A once rejected weight loss pill has won overwhelming endorsement from public health advisers, raising hopes the Vivus Inc. drug could become the first anti-obesity medication to reach the U.S. market in more than a decade.

The highly-anticipated weight-loss pill, Qnexa, may cause heart problems and birth defects in pregnant women, U.S. officials say, as the drug goes for FDA approval.

Pregnant women who are overweight and obese can safely reduce their weight by eating a healthy diet to reduce the risks of complications for themselves and their baby.