Obesity market grows – waistlines continue to expand March 25, 2008

 Working in the healthcare publishing industry, it is important to be abreast of developing trends in the pharmaceutical market. The research firm Decision Resources recently reported that the market for obesity drugs will grow five-fold — to $2.7 billion — by 2016 (http://www.mmm-online.com/Obesity-market-set-for-explosive-growth-says-report/article/108301/). Growth is predicted to be most rapid in the US, but is also projected in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Japan.

The growth in the market is of course a direct result of new drugs being developed. In fact, the report predicts that 80% of the market will switch to using these new therapies, including Arena Pharmaceuticals’ lorcaserin and Amylin’s pramlintide/leptin combo.

“Given the high prevalence of obesity in the world’s major pharmaceutical markets, the opportunity for agents that fulfill the need for safe, effective and well-tolerated weight loss therapies is significant,” said Donny Wong, PhD., principal analyst at Decision Resources. Everyone is always going to be looking for a quick fix, be it for weight loss, clearing their skin, or changing a light bulb. But healthy, maintainable weight loss will never be achieved through these means. Instead I think we need to pay attention to the simple equation: eat less + exercise more = weigh less. We no doubt face obstacles — mainly the increasingly stressed out, sedentary US lifestyle and the abundance of cheap, high-calorie foods — but with education and dedication we may be able to see a more long-term effect.

This week’s DIY – Mouthwash March 25, 2008

As my co-workers can easily attest to, I have a slight obsession with buying unusual beauty and haircare products. But what they don’t know is my other obsession with using natural household products in my daily skincare and haircare routine.

I will be starting a weekly feature on how to incorporate common household products into your beauty routine, and also how to make your own products too. Ken asked last week about how to make your own mouthwash so I found a few recipes. Most just involve simple combinations of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, herbs, and/or oils. I will have to try these!

BASIC MOUTHWASH FORMULAS

1. Mix 2 ounces of Water, 1/4 Teaspoon of baking soda or sea salt, 1 drop of pure peppermint oil, and 1 drop of tea tree oil.

2. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in an 8-ounce glass of water, swish, and spit it out.

If you want a recipe that’s a bit more involved, try the following:

BASIC ALCOHOL FREE HERBAL MOUTHWASH FORMULA
(http://www.care2.com/greenliving/make-your-own-mouthwash.html) 

INGREDIENTS
1 ounce cloves or powdered myrrh OR 2 to 4 ounces goldenseal or rosemary
2 cups boiling water

1. Place the plant materials in a pint mason jar and cover with the boiling water.
2. Let steep overnight, then strain.
3. Swish around in the mouth and then spit out.

The basic science behind the above is that the baking soda (NaSO4) neutralizes the acidic bacteria in your mouth, eliminating bad breath. Tea tree and peppermint oil have antibacterial and antifungal properties that aid in reducing bad breath as well. You can also add a bit of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to these for added whitening and cleansing.

The male birth control pill – soon to be a reality March 25, 2008

Most everyone of child-bearing age is familiar with the female birth control pill (PCB), which prevents ovulation using a combination of hormones (usually estrogen and/or progestin) that suppress gonadotropin release.

According to a new study accepted for publication in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, researchers are now a step closer toward developing a BCP for men (http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/538887/?sc=rsmn). The pill relies on a combination of testosterone and progestin to suppress the sperm output to concentrations equivalent to that after a vasectomy.

An analysis of studies conducted on men using varying concentrations of testosterone and progestin showed that the combination of the two hormones supressed sperm production more than testosterone alone. The mechanism of this is basically a negative feedback loop that occurs in the reproductive system; hormone levels are risen artificially by the hormone in the pill, which then shuts down further production of sperm. Though more research needs to be done to find the most effective combination of hormones, it seems that a male BCP is not far from reality.

When is organic not (really) organic? March 18, 2008

According to the USDA, only foods and products with 95% organic ingredients can be labeled “organic”, while those made with 70% organic ingredients must be labeled “made with organic.” According to Joan Shaeffer, spokeswoman for the USDA, “If any product meets the USDA organic standards for production, handling and labeling, then it is eligible for USDA organic certification.”

Thedailygreen (http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/oasis-organic-label-47031704) reported on Monday that the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) is protesting a new label being placed on personal care products in accordance with the Organic and Sustainable Beauty Standards (OASIS). Developed by major industry players (EsteeLauder, Aveda, L’Oreal, and Hain), the OCA says that OASIS:

allows a product to be labeled outright as “Organic” (rather than “Made with Organic Specified Ingredients”) even if it contains hydrogenated and sulfated cleansing ingredients like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate made from conventional agricultural material grown with synthetic fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, and preserved with synthetic petrochemical preservatives like Ethylhexylglycerin and Phenoxyethanol.

The label is deceptive to consumers who are already being swayed by product marketers who greenwash them into thinking that “natural” or “green” products are safer and more effective than their equally chemically-laden counterparts. The USDA has been certifying organic personal care products for the past four years and today, according to the OCA, “there are more genuinely organic products on the market bearing the ‘USDA Organic’ seal on the front label than ever before.”