If a weight-loss supplement does contain an undeclared active
pharmaceutical, the F.D.A. considers the product to be an illegal,
unapproved drug. Doctors said undeclared drugs could cause problems on
their own, like elevated blood pressure or seizures, could have toxic interactions with other medications people take and
could make it difficult for physicians to diagnose patients.
As the F.D.A. continues to investigate, many questions remain Read the rest of this entry »

CHICAGO, Jan 22 (Reuters) – Users of Alli, the first
weight-loss drug approved for sale over-the-counter in the
United States, are finding what they likely suspected all
along: pills are no magic substitute for diet and exercise.
Yet as Americans engage in the New Year’s tradition of
resolving to shed pounds, the market for diet aids is expected
to remain firm, even as the economy is mired in recession.
Americans spend $30 billion a year on weight-loss Read the rest of this entry »

ScienceDaily (Jan. 26, 2009)
— Americans who use illegal diet pills from South America may be taking amphetamines without knowing it and seriously risking both their health and their jobs. Physicians need to be made aware of the range of serious side effects of these drugs to allow them to identify and treat those patients presenting with unexplained symptoms.
These findings, by Dr Pieter Cohen from the Department of Internal Medicine at Read the rest of this entry »

Color additives made from insects will have to be disclosed on food and cosmetics labels by 2011 because of the possibility of allergic reactions, under a new rule from the Food and Drug Administration.
The red dyes derived from carmine and cochineal extract — from the cochineal insect — must be named specifically instead of described generically as “artificial color,” as they are now, the FDA said. The labels won’t have to disclose that the ingredients Read the rest of this entry »

(WFLX) - If your New Year's resolution is to lose weight, the FDA warns you to think twice before taking diet pills.
The Food and Drug Administration is adding an additional 41 products to an alert about tainted diet pills issued last month bringing the total to 69.
The pills contain undeclared drugs the FDA says may put your health at risk causing seizures, heart attacks or strokes.
Investigators examining the supplements found they Read the rest of this entry »

When the diet and exercise resolutions start getting a little tougher to keep, it’s tempting to turn to America’s favorite fix-it — the pill. Scores of diet pills on the market promise miraculous weight loss, some in a matter of days, with the simple popping of a pill. Is it a scam? Here’s the skinny.
“If you follow the instructions on the bottle, you really will lose weight,” said Jan Halligan, registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator Read the rest of this entry »

2008-12-27 05:41:00 (GMT) (Caymanmama.com – Health News News)
For those seeking help shedding extra pounds after heavy holiday meals, the government is warning dieters to steer clear of nearly 30 weight-loss products that contain unlisted and perhaps dangerous ingredients
Jacksonville, Florida (CaymanMama.com) — Dieters can take their weight loss to the extreme at times and during the holiday season – and even more so after the holidays Read the rest of this entry »

The FDA has determined that several dozen products sold as
weight-loss supplements contain potentially harmful drugs that aren't
on the labels.
One example, according to
: A product called StarCaps, billed as a natural
with papaya. It illegally contains a pharmaceutical called bumetanide, which can have serious side effects.
StarCaps is made in Peru, peddled in the United States. The offending products were made mostly in China, however.
Read the rest of this entry »

A recent article by Reuters pointed to the growing use of “brain-boosting drugs” in the workplace. Long a trend at colleges and universities, where students need help to cram for exams, older Americans are now turning to natural stimulants to help increase their mental capabilities and maintain their focus. And according to many physicians and psychologists, there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, boosting your ability to focus is really a “smart” Read the rest of this entry »

WASHINGTON (AP) — If you’re looking for a little help shedding extra pounds after the holidays, the government is warning you to stay away from nearly 30 weight-loss products that contain unlisted and possibly dangerous ingredients.
The pills are advertised as “natural” fat busters and have intriguing names like Imelda Perfect Slim and Zhen de Shou. Some suggest they are innovative “herbal” remedies from Asia.
But the Food and Drug Administration Read the rest of this entry »