Wed Jun 27, 2012 1:13pm EDT

(Reuters) - U.S. health regulators on Wednesday approved Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc's pill to treat obesity, making it the first weight-loss drug in 13 years as public health advocates push for new solutions to the nation's growing obesity epidemic.
Arena's lorcaserin, which will be sold under the brand name Belviq, was one of three experimental new weight-loss drugs seeking Food and Drug Administration approval after initial rejections by the agency. Vivus Inc and Orexigen Therapeutics Inc are also hoping to bring their medicines to market.