ABSTRACT
Barbara Hirsch, a medical journalist, is the developer and manager of this resource, which is aimed at both consumers and physicians. Portions of the site are only accessible to paid subscribers, but the “premium” sections are clearly color-coded. Read “Accuracy in Medical Reporting: A Consumer’s Guide” for criteria on gaging the quality of medical articles. Hirsch has put together so much information on the topic of obesity, that serious obesity researchers and consumers might find the annual individual (U.S.) subscription rate of $104 a good value. Read the information on orlistat (Xenical), a drug that inhibits the absorption of fat (lipase inhibitor), and sibutramine (Meridia), a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (these brain chemicals may have an effect on appetite and satiety). Hirsch also includes extensive information on new diet medications currently in the human testing stage before Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. In addition to safety and efficacy, she explains the factors that may affect continuation of clinical trials for a new drug.
