Keep the Watchdog Well Fed

Are we a weight-obsessed culture that puts too much credence in drugs to help take off extra pounds? That question emerges in the wake of the Food and Drug Administration’s recall of two controversial diet drugs. The FDA moved quickly and decisively in requesting that the drugs fenfluramine, sold as Pondimin, and dexfenfluramine, sold as Redux, be withdrawn because of health concerns.

The two drugs originally were approved individually by the FDA for single, short-term use for obese patients seeking weight loss. Then in the early 1990s, studies indicated that the combined use of fenfluramine and another drug, phentermine, over an extended period would result in significant weight loss. These studies, which were not reviewed by the FDA, spurred the use of the combination, nicknamed fen-phen, and an estimated 1 million Americans began using the prescription to lose as little as 10 pounds.

The FDA issued the recall after a study of patients using the drugs revealed almost a third had damaged heart valves. There had been earlier reports of heart valve disease associated with fen-phen, and its use was dropping because of safety concerns even before the FDA recall.

Exercise and prudent eating habits are the best ways to lose weight. For the obese, diet drugs may be the only option for taking off the pounds. But clearly in this case the drug option went way too far. The FDA’s job is to approve and oversee the safety of drugs. It acted appropriately in this case and presumably saved lives.

Now, by chance, the Clinton administration is recommending an 8% reduction in the agency’s funding. This is no time to slim down the watchdog.