committee will meet in two weeks to decide meridia's fate, harry? >> smith: the company says there's already a warning label. isn't that enough? >> reporter: harry, the problem is while it's true there's a warning label and in this study only patients with known underlying cardiovascular disease were at increased risk for heart attack and stroke. in the real world it's hard to know exactly who those patients are. who is at increased risk for cardiovascular disease? about half of all patients who die suddenly in heart attack have no known history of heart disease. >> smith: jon lapook, thank you so much. for more information, all you need to do is go to our partner in health news webmd.com and search "weight loss drugs." there was a medical scare at the u.s. open here in new york today. 21-year-old victoria azarenka collapsed during the first set of her match with gisela dulko. she left in a wheelchair and was later diagnosed with a mild concussion. azarenka says she hit her head while working out before the match. the scorching heat probably didn't

meridia is already banned in europe. the maker says it is safe for people who do not have heart disease. >>> scientists have mapped the genome of chocolate completing the sequence for the tree that produces the seeds used to make cocoa and chocolate. the research was led by the company that makes m & ms, milky way bars, and other candies. hoe hope this will help create a better tree and mean more chocolate for everyone. >>> 2005 heisman trophy winner reggie bush has given back the award, saying persistent media speculation about the allegations of rules violations have been painful and and distracting. it's the first time in the 75-year history of the heisman a winner has forfeited the award. he earned it as a player at southern california. bush said, quote, while this decision is heart breaking, i find solace in knowing that the award was made possible by the support and love of so many. those gifts are those that can never be taken away. >>> straight ahead this morning, your wed kay morning weather. in sports, the yank

yesterday, the committee split on whether the diet drug meridia should stay on the market. evidence showed an increased risk of heart attacks and stroke. meridia is one of only two prescription drugs approved for the long-term treatment of obesity. according to dr. louis aronne, a weight-loss expert who advised the makers of meridia, two drugs is not enough. >> you can try to lose weight from a diet and get demoralized and gain so much weight you need surgery and that makes no sense. we need more medical options. >> reporter: the other problem with both these drugs they're only moderately effective in helping lose weight. >> couric: i know there hasn't been an obesity drug approved in 10 years. is there something problematic about the weight loss drugs. >> reporter: yes you're starting off with a condition-- obesity-- that already puts you at increased risk of heart attack and strokes. and even cancer. now if you take a drug that further increases these risks and is only slightly effective, than the f.d.a. is stuck with the decision of approving a drug, where the risks real

. >> reporter: the weight loss drug meridia quickly became popular after it was approved. >> if they don't remove the drug entirely they will probably put significant limitations or warnings on the use of the drug. >> reporter: a study out earlier this year found in overweight people who have cardio vascular problems, meridia raised their risk of heart attacks by 50%. dr.musoroni is a weight loss expert who has designed meridia's competitor avit. >> we use merida when other types of treatments don't work. >> reporter: but others think meridia come with too much risk. it is difficult to discern a credibility rational for keeping this medication on the market, said experts. >> we don't think any weight loss is worth such risk. >> reporter: the advisory committee could recommend that meridia should be pulled off the market or be sold with a warning. >>> toyota is asking a federal court in california to dismiss hundreds of lawsuits involving sudden acceleration issues in it's vehicle. the company claims attorneys for the plaintiffs failed to identify any defects in the vehicles. a slew o

--la pildora para perder peso "meridia" podria ser sacada del mercado.--esto se debe a que diversos estudios realizados por expertos del gobierno durante el ultimo año demostraron que incrementa el riesgo de ataque cardiaco y derrame cerebral.--el miercoles, un panel de investigadores haÁ las recomendaciones finales a la administracion de alimentos y medicinas. pese a la evidencia, esto podÍa reducirse a que se agreguen advertencias en el empaque del producto.--meridia salio al mercado en 1997.--europa prohibio su venta en enero pasado. ---un reportero lleva aÑos informando al publico sobre las mejores rutas para evitar embotellamientos de trafico... y lo curioso es que este reportero es ciego de nacimiento.---"tommy edison" transmite el reporte del trafico en "star 99.9" en connecticut... lo hace monitoreando las frecuencias de la policia y otras corporaciones de auxilio y recibiendo montones de llamadas telefonicas para saber Ónde hay problemas viales.---ahora "edison" quiere viajar por todo estados unidos para que la gente aprenda a ver la vida c

and then meridia down the road. it's not looking good for meridia. >> the europeans just banned it. >> they did. >> is there a safe diet drug? there really isn't? >> xenical was on the market and was approved to go over the counter a couple years ago. called alli. it does have some sort of these uncomfortable side effects which we won't go into too much. i already said that. it is a drug that people use and it works for some people. but taking these things long- term i think doctors would like to get people on something for a little while and then get them in a wellness or health program. and the other thing people who are obese have a lot of other health problems. hypertension, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and so oftentimes the drug companies say, hey, it might not be the diet drug that's causing their problems but they have a lot of health issues. it's a big problem. >>> i see you are taking your health beat in a different direction with answering readers question. >> health care is so complicated and onl

it's what some medical experts now call the weight loss drug meridia. that new study finds that it can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke in people who have pre-existing heart disease. the study was actually commissioned by the maker of that drug. abbott laboratories defends meridia saying it already comes with a warning for people who have heart problems. but questions about the drug's safety have led regulators in europe to take it off the market. the fda is going to review meridia later thi month. >>> stay with us. we'll be right back. ,,,,,,,,,, with my friends we'll do almost anything. out for drinks, eats. i have very well fitting dentures. i like to eat a lot of fruits. love them all. the seal i get with the super poligrip free keeps the seeds from getting up underneath. even well fitting dentures let in food particles. just a few dabs of super poligrip free is clinically proven to seal out more food particles so you're more comfortable and confident while you eat. a lot of things going on in my life and the last thing i want to be thin

in the mean tile, people taking meridia shouldn't panic. the drug isn't going to cause problems necessarily in the immediate sense. you should go to your doctor and talk to your doctor about whether this is the right drug for you. >> appreciate it. thank you. >>> while we are bringing you news from around the world, we are watching what's hot online. >> check this out. she's 68, a grandmother, and she's been growing pot in california since the '70s. we'll be right back. you want some fiber one honey clusters? yeah. you must really care about him. what? you gave him fiber. this tastes way too good to be fiber. they're delicious crunchy clusters with sweet honey and half a day's worth of fiber. you care about my fiber? not really. [ male announcer ] fiber one. i've been looking at the numbers, and i think our campus is spending too much money on printing. i'd like to put you in charge of cutting costs. calm down. i know that it is not your job. what i'm saying... excuse me? alright, fine. no, you don't have to do it. ok? [ male announcer ] no

in a study of 900 people who took meridia, they lost only five to eight pounds but suffered an increase in heart attacks and strokes. the fda suggests it should be pulled from the market or be restricted. i understand people have concerns about the health risk, but at the same time, there are lots of drugs that people have concerns about. >> tomorr the fda will consider an experimental weight loss drug call lorcaseron. it has had feweride effects in clic clinical trials and patients lost 17 pounds a year on that. >>> crews could be just days away from permanently fixing that broke oil well. thad allen said they could be done with that in a few days and then pump cement into the well. the cleanup that spilled from the deepwater horizon is expected to take much longer. >>> if you feel cramped on an airplane, just wait. an italian company unveiled the sky rider this week. the saddle-like seat is onl 20 inches wide. passengers are buckled into a position that is somewhere between sitting and standing. the seats would allow airlines to jam in more passengers. the faa has yet to determi if th

. >>> a drug was banned back in january showing that meridia increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. the fda panel voted 8-8 to pull the drug and it's not clear when the fda will make a final decision. meridia has been marketed in united states since 1997. >>> a report on industrial growth provided a climate wall street needed and the dow finished up by 46 points and nasdaq gained 11. >> antismoking advocates are pushing governor schwarzenegger to do more than help smokers quit and it could also save our state millions of dollars every year. >> reporter: surveys show 70% of smokers do want to quit. >> i have tried to quits 20 times and each time it's an addiction. >> the addiction is extremely difficult and i have struggled for a long time to try to quit. >> within a week or two something happens. i get stressed out and it's easy to go back to its. >> reporter: smoking cessation programs and counseling to work but they could pay off experts say smokers cost, california $8.5 billion a year. one pack of cigarettes cost a smoker about $7 but according to a new analysis a pack of cigare

. >> reporter: meridia is one of only two weight loss medications available by prescription. and it's been on the market for 13 years. but a recent study of 9,000 people over six years raised serious concerns. on average, subjects lost only five pounds and experienced a 16% increase in heart attacks and strokes. the problems follow a long string of diet drugs causing health problems. >> our arsenal is minimal. we have two drugs that we can use, that we can prescribe. >> reporter: despite the failures, drug companies are trying to develop dozens of new medications for a market that could bring in billions a year. but it is a tough challenge. >> when you're dealing with something as profoundly basic as the organism's desire to consume food, it's not all that likely that we're going to be able to find one drug that is able to go to exactly the appetite center and zap it, and not do anything else. >> the risk greatly exceeds the benefit. >> reporter: the fda panel's advice, to pull the diet drug off the market or restrict it, is a huge disappointment to janet gebhart. she says me

abbott doesn't actively promote meridia in the u.s., but global sales will run near $30 million this year. >> tom: the number of college students not paying their student loans is climbing, especially for those attending for-profit schools. the department of education says 7% of borrowers default on federal student loans within two years of beginning repayment. that's up from 6.7% the year before. for-profit default rates are more than 11.5%. those schools are fighting new regulations that would cut off federal aid if too many of their students cannot repay loans. vuu? >> susie: with the mid-term elections just seven weeks away, tonight's commentator is already cheering their end. she's alice rivlin, senior fellow at brookings and former vice-chair of the federal reserve. >> unrealistic expectations caused this deep recession. people who should have known better believed housing prices would never go down, bad loans packaged in fancy securities would become sound investments, and borrowed money never had to be repaid. but when fantasies evaporated and the economy crashed, common sens

. >>> heads up if you take the diet drug meridia. an advisory panel to the fda is trying to get it pulled from the market, or at least restricted. a group warns that the risks of meridia outweigh the benefits. in a study of 9,000 people who took it, patients lt an average of 5 to pounds, but a 16% increase in heart attack and strokes. >>> for eight pounds of weight loss, that's quite a high risk to take. >> i understand that people have concerns about the health risks. but at the same time, the are lots of drugs that people have concerns about. >> the fda is now considering an experimental weight loss drug that has fewer side effects in clinical trials and patients lost an average of 17 pounds a year >>> well, lawmakers from both parties are expected to put asi their different views on health care today and join together for a good cause. msnbc' "morning joe" program will host a bipartisan health challenge down on the national mall. the event will beginat 8:30 this morning with mika's walk, which will raise awareness about obesity. i

meridia was shown to increase the chans of heart attack and stroke. that was almost a year ago but there are no guarantees the fda will pull the plug. the increased risk was slight but european regulators pulled meridia off the market in january. >>> coming up next on fox 5 morning news, riders at risk on metro. thieves have their eyes on your i-pods and cell phones. we'll show you how not to become a victim. >>> we'll bring you latest on today's weather forecast. tucker hard at work. and we'll have a look at the tropics as well. quite active out there. julie wright is here. she will have a look at traffic. stay with us. fox 5 morning news will be right back. n thkeac >>> welcome back. it will be a beautiful day for people to get outside no matter what you are going to do. >> no excuses as far as the weather goes. get outside and vote if have you the opportunity and it is your obligation to do that. what we've got across the region is plenty of sunshine. it will be a little bit breezy later on. right now, the wind are relatively calm. we've got change

the problems with meridia follow a long string of diet drugs causing health problems. >> our arsenal is extremely minimal. we have two drugs that we can use that we can describe. >> reporter: despite the failures, drug companies are still trying to develop dozens of medications for a market that could bring in billions a year but it is a tough challenge. >> when you're dealing with something as profoundly basic as the organisms desire to consume food, it's not all that likely that we're going to be able to find one drug that is able to go to exactly the appetite center and zap it and not do anything else. >> the risk greatly exceeds the benefit. >> reporter: the fda panel's advice, to pull the diet drug off the market or severely restrict it is a huge disappointment to janet gepha t gephardt. she said it helped her to lose a lot of weight. >> i understand that people have concerns about the health risks, but at the same time there are lots of drugs that people have concerns about. >> reporter: lately attention has turned to two newly improved devices which use lasers or freeze fat ce

. >> well, heads up you take the diet drug meridia. an advisory panel to the fbi is trying to get it pulled from the market, or at least restricted. the group warns the risks of meridia outwie the drug's benefits. in a study of 5,000 people who took meridia, patients lost five to eight pounds but experienced a 16% increase in heart attacks and strokes. the fda is nowonsidering an experimental weight loss drug that has fewer side effects in clinical trials, and patients lost an average of 17 pounds a year. >>> 6:27is your time now. 67 degrees. where a man tried to rob a woman while she was just sitting in traffic. >> we're also live on the scene of breaking news in prince george's county where three people died in a violent collision between an suv and an ambulance. >> the cost of the metro line extension to dulles is taking off. and how the cost may be passed to you. america saves on dunkin', amer, with three freshly baked bagel twists for only $3, like our delicious new tomato basil or sweet chocolate chip, so grab three for 3 today.

questions about meridia's safety led regulators in europe to pull it off the market in january and a food and drug administration advisory panel is going to review the drug later on this month. >>> a bay area high school sponsored emergency blood drive in honor of fremont police officer critically injured in the line of duty. it all took place at santa clara high school yesterday officer todd young's alma mater. not only he did graduate there but two of his children attend the school. his wife and mother work for the school district. the principal let kids get time off from class to donate. >> it's because he was from the community and is helping a cause -- it's for a specific cause. >> officer young has undergone three surgeries requiring more than 100 units of blood. he is listed in serious but stable condition at highland hospital. >>> 5:50. coming up, new stuff, new services, but the biggest news apple announced, it's what you can do with tv shows. >> and you think our traffic in the bay area is bad sometimes? check this out. we'll tell you what's causing this miles long backup i

one possible recommendation would be to pull meridia off the market. another would be to strengtn its warning label. tomorrow the advers will consider whether a new diet drug should be approved. >>> time nor for -- we have a lesson in the kitchen to make everybody hungry. >> here's an easy way to make delicious almond cookies. >> i'm from the "washington post." this is quick bites. we have a big cookie for you. the temperature he been dipping which for those of us who like to bake mean we can finally turn on our ovens again. what we call an almond sheri cookie. what you do is you make a very simple dough that has almond flour and regular flour and butter and almond extract and vanilla and sugar and you sort of loosely pack it in there. it sort of come together in the oven. sometimes it can be a little tricky getting these out. i'm going to show you one of my tricks. you justÑi take a glass. you can also he's a tall can of tomatoes or anhing that has at least for or five inches tall. you set the tart on it. you let the ring kind of fall away. so you br

it's a study about the drug called meridia. a live look at spaghetti junction. by my ,,,,,, [ ehrlich ] annapolis -- if they have their way, we're facing a mountain of debt and a massive tax increase. employers will continue to leave our state, taking their jobs with them. the next four years will impact the next decade, so we've put together a road map to 2020. a plan that brings jobs back to maryland by reducing spending and lowering taxes. let's make the maryland we love not just good, but great. now let's get down to work. >>> they have something to say. we'll find out. >> just what it is. >> what's on their mind in a while. coming up, how safe are diet drugs an fda advisory panel has to decide today whether to endorse a controversial new weight loss bill. some experts are concerned about its safety and others say it is all right. our dr. jennifer ashton will be along to explain the issues and concerns surrounding diet pills. >>> also an unsettling statistic in august alone 339,000 u.s. homes hit with foreclosure, up 4%. according to a new study one in three

. >>> the weight loss drug meridia became popular in 1997, but concerns that it can increase the risk of heart problems in certain people has an fda advisory panel deciding if the drug should stay on the market. >> if though don't remove the drug entirely, they will probably put significant limitations or warnings on the drug. >> reporter: a study this year found in over weight people with diabetes or heart disease, meridia raised the risk of heart attack or stroke 16%. it is already banned in europe and earlier this year the drug's maker advised doctors not to prescribe the pills to patients with cardiovascular disease. this doctor has advised the manufacturer. >> this is for those that have a significant amount of weight to lose. >> reporter: many believe it comes with too much risk. this month the new england journal of medicine wrote, it is difficult to discern a credible rational for keeping this on the market. >> most physicians would agree a 5-8-pound weight loss isn't worth any risk, much less significant risk of cardiovascular disease. >> reporter: the advisory committee coul

libras, le vamos a decir, lo problemas que podrían tener, al regresar --la pildora para perder peso "meridia" podria ser sacada del mercado.--esto se debe a que diversos estudios realizados por expertos del gobierno durante el ultimo año demostraron que incrementa el riesgo de ataque cardiaco y derrame cerebral.--el iercoles, un incrementa el riego de ataque cardiaco y dame centro obrar el miércole harán la recomendación final, pese la evidencia podría reducirse a que se agreguen advertencia en el amo pa que de productos. >>> un reportero lleva añ informando a público la mejor ruta para los embotellamiento. >>> lo hace monitoreando la frecuencia de la policía y recibiendo montones de llamada, para saber conde hay problema. >>> ahora querer viajar por todos estados unidos para que vean que no hay imposible. >>> dicen que

meridia is prescribed by many doctors treating obese patients. >>> those looking to lose an inch here and there can try a new treatment that's been just approved by the fda. >> it freezes flab and helps people look much leave leaner. as diana alvear reports, it is a koz met i can procedure and not a cure for obesity. >> reporter: a runner, nick could never get rid of his love handles. so he turned to zeltique. here he is before and after the procedure. >> i like the results. i really do. >> reporter: here's how it works. technicians use a gel patch to get a good connection on the fat. >> no pain or anything like that. it's like putting a clothes pin on your side. >> reporter: it freezes the fat cells, causing them to self-destruct and be reabsorbed into the oddy. another mkt, zarona, is a low-powered laser that is aimed at trouble spots, causing the fat cells to collapse in a matter of weeks. >> this is a big deal. it's the first time the fda has cleared a non-invasive fat reduction technology. >> reporter: former dancer lisa petaniak spent $1500 to have some of her excess fat frozen.

. >> the drug meridia could be linked to heart failure. and now an fda panel is split right down the middle with what exactly to do with this appetite suppressant. here now is dr. richard besser. >> reporter: the concerns voiced are just the latest chapter in a long quest for a safe and effective weight loss drug. more than 68% of adults are overweight or obese. a leading risk factor for diabetes and heart disease. a safe and effective weight loss pill could save lives but has been an elusive goal for researchers. >> watch out. if someone is promising something so powerful, so magic it can cause you to lose weight, it probably has other consequences. >> reporter: but why has it been so difficult for scientists to find this magic combination? here's how it works. the chemicals that regulate appetite, called neurotransmitters, also regulate blood pressure, heart rate, mood, and critical body fufrpgss. scientists so far have been unable to create a drug that doesn't impact on these other areas. surgery is still the treatment with most clear r

. >>> heads up if you take the diet drug meridia. an advisory panel to the fda is trying to get it pulled from the market, or at least restricted. the group warns that the risks of meridia outweigh the benefits. in a study of 9,000 people who took it, patients lost an average of 5 to 8 pounds but experienced a 16% increase in het attacks and strokes. >>> for eight pounds of weight loss, that's quite a high risk to take. >> i underand that people have coerns about the health risks. but at the same time, there are lots of drugs that people have concerns about. >> the fdas now considering an exerimental weight loss drug that has fewer side effects in clinical trials and patients lost an average of 17 pounds a year. >>> well, lawmakers from both parties are expected to put aside their different views on health care tay and join together for a good cause. msnbc's "morning joe" program will host a bipartisan health challenge down on the national mall. the event will begin at 8:30 this morning with mika's lk, which will raise awareness abou

fda has posted a safety review on line of the drug meridia. the date of release showed patients had a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. they pulled it in january and wanted outside experts to consider. >> americans are washing hands more often in public restrooms. experts secretly observed people in public restrooms in four cities including san francisco. they found 85% of people wash their hands and 77% from 2007. one thing hasn't changed, men are still, shall we say more careless with hygiene. 23% of men failed to wash compared to 7% of women. >> meteorologist mike nicco has more. >> not you of course, you wash. >> i was wondering how you were copping to me with that one. >> let's move on and talk if we can clean the sky of some of these clouds making for a beautiful picture with the low clouds hanging around the bay. some of the high clouds rolling in on the jetstream which is flying overhead. take one more perfect speck i have to looking to downtown san francisco. valleys would clear out by noon and the bay will clear out around 2:00

meridia is already banned in europe. the drug's maker says the product is safe for people who do not have heart disease. >>> also, a new study shows there could be a link between heart problems and personality. research shows that people with a type d personality have a three times higher risk of getting artery disease or having a heart attack. elizabeth, you know what that is? >> no. never heard of type d. >> these people tend to have higher levels of anxiety, pessimism and depression. interesting. >> what's type b type b and c? >> we'll figure it out. >>> 6:21. search results in an instant. >> that's right. google it. cnet' brian tong joins us with the pros and cons of google's new search tool. ,,,, not that long ago, many families were priced out of an overheated housing market. but the times have changed. get the facts at remax.com. today, the dream of owning a home seems more attainable than ever. nobody sells more real estate than re/max. visit remax.com today. activia is better than ever! hey, you guys. want to tr

fda has posted a safety review on line of the drug meridia. the date of release showed patients had a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. they pulled it in january and wanted outside experts to consider. >> americans are washing hands more oft in public restrooms. experts secretly observed people in public restrooms in four cities including sa francisco. they found 85% of people wash their hands and 77% from 2007. one thing hasn't changed, men are still, shall we say more careless wh hygiene. 23% of men failed to wash compared to 7% of women. >> meteorologist mike nicco has more. >> not you of course, you wash. >> i was wondering how you were copping to me with that one. >> let's move on and talk if we can clean the sky of some of these clouds making for a beautiful picture with the low clouds hanging aound the bay. some the high cloud rolling in on the jetstream which is flying overhead. take one more perfect spk i have to looking to downtown san francisco. valleys would clear out by noon and the bay will clear out around 2:00. you can se

meridia is already banned in europe. the drug's maker says the product is safe for people who do not have heart disease. >>> 5:49. silicon valley on the cutting edge of technology and art. right now, you can express yourself in a very big way with pictures, posts or even old- fashioned speech. kiet do has more from san jose on what you can expect at this year's zero one sj festival. >> reporter: it is fleeting, interactive and electronic. it's public art silicon valley style. >> i'm interested in seeing what kind of conversation happens. who knows. >> reporter: starting now through sunday it's being projected on the side of santana row's newest four-story building in san jose. the premise is simple: answer the question, what is your dream for the future? users can draw their answer using a smart phone and a short time later the 30-foot image appears. >> when you put it in space and you start seeing the other people around you doing that kind of thing, it changes the way you interpret it and it changes the interrer action

. >>> the future of the popular weight loss drug meridia is in question today. they are split over whether the drug should be pulled from the market over health risks. joining me life is nbc chief science correspondent robert bazell. good day to you. what is the fda panel saying, and what does it mean to people now taking meridia? the fda panel is saying there's a potential danger to the drug and not much use. this is more of a bullet than a imagine ill bullet. the reason is there was a big study. this drug has been on the market for 1 years. there was a study that showed only the average weight loss was five pounds and a 16% increase in heart attacks and strokes. it doesn't look like it has much of a future. half the panel members voted to take it off. among the others, most of them voted if they leave it onto have strict restrictionsing on the sales. >> we've been talking a lot about the devices, pills, what have you to help people lose weight. there's a new one with lasers and freezing fat. how viable is this procedure? is it widely available? >> i think it's

there is a safety review online of the drug meridia on the market since 1997. data released last year showed patients had a 1% higher risk of heart tack and stroke. regulators pulled it in january, fda will ask outside experts to consider whether to do the same. >> when we come back tonight, oprah was the place to be at 4:00. >> big, surprising start to her 25th the black widow spider's severe bite can cause coma and even death. the african black mamba can kill a man with one bite. but there's an even deadlier predator cigarettes, produced by big tobacco, which take a life every six point five seconds. don't be big tobacco's next victim. you can see barbara boxer. she fought to get our veterans the first full combat care center in california. her after school law's keeping a million kids off the street and out of gangs. and she's fighting every day to create new jobs. boxer: i'm working to make california the leader in clean energy, to jump-start our small businesses with tax credits and loans, to create thousands more california jobs. i'm barbara boxer and i a

there are big concerns about meridia's safety. elizabeth cohen joins us now from atlanta with the details. elizabeth, what is the concern about this drug? >> candy, the concerns about this drug may might be linked to heart attacks and strokes. there was an italian study that came out recently that has some people worried. they compared people on meridia to people on a placebo. the risk was 11%, with placebo, 10%. it was still a difference. the fda holding hearings to see if it ought to be pulled off the market or have stronger warnings on the labels or anything like that. abbott labs that makes it, they say, hey, in the italian study the patients were having heart problems to begin with so they say that the study results aren't valid because they shouldn't have been taking it to begin with. candy? >> so, elizabeth, 10% and 11% when you're comparing the p placebo and the drug and occurs to me don't you have to weigh the risk of being overweight and the same risk, strokes and heart attacks. >> that's true. you have to put that in th

all right, first, can we talk about meridia, first? >> yeah. >> what do we know about that? because there is new information about it. >> first of all, harry, when you talk about a weight loss medication, the first rule in medicine always is do no harm. >> do no harm. >> exactly. so, especially with this population, the obese, the overweight, they are already a population at risk, as we know. >> all kinds of stuff. >> for heart disease, stroke, and such. so, when you look at a drug like meridia, the question then becomes, risk versus benefit. >> right. >> and so a recent study published in the "new england journal of medicine" actually found patients who took the drug lost an average of 8.8 pounds, which is modest, to say the least. remember, we are talking about people -- >> who have a lot of weight to lose. >> 50 pounds or more to lose and conservatively found an 16% increased risk for heart attack, stroke and death, even in young people. >> right. >> so, that's what the panel was looking at, dot benefits outweigh the risk. >> and the fda has to make an decision then, a de

in our "health alert" -- federal health officials are considering whether to pull off meridia from the market. the diet pill has been sold since 1997 but data last november showed an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. european regulators pulled the drug off the market in january. >>> 5:36. first lady michelle obama is looking to restaurant owners for her help in the crusade against childhood obesity. she met with the national restaurant association encouraging them to provide healthier options to children. >> start showing that obese toddlers already display some warning signs for heart disease. it's clear that we just don't have the time to waste. >> the first lady even gave restaurant owners a few tips including replacing sides such as fries with fruit or cooking with wheat pasta instead of white. >>> we have a frightening ordeal for a store clerk. >> stay with us. a car plows into a building. what caused the crash. >> you're looking at dramatic home video of the deadly gas explosion in california. >> first, before you head anywhere let's go to the mta's mark jones to see h

she says meridia helped her. >> i understand people have concerned about the health risks, but at the same time, there are lots of drugs that people have concerns about. >> reporter: lately attention has turned to two newly approved devices which use lasers or freeze fat cells to contour the body at a cost up to $3,000. another approach but no magic bullet for weight loss. robert bazell, nbc news, new york. >>> when we come back, another health issue. the latest place where we're told the bed bugs are biting in this country. it's just so frustrating. the middle of this special moment and i need to run off to the bathroom. i'm fed up with always having to put my bladder's needs ahead of my daughter. so today i'm finally talking to my doctor about overactive bladder. [ female announcer ] if you're suffering, today is the day to talk to your doctor and ask about prescription toviaz. one toviaz pill a day significantly reduces sudden urges and accidents all day and all night. plus, toviaz comes with a simple plan with tips on food and drink choices. if you have certain stomach problems or

the food and drug administration advisory panel is split over the future of meridia. the studies show the popular diet drug increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. those who voted to keep the drug said it should come with warnings and restricted distribution. the fda is expected to make the decision in the coming weeks. >>> illegal drug use is once again on the rise. the latest increase in use is fueled by a sharp increase in marijuana and methamphetamine abuse. it has surged to the highest level in nearly a decade. the government report found marijuana use rose by 8% while cocaine use is dropping. >>> in other living well news. being popular could come at a price. getting the flu early. a new study shows popular people get sick on average two weeks before their less popular friends. researchers believe being the center of attention exopodses you to more germs and say it pieing -- identifying the popular people could be a useful tool in preventing the flu. >>> he's a popular guy, an award-winning actor becomes the face of a new program aimed at keeping youngs

the fda is considering stopping paelz of meridia. data released last year showed patients with heart disease taking the drug had more than 11% risk of cardiovascular problems. later this month an fda advisory panel will address whether to keep it on the market. >>> well, coming up, we're going back to san bruno. the ntsb briefed the community. we'll have an update. as governor, he cut waste got rid of the mansion and the limo budgets were balanced. $4 billion in tax cuts. world class schools and universities. clean energy promoted. 1.9 million new jobs created. california was working. i'm jerry brown. california needs major changes. we have to live within our means; we have to return power and decision making to the local level-closer to the people and no new taxes without voter approval. jerry brown the knowledge and know-how to get california working again. >>> now the latest from san bruno. pg&e set up to a $100 million fund to help victims of last week's deadly gas explosion. that fund will be available to help residents rebuild

a split decision by a panel inside the fda about whether to pull meridia off the market. we asked dr. richard besser to tell us why the great hope of diet pills seems to be struggling and does anything work? >> reporter: the concerns voiced today are just the latest chapter in a long quest for a safe and effective weight loss drug. more than 68% of adults are overweight or obese. a leading risk factor for diabetes and heart disease. a safe and effective weight loss pill could save lives, but has been an illusive thing for researchers. >> watch out. if someone is promising something that is so powerful, so magic that can cause you to lose weight, it probably has other consequences. >> reporter: but why has it been so difficult for scientists to find this magic combination? here's how it works. the chemicals that regulate appetite, called neurotransm neurotransmitt neurotransmitters, also regular blood pressure, heart rate, mood and other critical body functions. scientists have so far been unable to create a drug that doesn't impact on other areas. surgery is still the tre

they have posted a safety review online on the drug meridia. data released late last year that patients had a 1 percent higher risk of heart attack and stroke. european regulators pulled the drug in january. they will ask whether other places should do the same. >> we continue to follow breaking news that u.c. berkeley graduate shair ra shourd has been released in line. >> and if pg&e is liable for the san bruno disaster, why could do customers have to help pay the bill? more a bill that regulators are considering that would require customers to pay for some of the costs. >> no airport delays, much of the nation, quiet and comfortable. storms will break out today in kansas city and also west of st. louis with clouds around chicago. otherwise, we're looking like a very quiet pattern throughout much of the country, check out our website at www.abc7.com.x ♪ everywhere i go... ♪ i'll pass it on, ♪ and on...and on...and on... edible arrangements. happiness is always in season. visit, call or go to ediblearrangements.com. [ female announcer ] t

it backed off of the support of meridia, saying risks outweigh the benefits. >> talking about the forecast because don't let today fool you. you get lulled into the fall feeling. >> the interesting thing, this is the last weekend of summer coming up officially. we move into fall on the 22nd, but look what's happening here on the satellite. the clouds offshore, that pattern we are seeing right now looks more like november than september. the clouds way offshore will spill closer to the bay area and that makes a dent late tomorrow. today is gorgeous. 80 degrees and we should be warmer today than for the next five days. for the east bay, being looking at highs in the low 70s and upper and mid 70s for orinda and mid 80s around fairfield, but the weekend is a different story. looks like showers for the north bay and pushing south as far as san jose sunday morning and the showers get out of here by monday. cooler as we move through the weekend. kind of a strange pattern change through the coming weekend. >> thanks. >> hopefully it's not strange out. >> the back up is there going back towards the

. >>> advisers to the food and drug administration voted to take controversial diet drug meridia off the market. the drug has been sold in the u.s. for more than a decade n t it has been linked to higher rates of heart attack and stroke in patients with heart disease. tomorrow, the advisers will consider whether a new diet drug should be approved. >>> and doreen gentzler joins us with a look at what's coming up at 6:00. >> hello again. coming up at 6:00, u.s. state department official are using twitter to try to persuade the president of iran to release those two american hikers who were still being held on spy charges there. scar waird winning actor denzel washington come to d.c.ith a message for students. we'll tell you about that. and proof that a mother cannot resist an abandoned baby. wait until you see this. those stori and more coming up. >> which one is different? >> wait until you see. >>> thank you. >>> still ahead, we've got a story the parents may want to check out. >> why researchers say kids who spend a lot of time in front of the computer may hey, ove, i'm gonna need a