The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a weight-management med called Contrave. The prescription drug, used along with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise, works to help patients pare off pounds, according to a recent press release from the federal regulatory agency.
Contrave is a combo of two drugs—naltrexone and bupropion—that are already FDA approved. Specifically, Contrave is designed for use by obese adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater, or for overweight adults with a BMI of 27 or higher who have at least one weight-related condition, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol. (BMI is a measurement of body fat based on someone’s height and weight.)
Results from a number of clinical trials were used to determine the new drug’s effectiveness. One study found that 42 percent of patients treated with Contrave lost at least 5 percent of their body weight while taking the drug, compared to just 17 percent of patients in a placebo group (those who didn’t use the med). Studies also showed that patients who used Contrave lost, on average, 4 to 2 percent more weight than those who didn’t.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one-third of American adults are currently obese. Click here for more tips on how to lose weight, get fit and overcome the physical challenges it takes to do so.
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