A wonder pill

Researchers have formulated a pill that helps smokers to kick the habit and lose weight to boot.

Getting rid of smoking and losing weight would now be as easy as popping a pill!

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According to Healthscout, West Virginia University researchers have formulated a pill named Rimonabant that helps smokers to kick the habit and lose weight to boot.

"We tested it totally, two completely different studies, both for smoking and to see how that worked, and independently for obesity -- and it worked like a charm in both," said Elbert D. Glover, a behavioral medicine researcher at the university.

According to Glover, the pill blocks nicotine craving signals to the brain and simultaneously eliminates hunger pangs.

However, he cautions that the pill doesn't stop those urges completely.

"They are all looking for the magic pill and in most cases, you know, it just doesn't do it for you, you have to work at it as well," he said.

Studies carried out showed people on Rimonabant losing an average of 20 pounds a year and that the drug doubled a smoker's chance at quitting for good.

The pill is likely to available as a prescription drug in the market within the next two years.