FDA approves two weight management drugs—why bother?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) spends a lot of time cracking down on spiked supplements for weight loss. The agency is quick to denounce many natural weight loss supplements, which makes sense given the category's track record of empty promises and potentially harmful ingredients.

So it's curious that the FDA approved two drugs this summer to combat obesity. Belviq and Qsymia (kew-SIM-ee-ah), which is harder to pronounce than quinoa, are the first obesity drugs to be approved in 13 years.

With all we know about nutrition and exercise, why do we continually look to pills to solve our weight dilemmas?

Qsymia and Belviq are meant for adults with a BMI of 30 or greater, or adults with a BMI of 27 or greater and who also have one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol, says the FDA.

Do you know what also helps to reduce or eliminate all three diseases plus obesity? Eating a healthy vegetarian or vegan diet and exercising. Why?

But I guess some people would rather pop a pill and deal with side effects like headache, dizziness, tingling of hands and feet, fatigue, nausea, dry mouth, constipation, back pain, insomnia, and altered taste sensation.

I don't know about you, but I'll stick with smarter decisions at the grocery store. 

What do you think about supplementing or using a drug for weight loss/management? Share in the comments.