, difficulty in breathing, swelling of face, lips, tongue or closing of throats etc. In case such events occur one should stop taking Acomplia diet pills immediately. Other minor side effects like restlessness, insomnia, headache, diarrhea and changes in libido may also occur. In case these happen you should talk to your doctor.

Where to buy Acomplia online?

• Brand Acomplia medication without prescription from Europe
• Generic Acomplia medication without prescription from Europe

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What is Obesity?

Obesity is largely considered a lifestyle disease that has become the second leading cause of preventable deaths. This disease needs proper medical attention. Severe obesity is threatening and can affect lifespan of a person. It can easily lead to development of life-threatening complications such as high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

Reasons of Obesity

Environmental factors play an important role in spreading this medical condition. You can also cite reasons for obesity such as increasing dependence on modern equipment such as elevators and escalators. People spend long hours in front of their computer or watching television. Consumption of high calorie food is also one of the reasons that set the ground for development of obesity.

List of Popular Drugs for Obesity Treatment

You can treat obesity with the help of two accepted methods. One is drug therapy and the other is surgery. The surgical method for treatment of obesity is a quicker method but it also contains risks In addition, surgeries are too expensive and not everyone can afford it.

People generally prefer drug therapy as this method does not contain any possibility of cuts or scars in the body. The most popular drugs that you can choose for treating obesity include Acomplia and Xenical.

What is Acomplia?

It is an anti-obesity drug manufactured by a pharmaceutical company named Sanofi-Aventis. Acomplia is first in the class of therapeutic drugs called Cannabinoid-1 Receptor Blockers (CB1) that hit the market. You can buy Acomplia only after obtaining prescription from a medical doctor.

Ingredients of Acomplia

The main ingredient of Acomplia is rimonabant and it works by selectively blocking CB1 receptors in the brain. These receptors are responsible for glucose and lipid (or fat) metabolism in the body. Acomplia helps switch off brain circuits that make you feel hungry.

Benefits of Acomplia

Manufacturer of Acomplia claims that intake of Acomplia pills can prevent the risk of cardiovascular diseases in users. Another benefit is that it reduces large waist circumference such as 102cm in men and 88cm in women. The patients who are obese and suffer from type 2 diabetes or abnormal levels of fat in the blood can derive major benefits from Acomplia.

What is Xenical?

This oral prescription pill is very useful for those who are too obese. It can reduce about 50% of more body fat than you lose by dieting alone. You need to complement this medication with proper food habits and regular exercise.

Ingredients of Xenical

Orlistat is the main ingredient in Xenical that works to reduce fat absorbing ability of body. It does not affect your diet. You should consult a doctor for proper dosage of Xenical. However, you can take it in strengths of 60mg capsules three times a day with meals for positive results.

Benefits of Xenical

Xenical medication helps reduce blood pressure levels in the body. It also reduces triglycerides and decreases body fat. Xenical also reduces your chances of developing type 2 diabetes.

Who can take Acomplia and Xenical?

You can take Acomplia along with proper diet and exercise to treat your obesity problem. You can also take it if you suffer from medical conditions such as type 2 diabetes and abnormal levels of fat in the blood.

Doctor can prescribe Xenical to you if your BMI is greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 or 27 kg/m2 and suffer from other risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes or increased serum cholesterol.

Availability of Acomplia and Xenical

Both Acomplia and Xenical are prescription pills and you can buy these pills online. This method is quite simple and proves to be an easy option for you. All you need to do is locate some genuine and reliable websites that sell these anti-obesity drugs. You will find an easy guide once you browse through these websites:

• Prescription medication online
• Prescription drug store
• Buy Prescription drugs without prescription

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Mississippi has America’s highest percentage of obese adults and Colorado has the lowest percentage, says the CDC.

The CDC reports that six in 10 U.S. adults are overweight or obese, including nearly a quarter who are obese.

Those figures appear in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The statistics are based on more than 333,000 adults aged 18 and older who reported their height and weight in a 2005 survey conducted via telephone.

The percentage of obese adults ranged from 17.4% to 30.3% among states in 2005. Curious about how your state ranks? Read on.

Obesity State-by-State List

Here is the CDC’s list of adult obesity prevalence, from highest to lowest, for each state and Washington, D.C. Ties are listed in alphabetical order.

1. Mississippi: 30.3%
2. West Virginia: 30.1%
3. Louisiana: 30%
4. South Carolina: 28.5%
5. Alabama: 28.1%
6. Kentucky: 27.9%
7. Arkansas: 27.2%
8. Alaska: 26.9%
9. Tennessee: 26.7%
10. Indiana: 26.4%
11. Texas: 26.3%
12. Missouri: 26.2%
13. Oklahoma: 26.1%
14. Georgia: 25.9%
15. Michigan: 25.5%
16. North Carolina: 25.4%
17. Nebraska: 25.1%
18. South Dakota: 24.9%
19. Iowa: 24.7%
19. North Dakota: 24.7%
20. Pennsylvania: 24.6%
21. Virginia: 24.5%
22. Illinois: 24.3%
23. Ohio: 23.9%
23. Wisconsin: 23.9%
24. Idaho: 23.8%
24. Maryland: 23.8%
25. Wyoming: 23.5%
26. Kansas: 23.4%
27. Oregon: 23.1%
28. Minnesota: 22.9%
29. Delaware: 22.8%
30. Washington: 22.7%
31. Florida: 22.3%
31. Maine: 22.3%
31. New Hampshire: 22.3%
32. California: 22%
33. New York: 21.6%
34. New Jersey: 21.5%
35. New Mexico: 21.2%
36. Washington, D.C.: 21.1%
37. Arizona: 20.9%
38. Utah: 20.8%
39. Nevada: 20.7%
40. Montana: 20.6%
41. Rhode Island: 20.5%
42. Massachusetts: 20.1%
43. Vermont: 19.8%
44. Connecticut: 19.3%
45. Hawaii: 19.1%
46. Colorado: 17.4%

The CDC used participants’ self-reported height and weight to calculate BMI (body mass index). Here are the cutoffs for overweight and obese BMI:

* Overweight BMI: 25 to 29.9
* Obese BMI: 30 and higher
* Extremely obese BMI: 40 and higher.

In 2005 60.5% of U.S. adults were overweight, obese, or extremely obese.

Most of those people were overweight but not obese. However, almost 24% were obese and 3% were extremely obese.

America’s obesity boom touched every state.

Adult obesity became more common in all states from 1995-2005, the CDC reports.

For instance, in every state in 1995, fewer than one in five adults were obese. That was true of 28 states in 2000 and only four states — Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, and Vermont — in 2005.

In 2005, obese adults accounted for at least a quarter of residents in 17 states and at least 30% of residents of three states — Louisiana, Mississippi, and West Virginia.

Other Obesity Findings

About 24% of men and women were obese in 2005, says the CDC.

Obesity was least common among adults aged 18-29 years (nearly 18%) and most common among those in their 50s (nearly 30%).

The CDC also broke the obesity data down among whites, blacks, and Hispanics.

About 22% of whites, nearly 34% of blacks, and about 26% of Hispanics were obese in 2005.

More work is needed to reverse America’s continued trend toward obesity, says the CDC.

If you’re carrying extra pounds that you want to shed, talk to your doctor for pointers on losing weight safely and keeping the pounds off.

Fudge Factor

Survey participants didn’t have to step on a scale. They just reported their weight and height by telephone. No one checked that those reports were accurate.

Many people underestimate their weight, the CDC notes. That may be why the CDC’s overweight and obesity statistics are higher in studies in which people are weighed.

Those studies show that two-thirds of U.S. adults 20 years old and over are overweight or obese, including 32% who are obese.

SOURCES: CDC, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Sept. 15, 2006; vol 55: pp 985-988. CDC: “Fast Stats: Overweight.” CDC: “Obesity Prevalence Among Adults by State — BRFSS 1195, 2000, 2005.” News release, CDC.

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This week at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions in Orlando, data was presented describing the two-year results with rimonabant in the RIO-Europe trial. Rimonabant, an investigational drug from Sanofi-Aventis, is aimed at helping patients lose weight and quit smoking. Early trials with rimonabant have been promising, but many have cautioned that it’s way too early to get very excited about this drug. We have to wait for longer-term results, critics said.

Now we have longer term results.

The RIO-Europe trial enrolled and randomized 1507 obese patients to receive either placebo or rimonabant (either 5 mg or 20 mg.) Two years after enrollment, patients taking 20 mg of rimonabant maintained significant reductions in both weight and waist size.

The average weight loss in patients still taking rimonabant was between 15 - 20 pounds (compared to approximately 5 pounds on placebo,) and waist size was reduced by 7.5 cm (compared to 3.4 cm.) Further, patients taking 20 mg of rimonabant after two years had nearly a 30% increase in HDL cholesterol, and a 9% reduction in triglycerides. Perhaps most impressive, the proportion of patients with metabolic syndrome was reduced by 50% in patients on 20 mg of rimonabant. Results on the 5 mg dose also moved things in the right direction, but to a lesser extent.

Side effects were described as minor and temporary, the most frequent being diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and dizziness. More severe anticipated side effects, especially depression, did not materialize.

So, when can we get our hands on this drug?

Critics kept saying: don’t get excited, we need more data. Well, now we have more data, and if anything the drug is looking even better than previously thought; even the critics seem satisfied now. So when can we get some?

DrRich hates to be a wet blanket, but he has two words for you: Vioxx and Celebrex. Here are two other drugs that were immensely popular, that met a strong unmet clinical need, that looked very good in clinical trials that were at least as large as the rimonabant trials - but, years after they began to be used in very large numbers of patients, turned out to have uncommon, unforeseen, but very serious side effects. And what’s the result? Patient advocacy groups are screaming bloody murder. Vioxx is off the market and Merck is fighting for survival. Celebrex is still on the market, but barely, and Pfizer is seriously wounded. FDA officials are sweating before congressmen puffed up with righteous anger; heads will roll there. And lawyers are buying second homes in Aspen.

The FDA and Sanofi-Aventis have to be thinking of all this as they decide what to do with rimonabant. The demand for this drug is immense; and contrary to what you might think, especially in the current atmosphere, this huge demand will make both the regulators and the parent pharmaceutical company extremely hesitant about unleashing this drug to the marketplace. Even very rare side effects will show up (and will be made by the media and the legal profession to look common) when tens of thousands begin using the drug - especially when, one can easily predict, patients anxious to lose even more weight will not use the drug quite as prescribed. If the FDA and Sanofi-Aventis have brains in their heads, this drug will initially be approved only for relatively small numbers of patients who are at the highest risk. Most of you reading this, DrRich predicts, won’t be able to have this drug for quite some time, until its safety profile is much better defined - possibly years from now.

If it’s any consolation, DrRich points out two things. First, he has no inside information on how this drug will be approved or marketed. He may be dead wrong about this. Maybe it will be a free-for-all after all.

Second, take a look at the data again. The weight loss achieved with rimonabant is highly significant, statistically. But in magnitude, it’s just not that great. The people enrolled in this study were fat. A 20 pound weight loss (and 3 inches off the waist) after two years might not even be particularly noticeable in many of them. This drug simply does not take obese people and make them svelte; that’s not what it does. It helps - but most of the real help appears to be metabolic. The metabolic improvement is very important. But this stuff won’t make you skinny.

Updated: June 22, 2006, Author: Richard N. Fogoros, M.D. , source: About.com

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