Difference between revisions of "Globalisation:National Obesity Forum"

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Sanofi-Aventis LTD is one of the NOF’s sponsors, yet the anti-obesity medication that they produced was proven to be unsafe and the drugs were withdrawn following a series of reported serious side-affects. Rimonabant (Acompila) was prescribed to ninety seven thousand people in the UK. Its circulation was suspended in October 2008, after only four months on the market, as it was found to be dangerous to many of those who took it. It was found that between June and August 2008, five of those who were taking the drug committed suicide, and many others experienced psychiatric problems. The risk of such problems, especially depression, was increased when the patient had a history of mental health problems. <ref> BBC "[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7687311.stm Anti-obesity Drug Use Suspended]" accessed 2 November 2010 </ref>
 
Sanofi-Aventis LTD is one of the NOF’s sponsors, yet the anti-obesity medication that they produced was proven to be unsafe and the drugs were withdrawn following a series of reported serious side-affects. Rimonabant (Acompila) was prescribed to ninety seven thousand people in the UK. Its circulation was suspended in October 2008, after only four months on the market, as it was found to be dangerous to many of those who took it. It was found that between June and August 2008, five of those who were taking the drug committed suicide, and many others experienced psychiatric problems. The risk of such problems, especially depression, was increased when the patient had a history of mental health problems. <ref> BBC "[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7687311.stm Anti-obesity Drug Use Suspended]" accessed 2 November 2010 </ref>
 
Dr Colin Waine, who was chairman of the NOF at the time, was disapointed that the drug had to be withdrawn as he found that many of his patients were doing well on it and had experienced no problems, and did not appear to be concerned about the drug. <ref> Black Triangle "[http://www.blacktriangle.org/blog/?p=1852 Rimonabant Withdrawl and Conflicts of Interest]" accesed 2 November 2010 </ref>
 
Dr Colin Waine, who was chairman of the NOF at the time, was disapointed that the drug had to be withdrawn as he found that many of his patients were doing well on it and had experienced no problems, and did not appear to be concerned about the drug. <ref> Black Triangle "[http://www.blacktriangle.org/blog/?p=1852 Rimonabant Withdrawl and Conflicts of Interest]" accesed 2 November 2010 </ref>
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Sibutramine
 
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The administration of the anti-obesity drug Sibutramine has been suspended in Europe due to concerns that it is related to Cardiovascular problems. Sibutramine blocks the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine by presynaptic nerve terminals and this suppresses appetite through increased satiety. It was approved by the FDA in 1997. The drug also increases blood pressure and number of heart beats per minute. As a result there is an increased risk of a ‘cardiovascular event’. Despite these risks it was not until thirteen years later that clinical trials with a substantial amount of participants were carried out. The SCOUT trial looked at 10, 000 patients who had existing cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus or both and issued them with either Sibutramine or a placebo at random. The trials showed an increased risk of a cardiovascular event in those with existing cardiovascular conditions. The amount of weight loss achieved through the drug did not outweigh the risks <ref> Gregory, D. et al., (2010) “[http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe1007993 Sibutramine – Another Flawed Diet Pill]” The New England Journal of Medicine, 363, pp 972-974, accessed November 2 2010 </ref>. The FDA advisory committee have decided to re-assess the use of the drug in Europe but are sceptical about it’s potential benefits. Dr David Haslem, Chair at the National Obesity Forum, had commented that Europe withdrew the drug too hastily. He argues that with the removal of subtramine people will be faced with little choice in anti-obesity pills and there will be an increased use of the amphetamine based drugs. He also criticised the European Medal Association, claiming that it, ‘has failed to recognise the difference between primary and secondary prevention, designating all fat people as cardiovascular victims.’ and that ‘sibutramine should not have been suspended until the conundrum has been properly dissected, in order that patient safety is foremost.’ <ref> Haslem, D. (2010) “Sibutramine: gone, but not forgotten” Practical Diabetes Internationl Vol. 27, No. 3 pp 96-98 </ref>
 
  
 
==NOF Conference==
 
==NOF Conference==

Revision as of 11:40, 4 November 2010

Emma Patrick Christina McDonald Rachel Cunningham

http://www.nationalobesityforum.org.uk/

History

The National Obesity Forum was created in 2000 by a group of health professionals and is a registered charity (1109600).

The main aims of the NOF are to:

-Increase the public focus on obesity and develop more awareness about the health implications.

-To help educate more people on the topic of obesity and health from an earlier age.

-To encourage the Government to make tackling obesity a priority, in order to save the NHS money in future years.

People

Views on tackling obesity

The National Obesity Forum advocate many ways of tackling obesity.


-They advise increasing activity levels, and put importance on making exercise ‘fun’ and easy by focussing on ordinary activities such as gardening, shopping, and sports.

-They also advise making a personal plan to suit each individual.

-They provide information on how to have a healthy diet and put importance on portion control.

- Advice is also given on 'positive thinking' and how this can impact a person's ability to lose weight.


The NOF also back more drastic and often risky means of weight loss, including; very low calorie diets, medication, meal replacements, and even surgery.

With regards to weight loss medication (or 'Anti-Obesity Medication), the NOF mention two specific drugs - Sibutramine(Reductil) and Orlistat(Alli).

One of these drugs - Orlistat - was actually the first 'over the counter' weight loss drug available, and was produced by Glaxosmithkline, which is one of the NOFs parter organisations. [1]


The NOF is highly funded by pharmaceutical companies, however, there have been disputes regarding whether weight loss medication actually works. Former President of the NOF, Dr Ian Campbell, resigned from his post after stating that the forum places too much importance on weight loss drugs, and not enough on putting measures in place to prevent obesity in the first place. Dr Campbell claimed that the forum had changed direction and did not have the same outlook as it did when it began. [2]


Conflicts of Interest

Sanofi-Aventis LTD is one of the NOF’s sponsors, yet the anti-obesity medication that they produced was proven to be unsafe and the drugs were withdrawn following a series of reported serious side-affects. Rimonabant (Acompila) was prescribed to ninety seven thousand people in the UK. Its circulation was suspended in October 2008, after only four months on the market, as it was found to be dangerous to many of those who took it. It was found that between June and August 2008, five of those who were taking the drug committed suicide, and many others experienced psychiatric problems. The risk of such problems, especially depression, was increased when the patient had a history of mental health problems. [3] Dr Colin Waine, who was chairman of the NOF at the time, was disapointed that the drug had to be withdrawn as he found that many of his patients were doing well on it and had experienced no problems, and did not appear to be concerned about the drug. [4]

NOF Conference

Notes

  1. ↑ Orlistat, "Overweight and Obese Treatment - GlaxoSmithKline Receieves European Commission to Market Alli", Orlistat, 21 January 2009, accessed 19 October 2010
  2. ↑ The Guardian, "Obesity Group Founder Quits in Row Over Drug Firms' Cash", accessed 1 November 2010
  3. ↑ BBC "Anti-obesity Drug Use Suspended" accessed 2 November 2010
  4. ↑ Black Triangle "Rimonabant Withdrawl and Conflicts of Interest" accesed 2 November 2010
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