A Weighty Issue

A drug to aid weight-loss could be the answer to many prayers; both individual and corporate. But could relying on a pill have unpleasant consequences short- and long-term?

- Ellie Smith

Many of us will have fantasised about a magic pill to help shed a few pounds at some point in our lives. So it comes as no surprise that reports claiming scientists have discovered the ‘holy-grail’ of weight-loss medicine caused a big stir. In a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, appetite suppressant lorcaserin has been deemed a safe and effective weight-loss tool — three times more effective than dieting, according to researchers.

Populations around the world are struggling with their weight. In the UK alone, obesity rates are worryingly high with almost one in three adults now obese and another 36 per cent overweight. As a result, obesity-related hospital admissions have doubled in the past four years, putting a huge financial strain on the NHS. The need for change has never been more pressing — but are over-the-counter pills really the answer?

“Everyone is looking for this magic bullet for weight-loss but unfortunately there isn’t one,” says registered nutritional therapist Catherine Jeans. “Fundamentally we have to address the underlying issues and look at dietary and lifestyle modifications.”

Weight-loss pills are not a new concept. Since the 1960s a number of ‘breakthrough’ drugs have appeared on the market, only to be recalled after being found to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Crucially, scientists have concluded those using lorcaserin, however, will not be faced with a similar risk.