In case you haven’t noticed, I despise prescribing medications for most issues. I believe in intervening with natural, holistic strategies first. But in very rare cases, even I have to resort to drug treatment. And this includes a handful of weight loss cases.
So needless to say, I pay attention when there’s a new kid on the pharmaceutical block. It just so happens that one such newcomer came on the scene very recently. And as usual, it’s not exactly the breakthrough of the century.
Not even close, in fact…
This “modest” benefit is hardly a breakthrough
According to a new study, this drug — in conjunction with diet and exercise — led to weight loss. And (in this trial, at least) it didn’t increase subjects’ risk of serious heart problems — which is a first for a weight loss medication.
Of course, this isn’t even a weight loss medication, per se. Technically, it’s a serotonin receptor agonist called lorcaserin. (You might have heard it called by its brand name, Belviq®.)
I should also mention that the weight loss effects were, as these researchers called it, modest. Or as I would call it, dismal — especially for a prescription drug. Specifically, lorcaserin tripled subjects’ odds of achieving a five to ten percent weight loss over three years.
For a 180-pound person, that’s only 9 pounds. Over three years.
But there are some noteworthy points of this study. For example, the rate of new-onset diabetes was nearly 20 percent lower in the group receiving active treatment compared to the placebo group — at least among those with prediabetes when the study started.
Of course, that doesn’t mean this drug has some miraculous metabolic effects. Most likely, the benefit was simply due to the weight loss. In the same vein, the drug also didn’t deliver any heart-related benefits. It simply didn’t cause any direct harm.
And I suppose that’s a cause for celebration. At least in a medical community where drugs are always their treatment of choice. Even if they come with some truly disturbing risks.
Because despite the fact that they’re falling all over themselves to celebrate the so-called “safety” of lorcaserin in this particular study, that’s only a small sliver of the big picture. Let’s not forget about the concern raised years ago about lorcaserin causing tumors in animal research models. In fact, it’s one of the reasons that regulators in Europe refused to approve it.
But of course, lorcaserin has been on the market in the United States since 2012, despite these concerns.
That’s right. Our FDA decided to allow its use, pending results of a post-marketing study. Never mind that, as I’ve told you many times, these post-marketing studies never happen. And if they do, their results are often withheld.
Those who can’t teach, prescribe
I’ve dedicated a large part of my professional life helping people manage their weight. Diet, exercise, and natural supplements are the clear winners every single time. But good luck getting conventional medicine to pull its head out of the sand long enough to see what’s right in front of them.
They refuse to look at the extensive literature supporting healthy Mediterranean-style, low-carb diets, like The A-List Diet and The Hamptons Diet. Instead, they dig their heels in and keep recommending low-fat diets or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), even when all the evidence points to a better way.
I hate to break it to them — but this diabesity epidemic isn’t going to go away with medication. So the traditional medical community has found itself in a real conundrum.
Luckily, you can count on me to set the record straight. And I always will. Because much like they do in Europe, I only recommend treatments that are demonstrated to be safe for humans years down the line — not the treatments designed to line the pockets of big business.
That’s one of the reasons why I developed my Metabolic Repair Protocol. This drug-free plan teaches you how to lose weight, and prevent — or even reverse — type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Click here to learn more about this life-changing learning tool, or to get started today.
P.S. I’m excited to announce that today, I’m launching a brand new online learning protocol: my Ultimate Heart-Protection Protocol. It’s my all-natural plan to prevent and reverse America’s biggest killers — high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. If you or a loved one is suffering from heart disease, consider this your iron-clad heart protection. Click here to learn more, or sign up today.
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