Iowans who are trying to drop a few pounds may want to steer clear of a pillthat’s heavily-advertised as a “miracle” diet drug. A cardiologist and otherhealth experts at the Iowa Heart Center say Xenical (ZEN-ah-cal) is only forextreme cases. Cindy Conroy is a registered dietician and director of theCenter’s Lipid Clinic. She says even in cases where a person has a severeweight problem, this drug may not be for them. She encourages patients tomeet with a dietician first. Xenical is billed as a safer alternative to the”Phen-Fen” drugs, which were taken off the market in 1997 after researchfound they may damage the user’s heart valves. Conroy says Xenical can bringvery uncomfortable and even unhealthy side effects. She says the best way tolook fit is to do it the old-fashioned way — through better eating habitsand regular exercise. She says people who lose a lot of weight very quicklyoften put the pounds right back on, but that doesn’t happen though moresensible diets & a routine workout
