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Smoke, Weight Pill Hailed as 'Miracle'

Researchers proclaim that a new drug tackles two nagging health issues at once: smoking and obesity. The drug, still being studied, appears to double the chances of quitting smoking while also allowing people to lose weight. The medicine controls the urges by blocking the same circuits in the brain that make pot smokers hungry. NPR's Patricia Neighmond reports.

Copyright 2004 NPR

Award-winning journalist Patti Neighmond is NPR's health policy correspondent. Her reports air regularly on NPR newsmagazines All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and Weekend Edition.