The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s move to approve the first obesity drug in 13 years seems to reflect a calculated risk by the regulator that the health hazards associated with weight loss drugs are eclipsed by the urgency of escalating medical costs associated with widespread obesity in the country.
The healthcare costs associated with obesity include an increased number of people with type 2 diabetes and complications derived from that condition, as well as gastrointestinal and cardiovascular problems, which all amount to more hospital stays.
