How To Reduce Weight Quick - Get fast results
So you are looking for fast ways to loose weight. Get Rid Of Extra Fat Well loosing weight is not a very difficult job. You can find hundreds of people out there who have successfully lost weight and have maintained it to date. What I want you to do is to find out what worked for them and do the same. Here are few tips that will help you to loose weight :
1. Keep doing some exercises such as cycling, walking, swimming or jogging. Follow it every day and make sure that you spend some time on it. Make it a part of your life and no matter what happens you should not skip it as they are not only one of the fast ways to loose weight but also a way to become healthier even if you don't want to loose weight.
2. If you get bored of doing exercises alone then find a friend to accompany you. Try to walk for a while. In case these exercises don't help try other group and change the days you train on, doing that will make you more busy and you will be excited.
3. Try to avoid smoking as much as possible. Chances are that if you smoke you won't loose weight and gaining the weight you have lost again will be very likely to happen.
4. Getting up early and doing your exercises in morning is also considered one of the fast ways to loose weight. Fast Weight Loss
5. Weighing yourself every day is not a wize thing to do as it will slow down the process.
6. Focus on your goal and make sure you follow these fast ways to loose weight. Focusing on your goal will make you more interested and you will be more likely to continue. Easy Fat Loss Don't give up at all; it takes time so you need to have patience.
7. Have faith in your body and use healthier food. Don't go for any un-natural steroids or other nutrition's. Eat healthy food and take fewer amounts of sugar and fat.
8. Don't eat junk food and better eat home made food. When you eat junk food you don't know for sure what you are eating, so better use healthy meat and vegetables in your food.
9. You will be building muscle at the same time so keep doing your exercises to maintain it, to know the amount of weight you are loosing just weigh yourself one time per week.
When following these fast ways to loose weight keep in mind that you may need up to month to get good results. Not all exercises work for all people so keep trying untill you get the best result from some exercises then keep doing them. Don't get panic in this situation as every person has a different body structure and it can take different amount of time for people. Keep yourself focus, maintain your schedule and follow it with consistency. Don't sheet and do all your sessions.
1. Keep doing some exercises such as cycling, walking, swimming or jogging. Follow it every day and make sure that you spend some time on it. Make it a part of your life and no matter what happens you should not skip it as they are not only one of the fast ways to loose weight but also a way to become healthier even if you don't want to loose weight.
2. If you get bored of doing exercises alone then find a friend to accompany you. Try to walk for a while. In case these exercises don't help try other group and change the days you train on, doing that will make you more busy and you will be excited.
3. Try to avoid smoking as much as possible. Chances are that if you smoke you won't loose weight and gaining the weight you have lost again will be very likely to happen.
4. Getting up early and doing your exercises in morning is also considered one of the fast ways to loose weight. Fast Weight Loss
5. Weighing yourself every day is not a wize thing to do as it will slow down the process.
6. Focus on your goal and make sure you follow these fast ways to loose weight. Focusing on your goal will make you more interested and you will be more likely to continue. Easy Fat Loss Don't give up at all; it takes time so you need to have patience.
7. Have faith in your body and use healthier food. Don't go for any un-natural steroids or other nutrition's. Eat healthy food and take fewer amounts of sugar and fat.
8. Don't eat junk food and better eat home made food. When you eat junk food you don't know for sure what you are eating, so better use healthy meat and vegetables in your food.
9. You will be building muscle at the same time so keep doing your exercises to maintain it, to know the amount of weight you are loosing just weigh yourself one time per week.
When following these fast ways to loose weight keep in mind that you may need up to month to get good results. Not all exercises work for all people so keep trying untill you get the best result from some exercises then keep doing them. Don't get panic in this situation as every person has a different body structure and it can take different amount of time for people. Keep yourself focus, maintain your schedule and follow it with consistency. Don't sheet and do all your sessions.
Labels:
weight loss
HOW MANY CALORIES SHOULD I EAT TO LOSE WEIGHT
Technically, there is no magic number of calories we should all eat each
day to lose weight. While most people can lose weight eating around
1,500 calories, you can assess your own personal caloric needs with a
little math.
To estimate how many calories you should consume in order to maintain your weight, you'll need to do a little math. By using a simple formula called the Harris-Benedict principle, you can assess your basal metabolic rate -- also known as your BMR.
The calorie intake calculator provides an estimate of how many Calories (or kilojoules) you are needed for both men and women.
To break this down into carbohydrates, protein, and fat - use the nutrient calculator.
If you are looking to gain weight or muscle - use the bulking calculator.
If you are pregnant and looking to gain the appropriate amount of weight needed for a healthy baby - see the pregnancy calorie calculator.
(Then, to lose weight, you'll need to cut calories or burn extra calories and shoot for a level lower than the results you get with this formula.)
Calculate Your BMR
Your BMR is the amount of energy your body needs to function. We use about 60% of the calories we consume each day for basic bodily functions such as breathing.
Other factors that influence your BMR are height, weight, age and sex.
Step one is to calculate your BMR with the following formula:
Women:
655 + (4.3 x weight in pounds) + (4.7 x height in inches) - (4.7 x age in years)
Men:
66 + (6.3 x weight in pounds) + (12.9 x height in inches) - (6.8 x age in years)
Please note that this formula applies only to adults.
Calculate Activity
Step two: In order to incorporate activity into your daily caloric needs, do the following calculation:
If you are sedentary : BMR x 20 percent
If you are lightly active: BMR x 30 percent
If you are moderately active (You exercise most days a week.): BMR x 40 percent
If you are very active (You exercise intensely on a daily basis or for prolonged periods.): BMR x 50 percent
If you are extra active (You do hard labor or are in athletic training.): BMR x 60 percent
The result of this formula will be the number of calories you can eat every day and maintain your current weightt. In order to lose weight, you'll need to take in fewer calories than this result.
As you lose weight, you can re-calculate the formula to assess your new BMR.
Calories for Fat Loss
Science tells us that 1 pound of fat is equal to 3500 calories, so a daily calorie deficit of 500 should result in 1 pound per week fat loss. In reality things don't quite work that efficiently!
When reducing calories:
Try not to lower your calorie intake by more than 1000 calories below maintenance. Doing so may invoke the bodies starvation response, which can lead to the Yo-yo dieting effect.
Try to gradually lower calories. A sudden drop (such as 500 calories or more) can cause your metabolism to slow.
What happens when calories are too low?
1) Muscle mass is broken down for energy (catabolism).
2) Metabolic rate will begin to drop (typically) after 3 days of very low calories - this is related to, and compounded by the loss of muscle mass.
3) With very low calories you risk sluggishness, nutritional deficiencies, fatigue, and often irritability. You are completely set-up for a regain in fat if you suddenly return to your previous eating patterns.
Lose Fat And Build Muscle?
Depending on your body type, it can be a very difficult balance trying to eat to burn fat, but retain or even build muscle. It's worth reading Tom Venuto's Burn the fat, feed the muscle (BFFM) for valuable insight on how to balance this. But realize that there is no single answer for everyone. It is a process of trial and error - but you need a starting point.
If you are over age 35, then the ebook Fit Over 40 is an excellent read. It gives the cardio and nutrition regimes of over 50 different people who have achieved amazing fat loss and muscle tone.
source: https://sites.google.com/site/fastweightlosss/how-many-calories-calories-should-should-i-eat-to-lose-weight
To estimate how many calories you should consume in order to maintain your weight, you'll need to do a little math. By using a simple formula called the Harris-Benedict principle, you can assess your basal metabolic rate -- also known as your BMR.
The calorie intake calculator provides an estimate of how many Calories (or kilojoules) you are needed for both men and women.
To break this down into carbohydrates, protein, and fat - use the nutrient calculator.
If you are looking to gain weight or muscle - use the bulking calculator.
If you are pregnant and looking to gain the appropriate amount of weight needed for a healthy baby - see the pregnancy calorie calculator.
(Then, to lose weight, you'll need to cut calories or burn extra calories and shoot for a level lower than the results you get with this formula.)
Calculate Your BMR
Your BMR is the amount of energy your body needs to function. We use about 60% of the calories we consume each day for basic bodily functions such as breathing.
Other factors that influence your BMR are height, weight, age and sex.
Step one is to calculate your BMR with the following formula:
Women:
655 + (4.3 x weight in pounds) + (4.7 x height in inches) - (4.7 x age in years)
Men:
66 + (6.3 x weight in pounds) + (12.9 x height in inches) - (6.8 x age in years)
Please note that this formula applies only to adults.
Calculate Activity
Step two: In order to incorporate activity into your daily caloric needs, do the following calculation:
If you are sedentary : BMR x 20 percent
If you are lightly active: BMR x 30 percent
If you are moderately active (You exercise most days a week.): BMR x 40 percent
If you are very active (You exercise intensely on a daily basis or for prolonged periods.): BMR x 50 percent
If you are extra active (You do hard labor or are in athletic training.): BMR x 60 percent
The result of this formula will be the number of calories you can eat every day and maintain your current weightt. In order to lose weight, you'll need to take in fewer calories than this result.
As you lose weight, you can re-calculate the formula to assess your new BMR.
Calories for Fat Loss
Science tells us that 1 pound of fat is equal to 3500 calories, so a daily calorie deficit of 500 should result in 1 pound per week fat loss. In reality things don't quite work that efficiently!
When reducing calories:
Try not to lower your calorie intake by more than 1000 calories below maintenance. Doing so may invoke the bodies starvation response, which can lead to the Yo-yo dieting effect.
Try to gradually lower calories. A sudden drop (such as 500 calories or more) can cause your metabolism to slow.
What happens when calories are too low?
1) Muscle mass is broken down for energy (catabolism).
2) Metabolic rate will begin to drop (typically) after 3 days of very low calories - this is related to, and compounded by the loss of muscle mass.
3) With very low calories you risk sluggishness, nutritional deficiencies, fatigue, and often irritability. You are completely set-up for a regain in fat if you suddenly return to your previous eating patterns.
Lose Fat And Build Muscle?
Depending on your body type, it can be a very difficult balance trying to eat to burn fat, but retain or even build muscle. It's worth reading Tom Venuto's Burn the fat, feed the muscle (BFFM) for valuable insight on how to balance this. But realize that there is no single answer for everyone. It is a process of trial and error - but you need a starting point.
If you are over age 35, then the ebook Fit Over 40 is an excellent read. It gives the cardio and nutrition regimes of over 50 different people who have achieved amazing fat loss and muscle tone.
source: https://sites.google.com/site/fastweightlosss/how-many-calories-calories-should-should-i-eat-to-lose-weight
WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS
Dieters are assisted by a Weight Watchers points "calculator" and
recipes provided by Weight Watcher Points program. All members are
encouraged to attend group discussion and counselling sessions at local
Weight Watchers centres to assist with lifestyle changes. The Weight
Watchers Points program also provides online support and online points
menus and calculators.
Weight Watchers have produced their own line of cuisine which may be purchased independently at most major grocery chains. There is a one-time registration fee and a weekly fee.
All foods are assigned a points value based on the Weight Watchers Points system. This is dependent on the serving size, the number of calories, the amount of fibre grams, and the amount of fat grams in the food. The higher the fat grams, the more points in that food. The higher the fibre grams, the less points. The amount of points each dieter should have daily is based on their body weight, and how much they are trying to lose.
Does Weight Watchers Points work?
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), funded by Weight Watchers, found people who followed the Weight watchers Points program for two years lost an average of six pounds. Diligent participants - who attended at least 78 percent of the weekly meetings - lost an average of 11 pounds after two years on the program.
The average weight loss amongst Weight Watchers Points participants "is not very much in comparison to what people hope they will lose, or what people need to lose in order to reach the desired, svelte self," reported study author Dr. Stanley Heshka.
Heshka suggests that people who need to lose a significant amount of weight fairly quickly for medical reasons may want to opt out of Weight Watchers Points program and similarly structured programs. However, this does not mean Weight Watchers Points system holds no benefit. While, on average, participants lost only small amounts of weight while enrolled in the structured Weight Watchers Points program, some lost much more, with the maximum amount of weight loss reaching around 50 pounds. The structured program "seems to hold advantages over trying to lose the weight by yourself," Heshka said.
For people who are not yet obese but are experiencing an increase in weight, or have a family history of problems that can be aggravated by excess weight - such as heart disease or diabetes - Weight Watchers Points program may have a significant impact on health.
The Weight Watchers Points Formula
The actual Weight Watchers Points formula used in the Weight Watchers Points calculator is currently under strict US Patent laws. The formula is shown below::
P = { c/50}+ {f/12}-(min{r,4}/5)
Where:
p = Points
c = Calories
f = Fat Grams
r = Dietary fiber Grams
(Note: min{r, 4} equals the number of grams of dietary fiber or 4, whichever is smaller. In other words, only the first 4 grams of fiber "count.")
Pros and Cons of the Weight Watchers Points System
Pros
Many people often skip breakfast or lunch, believing this will help them lose weight. Consequently, the body turns into starvation mode and slows down the body's metabolism rate. As a result, any fattening food that is consumed gets stored as fat. Weight Watchers Points system is a good program, which balances proper nutrition, counselling and exercise. Dieters are never left hungry or feeling lethargic - in fact, dieters often report they are eating more on Weight Watchers Points program than normally. The food consumed is just more nutritious.
There are many testimonials from people who are happy with Weight Watchers Points program, and they DO have a good diet program. Dieters are also able to keep the materials (which are very good and informative), and are able to try to do-it-themselves without going to the meetings.
Weight Watchers is one of the good guys in this industry of pill pushers and unscrupulous "experts." The Winning Points Plan does an effective job of teaching portion control and educates the dieter on what nutritional value certain foods have. It is the program to choose if you feel you need face-to-face support.
It takes the fuss out of losing weight. Dieters have the freedom of choice - there is no off-limits food and it is flexible enough to use every day, even if you have a very busy schedule.
Cons
Although the Weight Watchers Winning Points Plan has its merits, it relies too heavily on gimmicks. They advertise aggressively in order to convince overweight people that they can lose weight without sacrificing the foods they love. They advertise with Sarah, Duchess of York, trying to convince overweight people that they can lose weight without sacrificing the foods they love. However, this is only achieved by allowing dieters to have calories that should be consumed on healthy food with very small portions of potentially unhealthy food. This strategy gives the dieter a false sense of the real nutritional changes they need to make in their lives for long-term success. If one seriously wants to lose weight and keep it off, they need to think more comprehensively about the foods they eat without the confusing points scheme. The program also does not put a priority on exercise - which is essential for long term health and weight control.
On average only 5% of dieters succeed beyond 5 years in keeping off the weight. This is achieved through long term therapy which can become very expensive and can potentially prevent the development of self-reliance and self-discipline.
Some dieters have reported the meetings as annoying and expensive. Although meetings are primarily designed to support participants, they may foster a competitive nature. This kind of peer pressure may motivate some dieters to continue losing weight, but might have a negative effect on others. Furthermore, food seems to be an obsession for some dieter, the following was reported by one member:
Weight Watchers have produced their own line of cuisine which may be purchased independently at most major grocery chains. There is a one-time registration fee and a weekly fee.
All foods are assigned a points value based on the Weight Watchers Points system. This is dependent on the serving size, the number of calories, the amount of fibre grams, and the amount of fat grams in the food. The higher the fat grams, the more points in that food. The higher the fibre grams, the less points. The amount of points each dieter should have daily is based on their body weight, and how much they are trying to lose.
Does Weight Watchers Points work?
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), funded by Weight Watchers, found people who followed the Weight watchers Points program for two years lost an average of six pounds. Diligent participants - who attended at least 78 percent of the weekly meetings - lost an average of 11 pounds after two years on the program.
The average weight loss amongst Weight Watchers Points participants "is not very much in comparison to what people hope they will lose, or what people need to lose in order to reach the desired, svelte self," reported study author Dr. Stanley Heshka.
Heshka suggests that people who need to lose a significant amount of weight fairly quickly for medical reasons may want to opt out of Weight Watchers Points program and similarly structured programs. However, this does not mean Weight Watchers Points system holds no benefit. While, on average, participants lost only small amounts of weight while enrolled in the structured Weight Watchers Points program, some lost much more, with the maximum amount of weight loss reaching around 50 pounds. The structured program "seems to hold advantages over trying to lose the weight by yourself," Heshka said.
For people who are not yet obese but are experiencing an increase in weight, or have a family history of problems that can be aggravated by excess weight - such as heart disease or diabetes - Weight Watchers Points program may have a significant impact on health.
The Weight Watchers Points Formula
The actual Weight Watchers Points formula used in the Weight Watchers Points calculator is currently under strict US Patent laws. The formula is shown below::
P = { c/50}+ {f/12}-(min{r,4}/5)
Where:
p = Points
c = Calories
f = Fat Grams
r = Dietary fiber Grams
(Note: min{r, 4} equals the number of grams of dietary fiber or 4, whichever is smaller. In other words, only the first 4 grams of fiber "count.")
Some examples of Weight Watchers Points assigned to foods are shown in the following table, using a Weight Watchers Points calculator would yield a similar result:
| Food | Calories | Fat (g) | Carbohydrat (g) | Fibre (g) | Weight Watchers Points |
| Medium Fries | 450 | 22 | 57 | 5 | 10 |
| Quarter Pounder with cheese | 430 | 30 | 38 | 2 | 13 |
| Cheeseburger | 330 | 14 | 35 | 2 | 7 |
| Big Mac | 590 | 34 | 47 | 3 | 14 |
| Corn on the Cob | 140 | 2 | 34 | 2 | 3 |
| Low-fat Grilled Chicken Pasta | 873 | 8,9 | 134,3 | 10,3 | 17 |
| Low-fat Asian Chicken Salad | 714 | 9 | 121 | 9,6 | 14 |
| Low-fat Brownie Sundae | 326 | 3,2 | 72 | 4,6 | 6 |
Pros
Many people often skip breakfast or lunch, believing this will help them lose weight. Consequently, the body turns into starvation mode and slows down the body's metabolism rate. As a result, any fattening food that is consumed gets stored as fat. Weight Watchers Points system is a good program, which balances proper nutrition, counselling and exercise. Dieters are never left hungry or feeling lethargic - in fact, dieters often report they are eating more on Weight Watchers Points program than normally. The food consumed is just more nutritious.
There are many testimonials from people who are happy with Weight Watchers Points program, and they DO have a good diet program. Dieters are also able to keep the materials (which are very good and informative), and are able to try to do-it-themselves without going to the meetings.
Weight Watchers is one of the good guys in this industry of pill pushers and unscrupulous "experts." The Winning Points Plan does an effective job of teaching portion control and educates the dieter on what nutritional value certain foods have. It is the program to choose if you feel you need face-to-face support.
It takes the fuss out of losing weight. Dieters have the freedom of choice - there is no off-limits food and it is flexible enough to use every day, even if you have a very busy schedule.
Cons
Although the Weight Watchers Winning Points Plan has its merits, it relies too heavily on gimmicks. They advertise aggressively in order to convince overweight people that they can lose weight without sacrificing the foods they love. They advertise with Sarah, Duchess of York, trying to convince overweight people that they can lose weight without sacrificing the foods they love. However, this is only achieved by allowing dieters to have calories that should be consumed on healthy food with very small portions of potentially unhealthy food. This strategy gives the dieter a false sense of the real nutritional changes they need to make in their lives for long-term success. If one seriously wants to lose weight and keep it off, they need to think more comprehensively about the foods they eat without the confusing points scheme. The program also does not put a priority on exercise - which is essential for long term health and weight control.
On average only 5% of dieters succeed beyond 5 years in keeping off the weight. This is achieved through long term therapy which can become very expensive and can potentially prevent the development of self-reliance and self-discipline.
Some dieters have reported the meetings as annoying and expensive. Although meetings are primarily designed to support participants, they may foster a competitive nature. This kind of peer pressure may motivate some dieters to continue losing weight, but might have a negative effect on others. Furthermore, food seems to be an obsession for some dieter, the following was reported by one member:
"I
was practically obsessed with food all the time. I had to weigh,
measure, count, keep track of everything I put in my mouth. Not only was
this too much work, but it made food even more of a priority than it
was before. I know this sounds a little odd, but I wanted to eat MORE
when I was dieting, because I was always thinking about food."
Dr.
Catherine DeAngelis, editor in chief of JAMA best describes the Weight
Watchers program, "…while Weight Watchers and similar programs may work
for some people, they clearly don't work for everyone. Programs have the
best chances of working if they feel natural to the people following
them, otherwise the weight loss is too difficult to maintain. It works
as long as you stay with it."
WHAT ARE YOU IDEAL WEIGHT
What's My Ideal Weight?
This is a complex subject and before coming to any conclusion it is important to consider firstly how happy you are with your body and secondly the ratio of fat to muscle.A person's ideal body weight is determined by several factors, such as age, muscle-fat ratio, height, sex, and bone density.
An ideal body weight calculator fails to take into account that the weight on the scales does not tell you whether you are carrying too much or too little body fat. So when you ask yourself the question, what's my ideal weight ? Ask yourself how you look and feel - a bit flabby, or strong and toned.
Some say your Body Mass Index (BMI) is the ideal way to calculate whether your body weight is ideal. Others say BMI is faulty as it does not take into account muscle mass, and waist-hip ratio is better.
One person's ideal body weight may be completely different from another's.This is because muscle weighs more per square inch than fat - so a 12 stone muscular person would look slim, but a twelve stone unmuscular person of the same height would look plump!
If you compare yourself to family and friends you risk either aiming too high if you are surrounded by obese or overweight people, or too low if everyone around you works as fashion models.Even comparing yourself with people outside your immediate surroundings may not work..
This is a complex subject and before coming to any conclusion it is important to consider firstly how happy you are with your body and secondly the ratio of fat to muscle.A person's ideal body weight is determined by several factors, such as age, muscle-fat ratio, height, sex, and bone density.
An ideal body weight calculator fails to take into account that the weight on the scales does not tell you whether you are carrying too much or too little body fat. So when you ask yourself the question, what's my ideal weight ? Ask yourself how you look and feel - a bit flabby, or strong and toned.
Some say your Body Mass Index (BMI) is the ideal way to calculate whether your body weight is ideal. Others say BMI is faulty as it does not take into account muscle mass, and waist-hip ratio is better.
One person's ideal body weight may be completely different from another's.This is because muscle weighs more per square inch than fat - so a 12 stone muscular person would look slim, but a twelve stone unmuscular person of the same height would look plump!
If you compare yourself to family and friends you risk either aiming too high if you are surrounded by obese or overweight people, or too low if everyone around you works as fashion models.Even comparing yourself with people outside your immediate surroundings may not work..
If you have wobbly bits, your ideal weight is likely to be at the lower end of the range on the height and weight chart.
Ideal Weight Chart for Women
Based on body mass index, optimised for women
Based on body mass index, optimised for women
Weight
in stones
in stones
Height in feet / inches
KEY: underweight ideal weight overweight
Ideal Weight Chart for Men
Based on body mass index, optimised for men
Based on body mass index, optimised for men
Weight
in stone
in stone
Labels:
weight loss
How To Lose Weight Fast
With the arrival of a diet drug to pharmacies today, there are now two new prescription medications to treat obesity — the first new ones available to heavy patients in more than a decade. The drugs offer to boost weight loss a modest 5% to 10%, but become another "tool in the toolbox" for physicians trying to help America out of its obesity crisis.
Beginning today, Belviq (pronounced bel-VEEK) sold by Eisai, will start arriving in pharmacies. It works on brain chemistry to create a feeling of fullness and can help obese patients lose an average of about 5% or so of their starting weight when used in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise.
The wholesale cost of a month's supply of Belviq to pharmacies is just under $200, says Gary Palmer, chief medical officer for Eisai. The price that patients will pay depends on their insurance coverage and may vary between pharmacies, he says. "We are looking at a whole range of options for patients who don't have insurance (belviq.com) and need financial support for the medication."
Qsymia
Qsymia helps suppress appetite.(Photo: Handout)
Another new diet drug, Qsymia (pronounced kyoo-SIM-ee-uh), from Vivus, which came out in mid-September, helps heavy folks drop about 10% of their weight by suppressing appetite and increasing the feeling of fullness.
Both drugs are intended to provide treatment help for those who are obese, which is roughly 35 or more pounds over a healthy weight, or overweight patients who have one other weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol. About a third of people in this country are obese. The drugs are not meant for people who want to lose a few pounds for cosmetic reasons.
Initial sales of the Qsymia have been lower than the company expected, but the demand is continuing to grow and insurance coverage is improving, says Michael Miller, senior vice president at Vivus.
About 89,000 prescriptions were written for Qsymia from the launch through March, he says. The medicine costs about $150 a month for those who pay cash. About a third of the patients had their prescriptions covered by insurance companies with a $50 co-pay, Miller says. The company is offering the medication for no charge for the first two weeks, and a 50% discount for the first month of treatment, he says.
The new obesity drugs were approved last summer by the Food and Drug Administration. These medications are new "tools in the toolbox" for doctors who are treating obese patients, says Harvey Grill, president of the Obesity Society, and a professor of behavioral neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania. There are several other new obesity drugs on the horizon, and many others being investigated now, he says.
Other diet medications available to treat obesity include phentermine, which suppresses appetite; and orlistat (Xenical), which keeps some dietary fat from being absorbed by the intestine. Orlistat is sold in a lower-dose, over-the-counter version as Alli.
Ben Yankowitz, 58, of Los Angeles, who has type 2 diabetes, has lost about 20 pounds since he started Qsymia several months ago. Six-foot-tall, he now weighs 185, down from 205. He says the medication really keeps hunger at bay. "During the day, I have to remind myself to eat lunch," says Yankowitz, who is the CEO of Proteus Energy, a California-based oil and gas company.
Yankowitz says he hasn't experienced any significant side effects from Qsymia, but he adds that it "is not a magic pill. You've got to exercise and follow a healthy diet too."
Patients also reported weight-loss success during the drug trials for Belviq, which works by activating a chemical receptor in the brain that can help people eat less and feel full after eating smaller amounts of food.
Lisa Sutter, 52, who works for the city government in Washington, D.C., lost weight on Belviq when she took it for two years during one of the drug's trials. At 5-foot-5, she dropped from 230 pounds to 190.
"Honestly it was effortless. ... I didn't feel hungry even though I was only eating 1,600 calories a day."
Sutter says she didn't experience any side effects from the drug, but when she went off the medicine after the drug trial ended, her hunger returned. She couldn't stick to a low-calorie diet and she regained the weight and then some. Now that Belviq is on the market, she plans to go back on it "because I know for me it worked really well."
Still, there are concerns about the side effects and risks of both drugs. Sidney Wolfe, founder and senior adviser of the health research group at Public Citizen, a consumer group, says, "We strongly oppose both of them. They both have serious dangers."
Belviq was rejected by an FDA advisory panel in 2010 over safety issues.The second time the advisory committee met, the members discussed heart-valve concerns but decided that the benefits of the drug outweighed the risks. The agency later approved the medication.
The product's label warns: "Some people taking medicines like Belviq have had problems with the valves in their heart. ... Before taking Belviq, tell your doctor if you have or have had any heart problems."
The drug's manufacturer (Arena Pharmaceuticals) and marketer (Eisai) are required to conduct a long-term cardiovascular trial to assess the effect of Belviq on the risk for major adverse cardiac events such as heart attacks and stroke, Palmer says.
Wolfe argues that Belviq "actually showed heart-valve damage prior to approval. The risks of this drug far outweigh any benefits."
He says it is "magical thinking to believe that you can turn off something as complex as hunger without affecting different systems, especially the cardiovascular system."
Palmer says, "We along with Arena Pharmaceuticals conducted a very long development program that included close to 8,000 patients studied for up to two years. In that program, we did not see a problem with heart valves when used in appropriate patients. But we will continue to monitor the efficacy and safety of the product."
Some experts are concerned that Qsymia raised the heart rates slightly in some patients. It is made up of two other older medications: the appetite-suppressant phentermine and the anti-seizure medication topiramate, which is sold under the brand name Topamax. The latter is used to treat epilepsy and migraines.
Wolfe is afraid history will repeat itself. In 1997, two diet drugs were pulled from the market — fenfluramine (part of the popular fen-phen combination) and dexfenfluramine (Redux) — because of evidence of heart-valve problems that arose only after approval, unlike Belviq.
In 2010, Abbott Laboratories removed sibutramine (Meridia) from the market because of evidence of an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Beginning today, Belviq (pronounced bel-VEEK) sold by Eisai, will start arriving in pharmacies. It works on brain chemistry to create a feeling of fullness and can help obese patients lose an average of about 5% or so of their starting weight when used in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise.
The wholesale cost of a month's supply of Belviq to pharmacies is just under $200, says Gary Palmer, chief medical officer for Eisai. The price that patients will pay depends on their insurance coverage and may vary between pharmacies, he says. "We are looking at a whole range of options for patients who don't have insurance (belviq.com) and need financial support for the medication."
Qsymia
Qsymia helps suppress appetite.(Photo: Handout)
Another new diet drug, Qsymia (pronounced kyoo-SIM-ee-uh), from Vivus, which came out in mid-September, helps heavy folks drop about 10% of their weight by suppressing appetite and increasing the feeling of fullness.
Both drugs are intended to provide treatment help for those who are obese, which is roughly 35 or more pounds over a healthy weight, or overweight patients who have one other weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol. About a third of people in this country are obese. The drugs are not meant for people who want to lose a few pounds for cosmetic reasons.
Initial sales of the Qsymia have been lower than the company expected, but the demand is continuing to grow and insurance coverage is improving, says Michael Miller, senior vice president at Vivus.
About 89,000 prescriptions were written for Qsymia from the launch through March, he says. The medicine costs about $150 a month for those who pay cash. About a third of the patients had their prescriptions covered by insurance companies with a $50 co-pay, Miller says. The company is offering the medication for no charge for the first two weeks, and a 50% discount for the first month of treatment, he says.
The new obesity drugs were approved last summer by the Food and Drug Administration. These medications are new "tools in the toolbox" for doctors who are treating obese patients, says Harvey Grill, president of the Obesity Society, and a professor of behavioral neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania. There are several other new obesity drugs on the horizon, and many others being investigated now, he says.
Other diet medications available to treat obesity include phentermine, which suppresses appetite; and orlistat (Xenical), which keeps some dietary fat from being absorbed by the intestine. Orlistat is sold in a lower-dose, over-the-counter version as Alli.
Ben Yankowitz, 58, of Los Angeles, who has type 2 diabetes, has lost about 20 pounds since he started Qsymia several months ago. Six-foot-tall, he now weighs 185, down from 205. He says the medication really keeps hunger at bay. "During the day, I have to remind myself to eat lunch," says Yankowitz, who is the CEO of Proteus Energy, a California-based oil and gas company.
Yankowitz says he hasn't experienced any significant side effects from Qsymia, but he adds that it "is not a magic pill. You've got to exercise and follow a healthy diet too."
Patients also reported weight-loss success during the drug trials for Belviq, which works by activating a chemical receptor in the brain that can help people eat less and feel full after eating smaller amounts of food.
Lisa Sutter, 52, who works for the city government in Washington, D.C., lost weight on Belviq when she took it for two years during one of the drug's trials. At 5-foot-5, she dropped from 230 pounds to 190.
"Honestly it was effortless. ... I didn't feel hungry even though I was only eating 1,600 calories a day."
Sutter says she didn't experience any side effects from the drug, but when she went off the medicine after the drug trial ended, her hunger returned. She couldn't stick to a low-calorie diet and she regained the weight and then some. Now that Belviq is on the market, she plans to go back on it "because I know for me it worked really well."
Still, there are concerns about the side effects and risks of both drugs. Sidney Wolfe, founder and senior adviser of the health research group at Public Citizen, a consumer group, says, "We strongly oppose both of them. They both have serious dangers."
Belviq was rejected by an FDA advisory panel in 2010 over safety issues.The second time the advisory committee met, the members discussed heart-valve concerns but decided that the benefits of the drug outweighed the risks. The agency later approved the medication.
The product's label warns: "Some people taking medicines like Belviq have had problems with the valves in their heart. ... Before taking Belviq, tell your doctor if you have or have had any heart problems."
The drug's manufacturer (Arena Pharmaceuticals) and marketer (Eisai) are required to conduct a long-term cardiovascular trial to assess the effect of Belviq on the risk for major adverse cardiac events such as heart attacks and stroke, Palmer says.
Wolfe argues that Belviq "actually showed heart-valve damage prior to approval. The risks of this drug far outweigh any benefits."
He says it is "magical thinking to believe that you can turn off something as complex as hunger without affecting different systems, especially the cardiovascular system."
Palmer says, "We along with Arena Pharmaceuticals conducted a very long development program that included close to 8,000 patients studied for up to two years. In that program, we did not see a problem with heart valves when used in appropriate patients. But we will continue to monitor the efficacy and safety of the product."
Some experts are concerned that Qsymia raised the heart rates slightly in some patients. It is made up of two other older medications: the appetite-suppressant phentermine and the anti-seizure medication topiramate, which is sold under the brand name Topamax. The latter is used to treat epilepsy and migraines.
Wolfe is afraid history will repeat itself. In 1997, two diet drugs were pulled from the market — fenfluramine (part of the popular fen-phen combination) and dexfenfluramine (Redux) — because of evidence of heart-valve problems that arose only after approval, unlike Belviq.
In 2010, Abbott Laboratories removed sibutramine (Meridia) from the market because of evidence of an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
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weight loss
The Best Ways To Lose Weight Fast
How To Lose Weight Fast. The best, easiest and newest ways to Lose Weight Fast.
(CBS News) A new long-term weight-loss drug will finally be available for patient use next week, nearly a year after receiving FDA approval. Belviq is the first new drug approved for weight loss in over a decade.
One of the key differences between Belviq and other weight-loss drugs or management aids is that it actually provides a feeling of satiety. The drug works on serotonin transmitters in the brain which causes this reaction and can actually make users feel like they are full and do not have to eat as much as they would without it.
Gastric bypass surgery may lower diabetes risks, but also carries dangers
CBS News contributor Holly Phillips said on "CBS This Morning: Saturday" that positive reaction from the drug is linked to satiety because when you "feel full, you eat less, and then we see the weight loss." She also said that it is not for anyone looking to lose weight; you have to fit into one of two categories.
"The first are people who are obese, which means that your body mass index is 30 or higher, and the second group is for people that are overweight but with one condition related to your weight," she said. "To be overweight your body mass index is 27 or higher, but you also have to have something related to your weight, whether it's high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes."
Philips said that the drug was considered to be effective, and people who took the drug lost around 3.7 percent of their body weight over the year. She also said that in studies the drug worked better in non-diabetics than people who already were diagnosed with that disease.
However, it is still considered a schedule four controlled substance, which means that, while it only has a low chance of becoming addictive, it can be, and there are serious side effects.
"This is not a miracle cure for obesity," said Phillips. "But we really have to look at it from a health perspective, where if you lose 5 percent of your body weight and you are obese, it can truly benefit you."
(CBS News) A new long-term weight-loss drug will finally be available for patient use next week, nearly a year after receiving FDA approval. Belviq is the first new drug approved for weight loss in over a decade.
One of the key differences between Belviq and other weight-loss drugs or management aids is that it actually provides a feeling of satiety. The drug works on serotonin transmitters in the brain which causes this reaction and can actually make users feel like they are full and do not have to eat as much as they would without it.
Gastric bypass surgery may lower diabetes risks, but also carries dangers
CBS News contributor Holly Phillips said on "CBS This Morning: Saturday" that positive reaction from the drug is linked to satiety because when you "feel full, you eat less, and then we see the weight loss." She also said that it is not for anyone looking to lose weight; you have to fit into one of two categories.
"The first are people who are obese, which means that your body mass index is 30 or higher, and the second group is for people that are overweight but with one condition related to your weight," she said. "To be overweight your body mass index is 27 or higher, but you also have to have something related to your weight, whether it's high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes."
Philips said that the drug was considered to be effective, and people who took the drug lost around 3.7 percent of their body weight over the year. She also said that in studies the drug worked better in non-diabetics than people who already were diagnosed with that disease.
However, it is still considered a schedule four controlled substance, which means that, while it only has a low chance of becoming addictive, it can be, and there are serious side effects.
"This is not a miracle cure for obesity," said Phillips. "But we really have to look at it from a health perspective, where if you lose 5 percent of your body weight and you are obese, it can truly benefit you."
Labels:
weight loss