Alli and Xenical: Risk for Liver Damage?

The FDA is investigating whether the weight-loss drug orlical may be causing liver damage. The only medication approved by the FDA for weight loss, orlical is sold as the over-the-counter drug Alli and as the prescription drug Xenical. An article from the Associated Press says that the agency announced yesterday that it had received 30 reports of patients with liver damage from taking Alli and Xenical.

According to an FDA statement (link below), "Between 1999 and October 2008, 32 reports of serious liver injury, including 6 cases of liver failure, in patients using orlistat were submitted to FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System. Thirty of the 32 reports occurred outside the United States. The most commonly reported adverse events described in the 32 reports of serious liver injury were jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes), weakness, and abdominal pain. Hospitalization was reported in 27 of the 32 cases." It says that it is continuing to analyze the data.

The FDA has said that it hasn't found a definitive association between orlistat and liver injury, and recommends that users of the drug keep using it. The agency advises patients to consult their doctor if they experience any of the possible signs of liver injury or damage, such as:

• weakness or fatigue
  
• fever
  
• jaundice
  
• brown urine
  
• nausea or vomiting
  
• abdominal pain

You can read the FDA's statement about Xenical, Alli, and orlistat here. The FDA approved Xenical in 1999; Alli gained approval in 2007. Xenical contains 120mg of orlistat, while Alli has 60mg.

You can find out more about Xenical at the Drugs.com profile page or at the manufacturer's Web site, www.xenical.com.

The "Dream Diet": How to Lose Weight through Sleep

Yes, it sounds too good to be true, but sleep can really help you lose weight. But what scientists have found is not really a "diet" per se, but rather new insight into the relationship between sleep and weight. In a nutshell, it has been found that the amount of sleep you get and the quality of that sleep can affect hormones in your body that have been found to impact appetite.

A number of studies have shown that lack of sleep can affect the levels of two appetite-related hormones, leptin and ghrelin. The studies have revealed that people who sleep less weigh more. The article noted above also examines another sleep-weight interaction, the relationship between weight and sleep apnea.

Of course, today's horrible economic times don't exactly encourage restfulness and a good night's sleep, but with the many real benefits of getting enough sleep, it's definitely a worthwhile thing to put at the top of even the longest to-do list.

Volumetrics and the Volumetrics Eating Plan

Volumetrics is a way of losing weight through eating, but it's not really a "diet" as such. Instead, it focuses on eating foods that are low in calories but that leave you feeling full because they contain water and fiber (fruits, for example). Created by Barbara Rolls, Ph.D., Volumetrics is based on substituting high-calorie foods with "high-volume," low-calorie alternatives.

For example, she notes that a handful of grapes has the same number of calories as a much smaller quantity of raisins, yet the grapes will be more filling and satisfying because of the water and fiber in them. You can find a more detailed look at the principles of Volumetrics at this good article from WebMD.

The Nutrition Department of Northwestern University also gives a quick fact sheet on the Volumetrics plan.

In the book The Volumetrics Eating Plan (below), the creator of Volumetrics, Barbara Rolls, puts together menu and meal plans that make it easy to put the principles of volumetrics into effect so you can lose weight safely.

2008 NBC4 Health and Fitness Expo at the Washington Convention Center

If you'll be in the Washington, D.C. area this weekend, here's an even you'll want to check out. It's the 15th annual NBC4 Health and Fitness Expo, which will take place at the Washington Convention Center on Saturday and Sunday, January 12th and 13th. The Expo is FREE and takes place both days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The 2008 NBC4 Health and Fitness Expo features everything from exhibitions from health-food companies to exercise equipment, as well as demonstrations on cooking, exercise, belly dancing, and much more; plus free health screenings and product giveaways.

You can climb a rock wall, take some shots at an indoor soccer field (for kids), even try out golf and skiing indoors.

Check the Web site for video clips on bone health, prostate exams, kidney disease screening, weight loss, and more.

The cooking demonstrations including everything from Caribbean chicken salad to gumbo, gluten-free snacks, and even chocolate mousse.