WASHINGTON: US regulators on Tuesday approved a new drug called Qsymia to boost weight loss in obese and overweight people - the second such drug to reach the US market in 13 years.

“Qsymia, used responsibly in combination with a healthy lifestyle that includes a reduced-calorie diet and exercise, provides another treatment option for chronic weight management in Americans,” said Janet Woodcock, director of the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.