BRITAIN'S Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is urging people wanting to lose weight to turn to "safe, legitimate and appropriate routes," as part of a campaign against illicit diet tablets.
MHRA said online sellers of potentially dangerous slimming pills containing withdrawn pharmaceutical ingredients are "putting desperate dieters' health at serious risk," by seducing them with promises of quick-fix weight loss and discreet deliveries that bypass discussions with their GP and pharmacist.
The campaign, conducted in partnership with healthy weight loss promoter Slimming World, found one in three dieters had tried pills purchased online.
Of those who bought online, 77% were enticed by promises of rapid weight loss, 57% liked being able to order products discreetly, and 44% ordered online to avoid speaking with a health professional.
However a whopping 63% suffered unpleasant side effects after taking slimming pills bought online, with symptoms including diarrhoea, uncontrolled bleeding, blurred vision and heart problems.
Even more worryingly, 81% failed to report the side effects to anyone.
The MHRA noted that last year it seized over 4.6 million fake medical products, and shut down more than 5,000 websites that were selling medicines illegally.
Consumers looking to purchase medicines online can check if the seller is registered via an online system at gov.uk/fakemeds.
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