2007年VOA标准英语-New Diet Drug Available to General Public in Su(在线收听) |
By Carol Pearson A diet drug that now is only available by prescription will soon be available over the counter. In the United States and other countries it is expected to be on drug store shelves by summer. VOA's Carol Pearson has more. But this non-prescription version of Xenical is hardly a magic pill. Users must also eat a low calorie, low fat diet and exercise. Here is how it works: Alli blocks the intestines from absorbing some of the fat in food. People who take the medication but continue to eat fatty foods, suffer from painfully bloated stomachs and diarrhea. So using Alli encourages dieters to eat right. Obesity specialist Dr. Arthur Frank says Alli could be helpful. "I think this is something that people who are committed to the idea of losing weight carefully can use and can use effectively." Dr. Frank is the director of the George Washington University Weight Management Program. But critics, such as Dr. Sidney Wolfe of the advocacy group Public Citizen, says the drug can cause pre-cancerous lesions of the colon. "We strongly don't recommend this drug." The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says some people should take Alli only under a doctor's supervision. And it is not for children. But the agency says the diet drug presents a lesser risk than that of heart disease or diabetes associated with obesity. |
原文地址:http://www.tingroom.com/voastandard/2007/2/37038.html |