Obesity drug may cure chocolate cravings

Researchers in Italy said the anti-obesity drug rimonabant may help chocoholics end their addiction.

Giancarlo Colombo of the Institute of Neuroscience in Cagliari said mice given a chocolate drip consumed more than a tenth of their body weight in 20 minutes until they were given a dose of rimonabant, ANSA reported Wednesday.

Rimonabant is the first selective CB1 receptor blocker to be approved for use anywhere in the world. In Europe, it is indicated for use in patients with a body mass index greater than 30 or those with risk factors such as type 2 diabetes or dyslipidemia, ANSA said.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

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