A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee voted yesterday in favor of an investigational anti-obesity drug. The approval means that it is one step closer to winning over the approval of the agency.

The panel voting included people who specialize in obesity and diabetes as well as pediatric endocrinologists, cardiologists and toxicologists.

According to the company who developed the drug, Arena Pharmaceuticals, the drug acts as an appetite suppressant which in turns will help patients lose weight and helping them to feel less hunger sensations.

This is the second obesity-specific drug to pass this step towards approval by the FDA.

In 2010, either drug didn’t get approved due to safety concerns.

If an anti-obesity drug was passed and available on the market, do you think it would significantly help assist Americans struggling with obesity?