Sibutramine a commonly used prescription weight loss medication that was marketed under the name of Meridia was voluntarily removed from the market by its manufacturer Abbott Labs. Although it had been known for quite some time that Meridia caused an elevated pulse rate and blood pressure in some patients, more recently it has been linked to increase cardiovascular events in those individuals who had a history of cardiovascular disease. Patients who are taking Meridia should follow up with their physicians immediately to discuss other treatment options for weight loss.

Dr. Kevin Huffman our national medical director was in Washington DC on September 20th and 21st on a congressional visit cosponsored by the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) and CHOICE an educational initiative sponsored by Allergan, Inc to help promote legislative action to better address the healthcare needs of overweight and obese patients. Go to www.obesityaction.org to learn more about this important nonprofit organization and their efforts to give a voice to those affected by obesity and to www.mychoicecampaign.com to learn how you can get involved in changing healthcare policy and societal views toward the treatment of obesity as a disease.

Bariatric surgery is becoming much more common for morbidly obese adolescents.

Read more about this through this CBS News link:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/09/20/earlyshow/living/parenting/main6884448.shtml

Funding for school nutrition programs to run out soon if congress doesn't act soon.

Read more about this through the American Medical News link: