When Belviq was approved by the FDA in 2012, it was the first weight-loss medication to get the green light from the agency in over a decade. Previous weight-loss medications resulted in scandal after they were linked to pulmonary problems. There were similar concerns when Belviq was being approved. In fact, at the time, the nonprofit consumer advocacy group Public Citizen urged the FDA not to approve the drug due to effects on the cardiovascular system.