VOTE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE RULES IN YOUR AREA AND WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU TO THE POLLS. >> NOW TO DAY 2 OF OUR SERIES "BEYOND THE SCALE. AND A NEW STUDY POINTING TO A POTENTIALLY GAME-CHANGING DRUG THAT MAY HELP SOME PEOPLE LOSE WEIGHT. NBC NEWS MEDICAL CONTRIBUTOR DR. NATALIE AZAR WITH US FOR WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW. >> THE DRUG IS CALLED YOU ARE THE ACCEPT TIE. THE DIABETES DRUG. FDA APPROVED FOR DIABETES. BUT THE STUDY SHOWS THOSE WHO ARE OBESE BUT NOT DIABETIC HAD PROVIDENCE WEIGHT LOSS. LIKE 35-52 POUNDS. >> YEAH. I THINK IT IS SAFE TO SAY THE EXPERTS RESPONDED TO THE STUDY HAVE DONE SO WITH INCREDIBLE AND IT IS SO IMPORTANT AND RELEVANT. THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS ARE OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE AND THE NUMBERS ARE STRIKING. I THINK WE HAVE A GRAPHIC FOR VIEWERS UP HERE. THE THERE WERE THREE DOSES OF THE MEDICINE GIVEN. THE 15 MG DOSE PEOPLE LOST ON AVERAGE ABOUT 52 POUNDS. 10 MGS, THEY LOST 49 POUNDS AND AT 5 MILLIGRAMS LAST 35 POUNDS OVER OVER A 72 WEEK PERIOD. THESE ARE COMPARABLE TO GASTRIC BYPASS. AND HIGHER THAN NUMBERS WITH OTHER DRUGS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON THE MARKET TO TREAT OBESITY.
>> HOW DOES THE DRUG WORK? >> IT WORKS, THE DRUG ACTUALLY EXERTS AN EFFECT ON TWO REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT HORMONES THAT HAVE AN EFFECT IN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT ORGANS. THE PANCREAS, INCREASES THE RELEASE OF INSULIN SO IT CAN DROP YOUR BLOOD SUGAR. AND HELPS SUPPRESS YOUR APPETITE. AND SLOWS HOW FAST YOUR STOMACH IS EMPTYING SO YOU FEEL FULL FASTER. >> — BIG EVENT COMING UP AND WANT TO DROP A FEW POUNDS. IS THIS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD EVEN LINE UP FOR? >> IT HAS NOT YET BEEN APPROVED. THE DRUG COMPANY IS HOPING TO GET AN EXPEDITED APPROVAL THIS YEAR. IT IS AS SAVANNAH MENTIONED APPROVED TO TREAT TYPE 2 DIABETES. BUT NOT EVER GOING TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR DIET AND EXERCISE AND IT IS GOING TO BE EXPENSIVE IN ALL LIKELIHOOD. >> AND OFF THE STAY ON TO IT HAVE IT KEEP WORKING.
>> HUGELY IMPORTANT POINT. WE NEED THE TOOL IN THE TOOL BOX. FOR TREATMENT AS OBESITY AS A CHRONIC DISEASE. >> SIDE EFFECTS? >> VERY WELL TOLERATED.