VIVUS, Inc. (VVUS), Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ARNA), and How Doctors Actually Diagnose Obesity

Waist circumference has been shown to relate to these, but it’s something we can identify with. As a field, we’re starting to look at that. We know if you have a certain BMI and you have a certain waist circumference, your risk is much higher.

Now we’re trying to really stratify, how is someone really at risk?

They may be at risk metabolically. They may have these conditions that we talked about, like diabetes or high blood pressure. They also may be at risk because their weight is also affecting their mood. They may be depressed or anxious, but it’s also affecting their function, their mobility. They’re not able to walk; they’re feeling short of breath.

We’re trying now to get a better assessment of what are the patients who are at the most risk, versus those who might be 40 pounds overweight but actually not have any of those problems. We’re trying to sort through that right now.

The article How Doctors Actually Diagnose Obesity originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Max Macaluso, Ph.D..

Max Macaluso, Ph.D., and The Motley Fool have no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Dr. Rubino was a clinical investigator for the obesity drugs developed by Arena Pharmaceuticals, VIVUS, and Orexigen Therapeutics, but she has no position in any of the stocks mentioned and no financial relationships with any of the companies mentioned.

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