Photo: Darren Hester, Flickr

Some weight loss drugs help you slim down but may cost you your health -- and other products don't even work at all. But there is some promise in a new drug in development that can not only help you lose weight, but can also help treat serious complications of obesity, specifically diabetes and high cholesterol. In recent studies on mice, fatostatin, as it is currently known, led to weight loss of 12 percent, reduction in blood sugar levels of 70 percent, reversal of diabetes and lower cholesterol. According to the findings from Chemistry & Biology, "Fatostatin blocked increases in body weight, blood glucose, and hepatic (liver) fat accumulation in (genetically) obese mice, even under uncontrolled food intake."

As for how it works? In a nutshell, Fatostatin stops the body from producing fat -- it's released as energy instead. It works by effectively 'turning off' proteins that help control fat synthesis.

OK, it's one thing to help mice lose weight -- past experience has proved that what works on a mouse doesn't always work on a human. So can it do the same for us? "I am very, very optimistic," lead author Sahil Wakil tells MSNBC. So are we -- but I'm hoping most of us are taking steps to change our lives today instead of holding out for a so-called miracle drug that's years away.

Wondering how to slim down? Find out how Phylicia Rashad did it.

Wynonna Judd is singing the weight loss blues ... or rather the reds, blues, golds and greens of the alli© logo. She's signed on as spokesperson for the weight loss drug.

Judd is part of a long-list of celebs who have lent their names and faces to weight loss products. Jenny McCarthy once touted Weight Watchers, and Phylicia Rashad is the latest celeb speaking for Jenny Craig. Regarding alli, Judd said "I've considered every diet under the sun, but so many of them wanted me to be something I'm not and do things I knew were not healthy for me. Then I discovered alli. With the alli program, I'm learning how to make and maintain healthier lifestyle choices. It keeps me honest with myself and allows me to set realistic goals."

That's great, Wynonna. But I've got one question. Why do you need alli to do all that? You can make healthier choices and set realistic goals without a pill.

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The old weight-loss-in-a-pill wish. I think most of us who have a few pounds to lose have wished it could be that easy from time to time. And when you watch the commercials on TV, they certainly make it seem like magic. Think about it -- one second an overweight person is pictured and the next second -- BAM! -- that very same person is thin and somehow tanner and more smiley. What a miracle, right? Not only do the pills help you lose weight, they must also make you tanner, happier and give you better hair. Who wouldn't want some of that magic?

Unfortunately, it's not that easy. Weight loss requires work and a commitment to a healthier lifestyle. And, while some weight loss pills undoubtedly do help, there are associated risks. Jacki recently told us about the risks with some of the more popular weight-loss medications, most of which are available by prescription only. But a lot of the lesser known medications can be risky, too.

The FDA listed 28 weight loss products that contain hidden -- and potentially harmful -- ingredients. No, thank you. Check out the gallery for more tried and true ways to shed pounds.

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When a food item becomes a health trend, it starts popping up everywhere -- from energy drinks to sodas to diet pills, sometimes even in shampoo. Acai is one of the more recent nutrition trends ... but is it worth all of the fuss?

According to Dr. Mehmet Oz, acai berries are rich in antioxidants and are a very nutritious food. However, Dr. Oz states that acai is as good as any other healthful food, not any better. One reporter and her husband decided to try out the acai diet -- he took capsules and she used a powdered drink mix. Not only was it expensive, the drink was gritty, and neither saw any weight loss results. And the cleansing drink that came with the acai diet was completely gag-inducing.

The lesson here is to not go overboard. When nutrition news hits the media, the marketing folks clamor on board and try to sell as many products as possible based on very limited science. Acai is a great food to incorporate into your diet but if you're expecting it to help you magically drop excess pounds, cure disease and unclog your kitchen sink, you're going to be sorely disappointed.

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If you have a slice of delicious cake, would you think it's OK to chow down the whole cake in one sitting? Of course not. Common sense would tell you that a whole cake is just too much. Unfortunately, when it comes to health advice, not everybody uses common sense.

I recently wrote a post about the benefits vitamin D can have on heart health. That's only one of the perks of vitamin D that has been in the press lately. Now many people -- buying into the vitamin D kick hook, line and sinker -- are buying high-dosage vitamin D supplements from pharmacies and health food stores.

There is no science that says high doses of vitamin D are necessary. And why waste your money on a supplement when vitamin D is so readily available from other sources? Sunlight is your best source, but again, it's important to be reasonable. You don't want to spend too much time in the sun without the protection of sunblock, so a few short 10-15 minute walks outside each week will do. Vitamin D is also available in fortified foods such as milk, some cereals, and orange juice, and it's naturally found in salmon and other oil-rich fish.

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Skyrocketing childhood obesity rates have an unwanted side effect -- more kids are being put on prescription medications to combat related chronic diseases.

A recent study revealed there have been surges in prescriptions for children with diabetes and asthma as well as smaller increases in high blood pressure and high cholesterol medications. To varying degrees, obesity can play a role in all of those conditions. While some of the medication increase can be attributed to modified guidelines, the rise is concerning.

If your child is overweight, there are many positive, supportive ways you can help. AOL Health has other suggestions for battling childhood obesity.

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I'm curious about how Victoria Beckham stays so skinny. I'm not alone. The media has long speculated about how Posh maintains her rail thin body. Well, it's not from diet pills, says the superstar, who will sue the U.K. magazine NOW over an article claiming she's hooked on them (and sex too).

Says the Brit's agent: "The accusation is dangerous, defamatory and blatantly untrue. Victoria takes her position as a role model to young women very seriously and is horrified by this hurtful, fabricated story. It is now with her lawyers."

Now's story claimed that the former Spice Girl's sister has been getting the pills for her in Britain and then shipping them to the U.S.

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It's time that we stop being so hard on ourselves. While it is true that our cardiovascular health as a country is suffering as a result of our collectively expanding waistlines, it turns out that the reasons behind this girth of a nation may not be entirely our fault. Here are some factors, listed in Women's Health magazine ( I just read it for the articles, I swear) that may be playing a part in our fitness:

1 - Pollution: Certain chemicals, such as the by-products of manufacturing processes, that are floating around in our water and air supply (not the band) can mimic or block hormones. This can potentially lead to weight gain.

2 - Indoor Climate Regulation: Air conditioners in the summer and home heating systems provide our body with the luxury of not having to warm-up or cool-down. That same "luxury" also prevents us from burning more calories as a result.

3 - Pill Poppin': It's been found that antidepressants, antihistamines, contraceptives, and a number of other medications may affect metabolism, hormone levels and/or appetite. Needless to say, this all adds up to more weight gain.

So, as I said, the extra baggage around your midsection may not entirely be your fault. The operative word there, however, is "entirely." This means that in spite of how the above mentioned factors may or may not actually affect your weight, following a healthy diet and regular exercise program remains paramount.

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If you recently received some medications in pill form (among others) from your doctor, did they work to help solve the medical malaise you were facing? If so, did you know those could have been placebo pills. In essence, sugar pills or "nothing" pills?

A survey was released last week stated that many doctors give patients placebos. In fact, three Chicago-area medical centers saw a 50% positive response rate from physicians who said they use placebos with some patients. Is this legal? Ethical? Brilliant?

It's the age-old "mental treatment" that's been around in medical schools for a very long time. The simple act of administering treatment can cause patient effects before any biological assistance from drugs or otherwise has even had time to work.

Is this the correct thing to do when a patient 'needs' some drug they saw on television in unjustified fashion or when a doctor simply wants to calm down an overactive patient in his office? That remains to be seen, as there is no law against administering placebos. What do you believe?

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Wish you could get fit without having to do all that pesky working out? I doubt you're alone -- lots of people are looking for a 'quick fix', something that will help them get healthy without actually having to change the unhealthy habits that they're so fond of.

So here's some news that might interest you: Researchers are looking into how to give people the benefits of exercise in a pill form. The pill, which is a concentrated form of Resveratrol, can potentially give you the same metabolic boost that a workout can, and it's been shown to ward off diseases in mice much like exercise does.

But is replacing exercise with this 'pill' a good idea? I think not. Seriously people, what's wrong with getting off the couch and going to the gym every once and a while? You'll feel great if you do -- I promise. So stop with the excuses and do something good for your body -- the hard way.

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Another study from Europe concluded that the long-term use of oral birth control pills may contribute to the chances of having heart disease later in life.

Well, many studies need confirmation (many times) before what they put forward is taken as gospel, but with an estimated 100 million women across the globe on the pill, this is quite a far-reaching issue.

The existing problems with blood clot formation and high blood pressure are well-known for those on the pill, and further heart problems may just be a result of those issues alone. Still, do you feel safe taking the pill as a form of birth control? Why or why not?

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Can you remember the exact names of all the drugs you're taking? If you can, you're one of the few -- a new study shows that many people think they are giving the correct name of their prescription drugs when, in fact, they're not. 40% of people couldn't accurately name the drugs they were on, and this number jumped to 60% in people with low health literacy.

Obviously, this is a very serious matter. Doctor's will need to know with complete accuracy what drugs their patients on -- both in emergency situations and when they are prescribing addition medications.

So if you're on a number of prescription drugs right now, make sure you know what they are -- your life could depend on it.

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Researchers reported this week that a migraine headache pill may be able to assist alcoholics in curbing their drinking habits without going into full detox mode using other methods that can be hit-or-miss.

For those suffering from alcoholism and have had no luck with quitting cold turkey (or otherwise detoxing yourself), this may hold new hope if in fact it works.

Topamax, a drug used to treat migraine headaches, was tied to alcoholics who quit drinking for seven weeks or more -- to the tune of 15 percent of all alcoholic subjects that participated in the study. The downside is that the drug costs an estimated $350 per month plus the costs of doctor's visits.

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Just what we need, another weight loss pill. I really think less money needs to be spent on drugs and quick fixes and more on education and making healthy options more readily available. So I'm not upset that we may have to wait longer than expected for Lorcaserin, the latest weight loss medication from Arena Pharmaceuticals. The delay is to assure that heart side-effects (Lorcaserin is a descendant of Redux) aren't an issue and there won't be a repeat of past disasters.

Arena Pharmaceuticals is confident they've found and fixed the problem and that Lorcaserin is safe, but we've all heard that before.

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It's said time and time again: Fad dieting is a no-no. And yet someone must be buying into the fads because their still around and their makers are raking in the cash. So in case you're still not convinced, Fitsugar has put together a list of the 5 most dangerous things about fad diets:

• Lack of a balanced diet, or cutting out food groups all together, will lead to nutritional deficiencies
• The lack of variety causes boredom, and based on my experiences with friends on fad diets, extreme moodiness -- yikes!
• The emphasis is on the diet -- it doesn't account for how important exercise is'
• Severely restricting food intake can make it harder to maintain healthy eating habits afterwards.
  
• Many are based on unsubstantiated claims that can prove to be useless or even harmful.
  

What's more, long-term weight-loss requires a full lifestyle change, and that's not likely to come from following the cabbage soup diet for a few weeks. It's better to make small, healthy changes in your everyday life -- changes that you can live with in the long-run.

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