Category Archives: weight loss products

New obesity report is a recipe for fatness

June 9, 2009 – 8:24 am

Last week, I had my say in Crikey about the House of Reps Standing Committee on Health and Ageing’s report on obesity. I was concerned that it focused so much on treatment and didn’t put a stronger emphasis on prevention. 
Professor Boyd Swinburn, professor of population health at Deakin University and Director of the WHO [...]

By Croakey | Also posted in Food, child health, obesity, prevention | Tagged , , , | Comments (2)

Some questions for federal authorities on weight loss products

May 8, 2009 – 10:34 am

Ever since news broke about a US recall of weight loss products called Hydroxycut, the one-man industry watchdog Dr Ken Harvey has been on a campaign to get some action in Australia.
The Food and Drug Administration says the supplements have been associated with serious side effects, including liver toxicity.  In Canada, a class action law [...]

By Croakey | Also posted in Media-related issues, TGA, adverse events, complementary medicines, health & medical marketing | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Losing weight, regaining sight, and other stories…

April 3, 2009 – 10:44 am

The British Medical Association has just released a publication that many will find interesting, called Partners in Care: Stories about NHS patients and their doctors.
It includes more than a dozen stories of how doctors and their patients have worked together to overcome various health problems.
Stories include:
• A woman who was blind and in a wheelchair [...]

By Croakey | Also posted in consumer health information, general practice, mental health, obesity | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

The blue continues over weight loss product guidelines

February 18, 2009 – 10:52 am

Ken Harvey’s recent Crikey piece about the TGA’s draft guidelines for evidence on weight loss products has apparently ruffled a few industry feathers.
Pharma Focus recently reported the ASMI’s concerns about “mischievous misrepresentation” of the guidelines.
The discussion continues below. Read on…
Part 1
From: Ken Harvey, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow
School of Public Health, La Trobe University
To: Deon Schoombie, [...]

By Croakey | Also posted in TGA, evidence-based issues, obesity | Tagged , , | Comments (2)