New Weight Loss Drug Approved by FDA
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Belviq can also help with medical conditions like diabetes. Video by fox47news.com
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The Food and Drug Administration approved a new drug for weight loss, the first to enter the market in more than ten years.
Arena Pharmaceuticals' drug Belviq, also known as Lorcaserin, was approved for use in obese or overweight adults with at least one medical condition.
Studies show the drug helped users lose at least 3% of their body weight, when combined with a healthy diet and exercise routine.
"It causes them to increase their satiety, meaning that they don't feel hungry anymore...they really just don't want to eat as much food as they would eat beforehand, so they take in less calories," said Dr. Edward Rosick, MSU Assistant Professor in Family & Community Medicine.
The drug may also help to improve blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes.
However, Dr. Rosick says he's not inclined yet to prescribe it to his own patients.
"What I always tell my patients is I don't like them to be guinea pigs. Even though the drug has had testing, it hasn't had a lot of testing. It hasn't had testing on the market."
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