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Unfortunately, the only new weight loss drug available is for dogs. It is called Slentrol and it was created by Pfizer.
Did you feel yourself getting excited when you thought about the possibility of a pill to help with weight loss? If you did, don't feel bad. We are all hoping for something (pill or otherwise) to make managing our weight just a little easier.
Making an FDA approved drug that is safe and effective is extremely difficult. We don't want a repeat of Fen-Phen which helped people lose weight but allegedly also caused severe heart valve damage and even death in some cases. Why does Slentrol work for dogs and not humans? Among many complex reasons, some of the side effects of this drug would not be tolerated well by humans, the doses required are much larger and it may be toxic to humans. If there was a brand new drug that was safe and effective, we would all know about it. So, scientists are still at the drawing board.
Let's take the opportunity to look at why our pets need help managing their weight too. It can give us a lot of insight into our own weight struggles. According to the Association of Pet Obesity prevention (http://www.petobesityprevention.com) approximately 50% of dogs and cats are overweight and the number is growing.
There is no social pressure to be thin or doggie magazines with stick thin role models, so why do pets need to lose weight? Extra weight in pets puts animals at risk for the same health problems that humans experience: Osteoarthritis, Type 2 Diabetes, respiratory disorders, hypertension (high blood pressure), heart disease, and many forms of cancer. Keep in mind that five pounds can be the equivalent of twenty or more in a pet.
Interesting, there is a correlation between a pet and their owner's weight. So, if you are having difficulty managing your own weight, it is likely that your cat or dog is too.
Dr. Angela Albers, a veterinary at the Stow Kent Animal Hospital, indicated that there are a number of reason pets are getting larger. In part, it's difficult for people to accurately judge if their pets are overweight. We have the same problem. It's difficult for us to determine if we are at a healthy weight. Instead of using standardized things like BMI chart or doctor's evaluation, we often use comparison. Who you compare yourself to matters (your neighbor? Jennifer Aniston? The Biggest Loser contestants?)
In addition, pets are wired biologically to hunt for their food rather than have their dinner served in a bowl with paw prints on a little mat. The effort it took to round up their food kept them lean. This sounds pretty familiar. Imagine if you had to pick the berries by hand whenever you wanted a piece of raspberry pie. It's all too easy to pick up fast food rather than going to the grocery store or farmers market to get the ingredients. Lack of exercise is just as much of an issue for pets as it is for people.
So what we can do? If you have a pet, join with them in an effort to be healthier. Go for a walk together every day. Eat with your pet at routine times. Be more aware of your mindless eating habits such as staring blankly at the TV while you mindlessly munch on chips. Your pet has mindless eating habits too like giving them a bite here or there when they beg.
One of the best techniques for helping dogs get more activity is to buy a food puzzle, which makes them work to get their treats out of the toy. There really isn't a people equivalent. But, the less convenient we make unhealthy foods and the more accessible you make healthy foods like fruits and vegetable, the better. Place healthy snacks out of sight like in the freezer and in the back of the cupboard, where you can only get them if you really want them.
So, until a weight loss drug does hit the market, work on making a few changes to help you and your pet eat more mindfully.
For tips on eating more mindfully: www.eatingmindfully.com
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