Weight-loss Pill Hailed As 'holy Grail' In Fight Against Obesity?!

[pdmjoker]

Weight-loss pill hailed as 'holy grail' in fight against obesity​

That's the headline to a news item in the Guardian today (27 Aug 2018) . Sounds really promising!

However, some quotes:

"A US study saw 12,000 people who were either obese or overweight given the pills or a placebo – with those who took the drug shedding an average of 4kg (9lbs) in 40 months."

"The drug has been on sale there since 2013 under the name Belviq, where it costs $220- 290 (£155-225) a month."

Losing 4kg (9lbs) in 40 months is an average loss of 2.7lbs per year. Hardly very impressive!

Also, 40 months at about £200 per month is £8,000, all to lose 9lbs!!! What?!?! This seems utter madness! Some people are even hoping it will be approved by NICE (the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence) and made available on the UK NHS. (The manufacurers in particular, no doubt!)

The full article:

https://www.theguardian.com/society...lviq-not-linked-to-heart-problems-finds-study

 

[Squire Fulwood]

What comes to mind when reading about this Holy Grail is roughly the same thought that applies to most pills. Jen Unwin's ploy still holds true to my mind.

"We could medicate you but we could try a dietary approach for a couple of months to see how that goes first."

Given the price and the effectiveness my gut reaction is that someone is getting on the obesity band wagon.

 

[jackois]

ha ha... saw that myself, this morning and also did the math...

I suspect the 'holy grail' is for the manufacturer rather than the NHS or patient.

 

[bulkbiker]

Not that great for Type2 avoidance evidently..

"Analysis also showed fewer people taking lorcaserin developed diabetes, 8.5% compared with 10.3% on placebo."

 

[dbr10]

Weight-loss pill hailed as 'holy grail' in fight against obesity​

That's the headline to a news item in the Guardian today (27 Aug 2018) . Sounds really promising!

However, some quotes:

"A US study saw 12,000 people who were either obese or overweight given the pills or a placebo – with those who took the drug shedding an average of 4kg (9lbs) in 40 months."

"The drug has been on sale there since 2013 under the name Belviq, where it costs $220- 290 (£155-225) a month."

Losing 4kg (9lbs) in 40 months is an average loss of 2.7lbs per year. Hardly very impressive!

Also, 40 months at about £200 per month is £8,000, all to lose 9lbs!!! What?!?! This seems utter madness! Some people are even hoping it will be approved by NICE (the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence) and made available on the UK NHS. (The manufacurers in particular, no doubt!)

The full article:

https://www.theguardian.com/society...lviq-not-linked-to-heart-problems-finds-study

It's been on BBC and Sky. Complete twaddle

 

[ickihun]

Weight-loss pill hailed as 'holy grail' in fight against obesity​

That's the headline to a news item in the Guardian today (27 Aug 2018) . Sounds really promising!

However, some quotes:

"A US study saw 12,000 people who were either obese or overweight given the pills or a placebo – with those who took the drug shedding an average of 4kg (9lbs) in 40 months."

"The drug has been on sale there since 2013 under the name Belviq, where it costs $220- 290 (£155-225) a month."

Losing 4kg (9lbs) in 40 months is an average loss of 2.7lbs per year. Hardly very impressive!

Also, 40 months at about £200 per month is £8,000, all to lose 9lbs!!! What?!?! This seems utter madness! Some people are even hoping it will be approved by NICE (the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence) and made available on the UK NHS. (The manufacurers in particular, no doubt!)

The full article:

https://www.theguardian.com/society...lviq-not-linked-to-heart-problems-finds-study

1kg per month.
Anyone may be able to do that without pill.
I can lose 2kgs a month and I'm partially immobile and on huge amount of insulin with an underactive thyroid and weight gaining meds to fight.

 

[Guzzler]

So 9lb in 40 months? I've lost more weight than that just putting my handbag down.

 

[Moggely]

No such thing as a miracle drug,pill, holy grail when it comes to weight lose. Good old fashion hard work is what it takes. Probably harder to keep it off but it can be done. Why all the quick fixes. Never works.

 

[ickihun]

Hard work forever, in my case. As soon as I slip its a nightmare to get back to losing. I've just realised this morning my new insulin has been designed for no hypos, it rebounds. Neither wonder I cannot get 5s.

 

[Mbaker]

If I were in the States and struggling, but had means to pay, I would ask Virta to put me on their plan for 6 months $2400 (although it is for pre and diabetic persons, as a weight loss methodology it is a viable alternative), where on average the loss of weight after 6 months was 12% - circa 5 to 7% weight loss around 3 months, which is around the same as 40 months on the weight loss pill.

There of course are much cheaper ways of loosing weight, but if I had to choose and did not have any knowledge, I would rather have an educated natural lifestyle programme with "hand holding" as some need, than a pill:
https://diatribe.org/virta-health-launches-to-reverse-type-2-diabetes-with-low-carb-diets-coaching
Although Virta is expensive it may also help outliers with complicated weight issues due to the specialist connection with health physicians.

 

[lucylocket61]

1kg per month.
Anyone may be able to do that without pill.
I can lose 2kgs a month and I'm partially immobile and on huge amount of insulin with an underactive thyroid and weight gaining meds to fight.

I cant.

 

[Indy51]

Not to mention the side effects:

 

[lucylocket61]

Not to mention the side effects:

I need a SHOCKED button

 

[Indy51]

I need a SHOCKED button

 

[bulkbiker]

Not to mention the side effects:

4 hours!! wow

 

[Brunneria]

4 hours!! wow

Least of my worries, from that list!

 

[Squire Fulwood]

4 hours!! wow

Other side effects are available.

 

[zand]

4 hours!! wow

lol yeh that's the bit that caught my eye too! I think I can see a future use for this drug when it fails for weight loss....

 

[pdmjoker]

I cant.

I was unable to lose weight on a "conventional" diet, but am being successful with Low Carb/Keto. However, I appreciate that not everyone can go Low Carb, for practical or physiological reasons. Such people might well find a weight-loss drug beneficial, but the 2.7lbs weight loss per year (and annual cost of £2400) hardly makes this drug the "Holy Grail" some clinicians are describing it as...

 

[Resurgam]

When I started Atkins, after yet another failed low calorie diet, I was losing 1Kg a day.
After 3 days I decided to eat more carbs than the 20 gm a day Induction level plan, as I had lost half a stone.
I think that there is a clear winner in the weightloss stakes.