January 12, 2007--Fanaticism LXXX--Slentrol

In the United States it is estimated that 5 percent are obese and another 20 percent are overweight.

This is leading to an increase in diagnoses for cardiovascular problems, diabetes, torn ligaments, hip and back problems, and arthritis—all doctors feel, attributable to obesity. And scientists are discovering, these weight-related medical conditions are found disproportionately among different population cohorts.

But there is some good news to report about those who suffer with ailments caused by obesity. According to the NY Times, the Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new drug, Slentro, that is proving effective in treating obesity. (Article linked below.)

According to the FDA’s Dr. Stephen Sundlof, “This is a welcome addition to therapies because obesity appears to be increasing.” Pfizer, the drug’s developer, estimates that there are about four million who are obese, and though they thus see a strong market for Slentro, it “is not a passport to abandon exercise or diets.”

Dr. Sundlof is the head of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine.

Yes, not only do many pet owners have weight problems; but, in the perception that over time pets and their masters and mistresses grow to look like each other, it appears that they also have a tendency to grow obese together.

George Fennell, Pfizer’s vice president for Companion Animal Health reports pet owners saying that “When my dog really wags his tail, I give him a treat. It’s hard to hold back.” He could have added—“So do the owners.”

Some vets claim that we have this pet obesity problem for many of the same reasons that we are seeing a dramatic increase in the number of seriously overweight kids. According to one, “People are treating their dogs like children. They overindulge them, they get them heavy.”

A few things—in case you are wondering, those breeds most prone to obesity include Labrador retrievers, beagles, and dachshunds.

Though Slentro may be the first drug that appears to be effective in the treatment of pudgy dogs, there is already an industry emerging to battle bulging doggy waistlines—for example, the Animal Medical Center in New York is considering instituting an obesity program that will include having dogs use underwater treadmills.

And, in case you’re wondering if Slentro might work on pet owners, sadly the answer thus far is “no.” Though the daily dose costs less than $2 dollars, it appears to cause liver problems in humans. But what’s your guess about how many will, in spite of this, give it a try?

Then you might be asking why taxpayer money is being used to subsidize the FDA’s testing of drugs for pets. Might the next thing be to extend Medicare to cover the cost of bring pooches to the vets? I’ll leave you one for you to decide.