The second time’s a charm for Vivus’s experimental obesity drug Qnexa, at least when it comes to FDA advisory panel votes. As the WSJ reports , one of the agency’s advisory panels today backed approval of the drug by a decisive 20-2 vote. The FDA — which often but not always follows the advice of its outside panels — is due to make its decision by April 17. If the drug is approved, it would be the first new prescription weight-loss drug in over a decade. Qnexa combines low doses of two existing drugs: phentermine, which cuts appetite, and topiramate, now used to combat seizures and migraines. Back in July 2010, FDA advisors voted against approving Qnexa by a margin of 10-6. The FDA itself nixed the drug later in the year , requesting more safety information. Vivus submitted additional clinical data to the FDA in an attempt to allay its concerns. It’s not clear whether that will be enough to satisfy the agency, though. In briefing documents released ahead of today’s meeting, the FDA raised concerns about possible effects on the heart and about birth defects. But it also noted that Qnexa produced “significant” weight loss in the first year of treatment, with some regain in the second year. Qnexa wasn’t the only obesity drug to stumble with the FDA in recent years. The agency said in October 2010 that Arena’s lorcaserin couldn’t be approved without additional data. And in February 2011 the FDA said that it wouldn’t consider approving Orexigen’s Contrave without another clinical trial. (Contrave, unlike lorcaserin, had actually gotten a thumbs-up vote in its first go-round with the advisory panel.) The Health Blog wondered in September whether some of the rejected drugs might eventually rise from the ashes. Image: iStockphoto

Adding more vegetables to your lunch routine will give you great midday nourishment and an extra punch of energy to carry you through the afternoon slump. We’ve already shared some surprising ways to sneak vegetables into your breakfast , so here are three more tips to amp up your daily veggie intake: Upgrade your sandwich. You may not consider some of your favorite vegetables sandwich-friendly, but test your taste buds and experiment. Think about tossing cooked beets, a layer of hummus, sprouts, or artichoke hearts between the bread. Wary about mixing textures? Add some simple crunch with sliced onions. Keep reading for more vegetable lunch ideas

Mandy asks… Ford???????????????!!!!? will ford stocks keep climbing?? Jonjune answers: No – it is near its 5 year high and all the good news is factored in. Sandy asks… FORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!? What were two good things Gerald ford did during his presidency? Jonjune answers: He gave good leadership to his country He maintained the status quo internationally in a difficult time Steven asks… ford??????? i want to know why people who like fords think they are so bad a** and they always run their mouth to CHEVY owners ( i know tons of answers i just want to hear yours) Jonjune answers: Ford owners run their mouths trying to look good because they have a lot of time to think of what they are going to say to the Chevy owners while their cars are in for repairs. Ford owners hate all GM owners because stock, the only Ford that can beat a stock GM is a Mustang Cobra, not even the GT500 could beat a Z28 Camaro. Of course, if the Ford owner actually babied their car like the GM owner does and then built it up, then maybe the Ford would beat the GM and they woul finally have room to run their mouths a little more. From experience, the only Ford that has beat my 13 second WS-6 was an SVO Mustang (turbo charged). Richard asks… How common and interchangeable are Ford parts? I am living in Chile and I am in the process of buying a Ford Escape 2008 petrol 2.3. However, I will be moving to South Africa later this year, and I was planning to take the vehicle. I learned that Ford South Africa does not sell Ford Escape but sells instead Ford Territory and Ford Ranger. How common are the parts of Ford Escape with the other Ford ranges available in Africa and how easy will be to source parts? Jonjune answers: It depends on the parts you are looking for. Any petrolium burning 2.3L Ford engine will interchange parts almost 100% based on the production run of the engine. If the engine was built in 2008 than almost any 2.3L from 2005-present should interchange parts very readily. Suspension componants tend to differ from model to model so it would be difficult to find parts such as control arms and things of that nature. The brake system may have the same componants as the ranger or territory but you would have to research that in great detail and make sure the part numbers are EXACTLY the same. Hope that helps. Lisa asks… Is is recommended to buy used FORD Sedan when FORD is struggling with bailout? I am a student in Florida. I am planning to buy a used Ford Focus. I am not sure whether to buy a Ford Sedan when Ford , GM are struggling for their survival. If Ford goes out of business will I still be able to maintain my vehicle by a local mechanic or some repair shop. Jonjune answers: Most parts on new vehicles are not made by the vehicle manufacturer themselves, but by other companies that supply them. The manufacturer puts these parts together and makes a car. If a car company were to go out of business, these suppliers would still be able to provide replacement parts, and other companies would also provide aftermarket versions ot the parts. Even if a car company was to go bankrupt, that bankruptcy would be a reorganization, not a liquidation. They would still be in business. Dealers are independent business. If the company were to close (not likely) the dealer could still exist as a private shop. Other shop can also work on your vehicle, so you have nothing to fear there. Do not let fear of the future of the auto industry keep you from buying the car that suits your needs. Powered by Yahoo! Answers Related Blogs

Breakfast is one of the easiest times to fill up on fiber since whole grain breads and cereals are great sources. If you’re eating a gluten-free diet however, it’s not so easy since many high-fiber choices are off-limits. Getting enough fiber may take a little creativity (and a trip to the health food store) so you can try these gluten-free breakfast ideas that contain at least 10 grams of fiber. Hot apple millet: One cup of cooked millet ( 2.3 g ) mixed with unsweetened applesauce ( 2.9 g , one small chopped apple ( 3.6 g ), and five walnuts ( 1.4 g ): 10.2 grams of fiber Cinnamon raisin almond butter buckwheat: One cup of cooked buckwheat groats ( 4.5 g ) mixed with one ounce raisins (about 50, 1 g ), two tablespoons almond butter ( 4 g ), and one teaspoon ground cinnamon ( 1.2 g ): 10.5 grams of fiber Banana hot cereal: Quarter cup of uncooked Bob’s Red Mill Mighty Tasty GF Hot Cereal ( 4 g ) mixed with one tablespoon chia seeds ( 6 g ) and one small banana cut in slices ( 1.1 g ): 11.1 grams of fiber Continue reading for three more high fiber, gluten-free breakfast ideas.

When the Thanksgiving dishes are cleared from the table, it’s time to move on to holiday shopping. Or at least start working on gift ideas and your own wish list. For the active ladies in your life, we have created six gift guides to help you score the perfect find whether your friend, sister, or mother is a yogi, a runner, or an all-around fitness buff. Check out our guides below. 10 Fit Gifts Under $10 Everything Yoga Stylish Gym Bags Running Goods Filtered Water Bottles For the Fit Fashionista Is there anything fitnessy on your wish list? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Conrad Murray in court last week. He was found guilty today of involuntary manslaughter. As our colleagues at the WSJ’s Speakeasy blog report , Michael Jackson’s former physician, Conrad Murray, was this afternoon found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the pop icon’s death. That verdict means Murray, a cardiologist, will face a maximum sentence of four years in a state prison, Speakeasy says. And he may lose his medical license. For those who weren’t glued to coverage of the televised trial, the Los Angeles Times has a wrap-up of the proceedings . Prosecution witnesses testified that Murray’s actions, including “giving [the anesthetic] propofol in an unmonitored setting, fumbling at basic resuscitation [and] keeping no records” led to Jackson’s death, the paper says. Murray said in a police interview that he gave Jackson the drug after the singer requested it, the LAT says. The defense, meantime, claimed that Jackson injected himself with propofol and that the combination of that and an oral sedative killed him, the paper says. Scientific American explained last month why propofol can be so dangerous. Photo: Associated Press

Pfizer Rises: Pfizer said third-quarter profit rose to $3.74 billion, or 48 cents per share, from $866 million, or 11 cents per share, as it sold its Capsugel unit and benefited from currency fluctuations, the WSJ reports . Excluding the Capsugel gain and other items, earnings rose to 62 cents a share — more than the 56 cents expected by analysts polled by Thomson Reuters, the paper says. Revenue rose to $17.2 billion, greater than the $16.4 billion forecast by analysts. Lipitor, the drug company’s blockbuster anti-cholesterol drug, goes generic at the end of the month. Second-Guessing Jobs’ Decision: There’s been much debate over whether Steve Jobs’ decision to delay surgery for his slow-growing form of pancreatic cancer led to his death; now the New York Times reports that the choice to push off surgery was “not unusual” and that “given the type of tumor he had and the way it was found, his decision to wait may not have been as ill considered as it seems at first blush.” Physicians tell the NYT that in most cases of this type of tumor, the cancer has already spread by the time it’s found on a scan and so the delay in surgery may not have worsened Jobs’ prognosis. Reassuring News: A new study covering more than 3,000 families finds that women who don’t carry a dangerous mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene but whose mothers and sisters do aren’t at a much higher risk of breast cancer, suggesting they those mutation-negative women can be screened on a normal schedule and don’t need to consider a preventive mastectomy, the WSJ reports . A study published in 2007 suggested a much higher risk for those women than that seen in the general population, though it has since been contradicted by other research. War of Words Over Sugary Drinks: A report from the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University says that many fruit and energy drinks have as much sugar and as many calories as sodas, even though parents believe they are healthier choices, WebMD reports . The report criticizes the marketing practices of beverage companies, saying they’ve shifted their focus from traditional media to other forms of promotion without reducing kids’ overall exposure to the marketing of sugary drinks. The American Beverage Association, in turn, criticized the report , saying its members “abide by responsible marketing practices” and have developed their own initiatives to reduce childhood obesity. Image: iStockphoto

Foods that are good for the waistline are also good for the bottom line.  That’s the conclusion of a report out Thursday from the Hudson Institute , a non-partisan policy research organization. The Hudson Institute’s Obesity Solutions Initiative found the food and beverage companies with the most “better for you” products grew faster, had higher profits and superior shareholder returns over the last five years. Hank Cardello , a former food company executive and lead author, said the report was the first to look at profitability of healthier products in terms CEOs can understand. “It’s always been a moral argument as opposed to a business argument why it makes sense to move in that direction,” Cardello said. The report analyzed 15 of the largest food and beverage companies, including Coke, Pepsi, General Mills, Kellogg’s, General Mills, Nestle, Dannon, Nabisco and Campbell Soup. On average, 38.6 percent of the sales were from foods and beverages deemed “better for you.” The remaining foods and beverages were classified as “traditional.” Companies with above-average sales were compared with those below average. The companies that sold more “better for you” products reported almost double the profit margin and stock performance. “Better for you” products also accounted for almost three-quarters of sales growth. But   Michele Simon , author of "Appetite for Profit: How the Food Industry Undermines Our Health and How to Fight Back," said the growth figures give a false impression . “The higher growth is usually because these are newer products, which tend to do better in growth figures, so it’s somewhat misleading to even say ‘better for you’ products are growing faster when they may just be newer,” Simon said in an e-mail. The report categorized  “better for you” products as “lite foods” such as Nestle’s Lean Cuisine, Coca-Cola Zero and Tropicana 50 and “good foods,” such as General Mills’ Cheerios, Dannon Yogurt and Campbell’s Tomato Soup. “Traditional foods” included Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes, Hellmann’s Mayonnaise, Coke and Tropicana orange juice. Marion Nestle , a New York University professor and author of "Food Politics," said “better for you” is a relative term. “Just because it’s better for you doesn’t mean it’s good for you,” she said. “What people should really be eating is real foods, not packaged foods, from a nutritional standpoint.” Cardello said he hopes the report, underwritten by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation,  will prompt companies to place more emphasis on “better for you” foods and beverages and accelerate development of more nutritious products. “I certainly think it gives ammunition to C suites and their boards to move in this direction,” said Cardello, director of the Obesity Solutions Initiative. “We’re not saying walk away from what you have. We’re just saying as a growth mechanism, this is very enticing.” The mission of the Obesity Solutions Initiative is to come up with practical, market-based solutions to the world's obesity epidemic. The Hudson Institute did not release rankings of how the individual companies fared in terms of sales of “better for you” versus “traditional” foods and beverages.

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We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar! Power up your fat-burning engine with every bite! Excerpted from The Active Calorie Diet book by Leslie Bonci, R.D. A calorie is a calorie, and cutting them is the best way to lose weight, right? Not so fast. New research shows that eating certain types of foods can rev your metabolism, curb your appetite, and help you drop more pounds than others. The Active Calorie Diet , an eating plan based on this research, explains how some foods take more work to eat so you burn more calories during digestion. In fact, just the act of chewing foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean cuts of meat can increase your calorie burn by up to 30 percent! In this diet plan, foods are broken down into four types of “active calories” — chewy foods, hearty foods, energizing foods, and warming foods. Here’s how each one encourages your body to burn more calories. Burn More Calories By Eating Chewy Foods (lean meats, nuts, whole fruits and vegetables) These calories make your body work right off the fork. To maximize the chew factor, choose food in its most “whole” state — apples instead of applesauce, for instance. High-protein foods really are your best ally in the Active Calorie Diet because they take more work to chew and longer to leave your stomach so you take more time eating—and have more time to register that you’re full. Hearty Foods (fruits, vegetables, brown rice, whole grains and cereals) In addition to being chewy, these active calories are packed with fiber, so they take up more room in your belly (compared to other foods with the same number of calories), and leave less room for second helpings. Foods that take more work to chew literally make your mouth work harder (ramping calorie burn by 10 percent!) and increase the thermic effect of food, the calorie-burn bump we get from eating and digesting any given type of food. Tasty Ways to Get More Fiber Energizing Foods (coffee, black and green tea, dark chocolate) You can get metabolism-boosting caffeine in coffee and black tea; just be careful not to load them up with milk, cream, or sugar. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant, so your daily java or black tea can boost your metabolism by 5 to 8 percent – about 80 to 128 calories a day. Green tea doesn’t have much caffeine but it does contain catechins, an antioxidant that raises resting metabolism by 4 percent (about 80 calories a day). Dark chocolate contains both catechins and caffeine, but stick to one ounce per day to limit fat and calories. 8 Secrets for All-Day Energy More foodie tips to rev your metabolism after the break.