I hope I don't get stuck sitting next to one of these "5 to 6 million" people.
Boxes of Alli, the first FDA-sanctioned diet drug to be sold without a prescription, are selling in huge numbers, despite the fact that the pill comes with the potential for extremely unpleasant and embarrassing side effects.
The manufacturer has predicted that 5 million to 6 million Americans a year will buy the drug.
The GlaxoSmithKline drug, which was introduced to the market several years ago in a prescription-only form called Xenical, blocks the absorption of about 25 percent of consumed fat. That would eliminate about 225 calories from a 3,000 calorie per day diet.
However, the drug can also result in loose stools and gas with an oily discharge. The drug's official website states that, "It's probably a smart idea to wear dark pants, and bring a change of clothes with you to work," if you take the drug.
Los Angeles Times June 15, 2007
5 comments:
Great. The US creates a ridiculous demand for beef and other meat, which helps destroy the planet, costs us billions per hear in health costs (and lives), and keeps us generally unfit and feeling poorly.
Now instead of attacking the real problem, big pharma has reinvented obesity as a disease, and is selling the "cure" as a pill. Wired mag did a story on exactly this topic.
I guess it's too much to inform us as children that the human body was meant to exercise. That's not going to make enough people money.
*GAG*
Does anyone ever read the fine print? Side effects sure, in fact EWW! But every bottle of them I've ever seen says to use it along with diet and exercise...and then states average weight loss of 2-3# per week. Well hello. That's exactly what you should get with diet and exercise alone...so why on earth are people spending all that money?
I SO don't get the attraction.
Check out this NY Times Article....
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/10/health/nutrition/10essa.html?ref=health
Post a Comment