Some Weight-Loss Drugs Might Disrupt Brain Growth in Kids

A new class of weight-loss drugs that suppresses appetite by blocking cannabinoid receptors in the brain should be used with caution in children, U.S. scientists report.

In research with mice, they found this class of drugs also suppresses the adaptive rewiring of the brain necessary for neural development in young animals. The findings are in the May 8 issue of Neuron .

One such drug is rimonabant (Acomplia), which was developed by Sanofi-Aventis and is awaiting approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Other pharmaceutical companies are developing similar drugs.

In this study, researchers concluded that a cannabinoid receptor-blocking drug called AM 251 affected experience-dependent cortical ...