According to a research conducted at the Mayo Clinic points to a mind-body connection through nerves, hormones, and chemicals in the brain and body. Hypnosis is best used in conjunction with other forms of therapy. The Mayo Clinic lists the following benefits of hypnosis: changing negative habits (stop-smoking), reduce stress and anxiety, control pain, relieve irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), lower blood pressure, reduce frequency and intensity of migraines, treat asthma, and heal skin disorders.

Kerala’s state promoted fisheries co-operative Matsyafed has developed a marine-based health product, that it claims would help in reducing obesity, as reported by the Press Trust of India (PTI). Extracted from the exoskeleton of fresh marine prawns, crabs and lobsters (chitosan), the product named ‘Chitone’ would hit the Indian market in December and its production has already started in agency’s Neendakara plant in Kollam.

Children’s National Medical Center in collaboration with researches from New York University have found laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (Lap band) to improve the health of morbidly obese adolescents. The participants showed significant decreases in total and android fat mass 2 years after surgery. Android fat has been linked to the development of obesity-related illnesses, such as diabetes, heart disease, and insulin resistance.

Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. will pay as much as $1 billion to Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. to co-develop the U.S. company’s obesity treatments. The purchase may help Takeda buffer losses after Actos, its top seller with $4 billion generated for the year ended March 31, loses patent protection in January 2011. The drugmaker needs products to replace sales lost when U.S. regulators delayed approval of a combination diabetes therapy that includes Actos.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said two Vicks products sold over-the-counter to treat the common cold and flu that contain vitamin C violate agency rules. A warning letter was sent to Vicks owner Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) that “Vicks DayQuil Plus Vitamin C” and “Vicks NyQuil Plus Vitamin C” cannot be marketed as a combination drug and dietary supplement. The FDA suggested Procter & Gamble would have to seek agency approval.

A report indicates that more “magic bullet” type anti-obesity drugs, Qnexa from Vivus, Lorcaserin hydrochloride from Arena Pharmaceuticals and Contrave from Orexigen, are destined to enter the FDA approval process soon. Reports are that obese patients who took one of the medications along with reducing calories and exercising lost about 15% of their starting weight in a 12-month period.

A new study, published in an editorial in the October issue of British Medical Journal, has indicated a link between mental illness and obesity in patients. “Evan Atlantis from the University of Adelaide’s School of Medicine said that several psychosocial, lifestyle and physiological factors may be involved in the complex inter-relationship between obesity and mental illness. Reduced physical activity and overeating, particularly comfort foods rich in fats and sugars, to improve mood are common among depressed and anxious patients.

Orexigen Therapeutics announced that its obesity drug Empatic demonstrated significant weight loss in a Phase IIb clinical trial, intensifying the race for an anti-obesity drug. Empatic combines the antidepressant Wellbutrin with the anti-seizure drug zonisamide. Approximately 60% of patients given the maximum dose of Empatic lost 5% of their body weight, compared to 14.7% for the placebo. Patients who completed the 24-week trial lost weight at an average of 10%. The results exceeded FDA requirements for weight control drugs.

Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc’s experimental obesity pill lorcaserin met one of two federal weight-loss goals, a result sufficient to seek US approval of the drug. About 47% of patients on lorcaserin after one year of treatment lost 5% or more of their body weight compared with 25% of those taking a placebo, or dummy pill, Arena said in a statement.

Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc’s experimental obesity pill lorcaserin met one of two federal weight-loss goals, a result sufficient to seek US approval of the drug. About 47 percent of patients on lorcaserin after one year of treatment lost 5 percent or more of their body weight compared with 25 percent of those taking a placebo, or dummy pill, Arena said.