Obesity Drug, Empatic, tested well in clinical trials, but the company still has to make it past the FDA. Watch to find out more on this week’s WLS News. Read the full story

Obesity drug manufacturer Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. claims its new miracle pill, Contrave, can reduce food cravings and curb obesity. The drug contains brupopion, an anti-depressant medication sold under the brand name Wellbutrin, and studies show it actually works. Read the full story

In our WLS News report for April 10, 2009, we’ll share the results of a recent clinical trial for a new obesity drug, explain how rapid weight gain in infants may predict future obesity, and tell you about the dangers of high fructose corn syrup.

Plus, we’ll report on new findings about how people of minority ethnic groups process fat differently, and tell you what Canadian authorities are doing to curb the epidemic of childhood obesity up north. And, of course, our resident Web-diva, Yvonne McCarthy, will share the scoop about a great website with excellent weight loss tips. Click the player below to see this week’s newscast!

Organizations mentioned in this week’s news:

• BC Children’s Hospital (Vancouver, Canada)
• Canadian Medical Association Journal
• Dr. Louise A Baur, Discipline of Pediatrics & Child Health, University of Sydney
• Arena Pharmaceuticals
• U.S. Food & Drug Administration
• Project Viva (study of childhood obesity)
• Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
• Harvard Medical School
• Children’s Hospital Boston
• National Institutes of Health
• Pediatrics (journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics)
• Bariatric Girl (Yvonne McCarthy’s WLS support site)
• Three Fat Chicks on a Diet (weight loss support site)
• Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• Dr. M. Daniel Lane, Distinguished Service Professor of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• UT Southwestern Medical Center
• Hepatology (medical journal)
• The Dallas Heart Study
• Bariatric Advantage (nutritional supplements)