Weight Loss Drugs - NAAFA Campaign
Founded in 1969, the National Association
to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) is a non-profit human rights organization
dedicated to improving the quality of life for fat people.
To protect consumer health in the area
of weight loss drugs, the NAAFA have suggested a number of proposals.
For example, they suggest:
That local, state, and federal legislatures
introduce, pass, enact, and enforce legislation which protects consumers
against dangerous or ineffective weight-loss drugs, whether prescription,
over-the-counter, "all natural," or "herbal."
That state and federal regulatory
agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the
Federal Trade Commission (FTC), adopt regulations to prevent endangerment
to public health from weight-loss drugs, whether prescription, over-the-counter,
"all natural," or "herbal."
That state and federal regulatory agencies,
such as the FDA, pose the same question for weight loss drugs as for any
other class of drug, i.e., "Does this treatment improve health?"
That federal regulations require all weight-loss
drugs, whether prescription, over-the-counter, "all natural,"
or "herbal," to clearly display a health warning (similar to
those found on cigarettes) regarding limited temporary results and possible
hazards and side effects.
That financial ties between obesity researchers/diet
drug advocates and diet drug manufacturers be disclosed in all regulatory
hearings and published writing regarding the drugs.
That regulations be adopted that require
drug manufacturers to publish five-year (minimum) follow-up studies and
"success" rates. Information on all such statistics must be
verifiable by objective outside researchers and clearly displayed on all
weight-loss drugs and advertising.
That the Centers for Disease Control track
morbidity and mortality caused by weight-loss drugs and weight regain
when drugs are discontinued, and publicize the findings.
That researchers conducting epidemiological
studies be required to obtain information on diet pill use by their subjects.
That the National Institutes of Health
(NIH) and the FDA include input from consumer advocacy groups in establishing
public health policy about weight-loss drugs.
That the NIH support independent research
on the health effects of weight-loss drugs.
That local and state medical boards adopt
policies against the use of weight-loss drugs.
That insurance companies and government
programs deny payment for weight-loss drugs.
That consumer protection agencies, such
as Consumers Union, conduct biannual studies on the efficacy of weight-loss
drugs.
That advertising of weight loss drugs,
whether prescription, over-the-counter, "all natural," or "herbal,"
be prohibited.
That institutions such as the military,
hospitals, schools, mental institutions, or prisons provide adequate food
and not force anyone to take weight-loss drugs.
That employers, schools, and judges never
demand the use of weight-loss drugs as a condition for employment, promotion,
admission, or avoiding incarceration.
That health care professionals and medical
institutions never deny any medical treatment to patients who choose not
to take weight-loss drugs.
That individuals considering taking weight-loss
drugs study available literature on long-term results and side effects
and carefully weigh the possible benefits against the risks of drug use.
That individuals considering taking non-prescription
or "herbal" weight-loss drugs be aware that they are not safe
or effective despite being non-prescription, "all natural," or
"herbal."
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