Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc faces a pivotal test on Thursday as U.S. government advisers consider whether to back the company's weight-loss pill amid questions about tumors in rats and other health problems reported in studies.

While acromegaly usually does not make adults tall giants as gigantism do in children, it comes with a host of other health problems.

About 54 percent of Ventura County's adult residents were overweight or obese in 2007, according to a new UCLA report.

Excessive amounts of sodium can increase the risk of health problems during childhood, such as early on-set hypertension, diabetes and other risk factors.

But the main health problems may actually be hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and depression.