UK kids taking fat pills up 15 fold in 8 years

	Tweet

The number of young people in the UK taking anti-obesity pills has risen 15 fold in the past 8 years, a study has shown, prompting researchers to underline the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and call for further tests to be done.

A study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology on Thursday estimates that about 1,300 young people in the UK are currently being prescribed the tablets, even though they are not approved for under-18s in the country.

“The key message is that the pill is not magic, the pill is only part of a holistic approach including diet and exercise, said Ian Wong, the lead author of the study.

The drugs work by helping to stop the body absorbing fat, meaning that people can have unpleasant side effects if they do not change their diet at the same time, he said.

The study called for further research into the safety and efficacy of anti-obesity drugs in children and adolescents because of the increase in the numbers taking the drugs.

More than three quarters are getting orlistat, marketed as Xenical by Roche and as Alli by GlaxoSmithKline, according to the study.

LONDON (Reuters)

RELATED STORIES:
Childhood obesity high, rate of insurance falling   A Silent Death   Consumption of sugar substitutes assists in long-term weight control   Toys banned from kids’ fast food in California county   Burning off fat   Dancing helps boys with ADHD   Cell Phones Are Dangerous for Child Pedestrians   Pimecrolimus cream safe for infants with eczema   Medication slows progression of myopia in children   Study shows taste for meat and fish inherited   Link found between teens’ stress levels and acne severity   Overeating to blame for U.S. obesity epidemic

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]