HealthDay - TUESDAY, Feb. 21 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to take a second look at the weight loss pill Qnexa on Wednesday, after initially rejecting it because of concerns about heart problems and possible birth defects.

LiveScience.com - VANCOUVER — Weight loss is not as simple as eating less and exercising more, and for those who struggle to shed the pounds, a new equation may offer some help.

Reuters - More people in developed countries are overweight or obese than ever before, dooming them to years of ill health, pushing up healthcare costs and piling more pressure on health systems, a report by the OECD found on Tuesday.

HealthDay - TUESDAY, Feb. 21 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to take a second look at the weight loss pill Qnexa on Wednesday, after initially rejecting it because of concerns about heart problems and possible birth defects.

HealthDay - SUNDAY, Feb. 19 (HealthDay News) -- A new animal study suggests that a genetic mutation could put certain people at higher risk for becoming obese if they eat high-fat diets.

Reuters - A little extra simple sugar in your diet probably won't make you pack on the pounds -- as long as you cut down on other carbs to make up for it, a new analysis of past studies suggests.

Reuters - Hopes were raised slightly on Friday that U.S. health regulators could approve a weight-loss pill for the first time in 13 years, after government reviewers did not flag fresh safety risks for an experimental obesity drug from Vivus Inc.

Reuters - Vivus Inc's obesity drug Qnexa helped people lose weight but may cause long-term health problems in overweight and obese patients, U.S. drugs reviewers said.

ContributorNetwork - COMMENTARY: Bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen, is wreaking havoc with the health of Americans in particular. China and Canada alike have deemed BPA a dangerous chemical, but the U.S. seems to be oblivious to the connection between its super-sized citizens and this chemical that has been linked to ailments such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

Reuters - The European Medicines Agency has decided that the benefits of orlistat-containing weight loss drugs, including GlaxoSmithKline's Alli and Roche's Xenical, outweigh the risk of very rare liver-related side effects.

Reuters - Medicare is spending more money every year per person, and each obese beneficiary tacks on an extra $149 a year to that increase, according to a new study.

HealthDay - TUESDAY, Feb. 14 (HealthDay News) -- People who drank water or diet beverages instead of calorie-laden drinks lost 4 to 5 pounds over half a year, according to new research.

HealthDay - FRIDAY, Feb. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Breast-feeding reduces the risk of obesity in children born to mothers with diabetes during their pregnancy, a new study indicates.

HealthDay - FRIDAY, Feb. 10 (HealthDay News) -- There's a clear link between obesity and pain, suggests a new study that finds the heaviest people suffer the greatest discomfort.

Reuters - Obese Americans in the military are a national security hazard and U.S. first lady Michelle Obama wants to see that change.

Reuters - A low-key, long term approach to teen weight loss produced modest benefits in a clinical trial, Australian researchers report, though a version of the program that added texts and emails didn't help kids slim down any further.

HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Obese people are not only at greater risk for fibromyalgia, they are likely to experience more severe symptoms of the condition, such as chronic pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance and mood disorders, according to a new study.

HealthDay - TUESDAY, Feb. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Getting and staying physically fit might help fend off heart disease even if you've put on a few pounds, new research suggests.

Reuters - Programs that teach parenting skills early on may help prevent obesity in poor U.S. kids, a study published Monday suggests.

HealthDay - TUESDAY, Feb. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Getting and staying physically fit might help fend off heart disease even if you've put on a few pounds, new research suggests.