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This week in FDA history.This weekly feature from 2006, the FDA's centennial year, highlights history and progress in the agency's first 100 years.A sampling of significant events in the Food and Drug Administration's first 100 years.
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September 15, 1997:
The two manufacturers of the popular, off-label obesity combination therapy known as fen-phen, have agreed to a voluntary withdrawal. Recent reports demonstrated a large proportion of patients taking these drugs exhibited abnormal echocardiograms, which could indicate adverse effects on the heart — even though they lacked other symptoms.
 

FDA in 2006
In 2004 the FDA launched a major campaign to address the growing obesity epidemic in the United States. Through this initiative, the FDA is working with public health partners to educate the public about how to make wise dietary choices and teach people, particularly children, how to lead healthier lives through better nutrition. Other goals are: improving the labeling of packaged foods to provide better information on calorie content;
encouraging restaurants to provide nutrition information to consumers, including information on calories; developing new therapeutics for the treatment of obesity; and designing and conducting effective research in the fight against obesity. An FDA-supported study completed in May 2006 focuses on improving consumers' ability to manage calorie intake from foods prepared and purchased away from home.

More information on weight loss

More information on fen-phen

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