To the Editor:
Re “Assessing the Chances for the Next Wave of Obesity Drugs” (Business Day, Oct. 17): The news of three new “obesity drugs” that can decrease patients’ weight by 3 to 11 percent after one year of use is welcome, but does not go far enough. These three drugs may indeed reduce weight, but they fail to address the myriad additional problems associated with obesity.
People who are overweight or obese face increased risk for more than 30 other medical conditions, like heart disease, cancer, respiratory problems and diabetes. True success in fighting the obesity epidemic can be achieved only with lifestyle changes to improve overall health: eating healthy foods to help lose weight and prevent disease, along with exercising to increase fitness and bone and muscle strength.
A successful obesity intervention requires a multipronged health improvement approach in addition to body weight reduction.
James R. Knickman
President and Chief Executive
New York State Health Foundation
New York, Oct. 19, 2009
Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D. 