Journal Article
Meta-analysis
Jan 1, 2005
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The prevalence of overweight and obesity[1] is rising precipitously worldwide: A 1999–2002 survey estimated that 30 percent of the U.S. population is obese, the result of as-yet-unexplained interactions between heredity and the environment. The health consequences of obesity are considerable, yet weight loss of just 5 to 10 percent may lower the risks. Some 40 percent of Americans are trying to lose weight, accounting for the increased number and popularity of prescription weight-loss medications. To assess the effectiveness and safety of these drugs, researchers at the Southern California Evidence-Based Practice Center, which is funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and housed at RAND, analyzed 78 published studies of the most popular diet drugs.
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