Weight-Loss Drug Menace: 1 in 10 Teens Use Over-the-Counter Pill

One in ten teenagers use over-the-counter weight loss products that are harmful and ineffective, reveals a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Global Prevalence of Adolescent Use of Nonprescription Weight-Loss Products

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Global Threat of Weight-Loss Drugs Among Adolescents

Too many adolescents globally have used ineffective and potentially unsafe non-prescribed weight loss products in their lifetime. The research was headed by Ms. Natasha Hall from Monash University's School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.

The study did a meta-analysis that included 90 studies with 604 552 participants and found the prevalence of weight-loss product use in adolescents was 6% overall. In a subgroup analysis of the general adolescent population, the prevalence of weight-loss product use was 2% in the past week, 4% in the past month, 6% in the past year, and 9% in their lifetime.

Almost 1 in 10 adolescents have used ineffective and potentially harmful nonprescribed weight-loss products in their lifetime, suggesting that interventions are required to reduce the use of weight-loss products in this population.

The study found that the use of weight-loss products occurs at high levels in adolescents, especially girls. These findings suggest that, given the ineffectiveness of these products for weight loss coupled with their harmful long-term health consequences, interventions are required to reduce the use of weight-loss products in this group.

Reference:

1. Global Prevalence of Adolescent Use of Nonprescription Weight-Loss Products - (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2813804)

Source-Eurekalert