This is a pretty interesting article from medheadlines which outlines preliminary steps taken by GSK to apparently control the weight loss supplement industry (see article).  Of course its disclosed that GSK has a stake in this because of their recent release of Alli, the only over the counter (OTC) drug available for weight loss.

What I find interesting is that this would involve declaring being overweight a disease.

There is a huge weight range thats included in that term which doesnt sound appropriate, and could be percieved as culturally specific.   If this generic term is used, it could include a range of weights from morbid obesity which severely impacts people’s health, to those who are only 5-10 lbs overwieght and are quite healthy.   If its a considered a disease to the FDA, what would insurance companies do with that information? I think this is a stretch, but will this crack open the door leading to ‘overweight’ being considered a pre-existing condition to be descriminated against when applying for health insurance? Just a thought.