A new type of anti-obesity drug, which blocks absorption of fat from the gut,
was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration last week. The drug, called
orlistat or Xenical, is made by the Swiss drugs giant Hoffmann-La Roche.
Combined with a reduced-calorie diet, orlistat helped 57 per cent of the
people in a study lose 5 per cent or more of their body weight in a year. Of
people given a placebo with the same diet, just 31 per cent lost a similar
amount of weight. The FDA lists several side effects, including 鈥渇atty/oily
stools and frequent bowel movements鈥�.