Orexigen Therapeutics Inc. signed a North American partnership for its experimental obesity drug Contrave with Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. for $50 million and the potential for later payments that could exceed $1 billion.

Orexigen Signs Obesity-Drug Pact With Takeda – WSJ.com

Some families, alas, are fatter than others. But for dieters continually at war with their genes, there’s good news in a study published in this week’s PLoS Medicine: they can burn off 40% of their genetic predisposition to obesity by exercising.

Exercise Can Counteract Obesity Genes, Says Study – TIME

Here is a finding that won’t surprise you: childhood obesity in Canada has risen dramatically in the last generation.

Obesity is a particularly pernicious illness. Children who are obese have higher risks of being obese adults. Children with obesity-related illnesses such as Type 2 (“adult form”) diabetes and high blood pressure are becoming increasingly common.

CBC News – Health – Poor and fat: The link between poverty and obesity in Canadian children