effect of slimming product - Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia

EFFECT OF
SLIMMING PRODUCT
BAHAGIAN PAKAR MAKLUMAT
PERPUSTAKAAN NEGARA MALAYSIA
SOURCES
3.
http://w\V\v. consuI1]~lab"-£9JTI/Lecal1s. aSfl
S.
http://nutreL litmania cOl.n/arti~le htm)
6.
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12.
httpl/216.23 9.3 5~lQD6;Q<ll.c;h?g=cacbeNOM~?H90H14C :w .. .lanorpats.pdf+slimm ing:f12.iJl-"+&bl=
en&ie=UJF~
ConsumerLab.colll- Weight Loss, Slimming, and Diabetes-Management Supplements (Chromium, CLA, an .. Page 3 of4
LonsumerLaO.com purcnasea a IOta I or '115 supplements: I LLA procucts, I chromium
products, 2 pyruvate products, and 2 combination products (one with pyruvate and
chromium and the other containing chromium, Garcinia cambogia, CLA, L-carnitine and
other ingredients) (see How Product§ were Qf;!Elc!EldJ.
One of the pyruvate products failed to pass the review because its labeling did not clearly
indicate the amount of pyruvate in the product and was potentially misleading. The
product name included the words "Pyruvate 1000" but the ingredients indicated that each
tablet, in fact, had 1 ,000 mg of a pyruvate "complex" - meaning that pyruvate accounted
for an unspecified percentage of the 1,000 mg amount. In fact, testing showed the
product to contain only 240 mg of pyruvate per tablet - less than one-quarter of what one
might have expected.
Another pyruvate product also failed to pass the review, because it contained less than
85% of the claimed amount of pyruvate. Consequently, there were no pyruvate-only
products to pass this review - although one pyruvate-chromium combination product did
pass.
One chromium product failed because it had less than 5% of its claimed amount. Such a
reduction in chromium should be of concern to anyone relying on the product for its
potential effect on insulin and blood sugar levels.
Another chromium product met its claim for chromium, but was found to contain
chromium (VI) - the form of chromium associated with toxicity and potential
carcinogenicity. Although only a very small amount was present, chromium (VI) is an
undesirable contaminant. Ironically, the makers of this product seemed aware of the
importance of the different forms of chromium, as this product stated on its label that it
contained the "Trivalent" (safe) form of chromium.
In total, 14 of the 18 products selected to be evaluated passed this review. All products
passed the disintegration testing - which applied only to tablet forms. See Testing
MethQcJ§clrlcJPClS§ing$COrf; for more information about the testing and criteria.
Products That Passed Testing:
Listed alphabetically below by name are the examples of some of the products that
passed ConsumerLab.com's independent testing of dietary supplements containing
chromium, CLA, and/or pyruvate. Also shown are the claimed concentrations of these
ingredients. The full list of ingredients is available for
h
d t b li ki
th r k t th
d f it
ea pro uc Jy c IC mq on e In a
e en a I s row.
CONSUMERLAB.COM APPROVED QUALITY CHROMIUM, CLA, AND/OR
PYRUVATE PRODUCTS
Click on .Ii for additional information on the product
Product Name
ManufacturerlDistributor
Full List of
and Labeled
Amount of
Ingredients from
Label
Ingredient per Pill
[Click below]
I
IChromium Products:
Puritan's Pride®
Chromium
Picolinate 200 mcg
(200 mcg)
Mfd. By Puritan's Pride,
Inc.
FulllngrediElnts
Mfd. By Vitamin World,
Ellil IngmcJii:)nts
Vitamin World®
Naturally inspired"
Yeast Free
Chromium
Picolinate 200 mcg
Dietary Supplement
(200 mcg)
Inc.
I CLA Products:
CLA 1000 mg
Conjugated Linoleic
Acid (CLA) Dietary
Supplement (720820 mg)
A.Nature Made®
I
I
Mfd. By Vitamin World,
Inc.
II
FllJLI ngCEldii:)nt§
II
I
8/19/01
•
Conslll1lcrLabcul11 -
Loss, Slimming, and Diabetes-Management Supplements (Chromium, CLA, an. Page 1 of 4
Product Review: Weight Loss, Slimminq, and DiabetesManagement Supplements (Chromium, eLA, and
Pyruvate)
What It Is:
Many ingredients have been touted for weight loss and/or
slimming (increasing the proportion of lean body mass). A
number of these have also been used in the treatment of
diabetes as they may positively impact the
levels of sugar and insulin in the blood. These
ingredients include ephedra (an herbal product also
known as ma huang and which contains ephedrine),
CH ROM I. U M
hydroxycitric acid (HCA) from the fruit Garcinia
cambogia, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) (a
Be Sure !t'$ CL!<pproved
polyunsaturated fatty acid found naturally in milk and meat
fats and produced from safflower and sunflower oils), the
essential mineral chromium (naturally found in animals,
plants, and soil), as well as pyruvate and Lcarnitine (both
of which are found and made in our
bodies).
What It Does:
The amount of evidence supporting the various weight
loss, slimming, and diabetes-management ingredients Be Sur., It's (I.. .Appn:.wod
varies greatly, and, for many, is not very strong. There are
also safety concerns for some regarding their use. Below
is a summary of information about several of the most
popular ingredients used for weight loss or slimming (see
Consumer'I'ips ?' for more information specifically about
the forms, dosage, and safety for
chromium, CLA, and pyruvate):
PYRUVATE
Summary of Evidence for Popular Weight Loss, Slimming, and Diab'Dt~"Sl~],<lPfi9l$'I:'tnj,npro'j/o .
Ingredients
t
I
Iingredient Name Purported Use Evidence
Safety
Chromium
Improving blood May be effective Trivalent form is
sugar control in
for diabetes and generally
people with type mildly impaired
considered safe
" diabetes, or
glucose
when taken at a
more mildly
tolerance, but
dose of 200mcg
impaired glucose more research
daily or less;
tolerance.
needed.
however, long
\.
Assisting weight One reasonably
term safety
loss and
large study found testing has not
improving body
it effective for been performed.
composition
weight loss; most Hexavalent form
(faUmuscle ratio). other studies
may be toxic and
failed to find
should not be
evidence of
found in
benefit for weight supplements
loss or body (see below).
composition.
CLA (Conjugated
Linoleic Acid)
Slimming /
Small studies are Generally safe.
leanness (but not suggestive of
weight loss). May efficacy. More
Cons1ll11crLab.com - Weight Loss, Slimming, and Diabetes-Management Supplements (Chromium, CLA, an .. Page 2 of 4
research
I also Improve
needed.
I
I
I
insulin levels in
diabetics.
Ephedra
May aid weight
loss by
suppressing
appetite.
Shown effective
when combined
with caffeine.
May cause high
blood pressure,
stroke and
serious heart
problems particularly if
used with
caffeine. Canada
asked for a recall
of ephedra
products except in very
low doses.
Hydroxycitric Acid
(HCA)/ Garcinia
cambogia
Weight loss by
interfering with
fat metabolism or
appetite
suppression.
Studies have
shown mixed
results.
Generally safe.
L-Carnitine
Inhibition of
obesity
Little evidence of
effect on obesity,
(although proven
useful in some
cardiac
diseases).
Generally safe.
Pyruvate and
dihydroxyacetone
- DHA. Also
called DHAP when
pyruvate and DHA
are combined.
May have
modest effect on
weight lossparticularly fat
loss.
Small studies are
suggestive of
efficacy. More
research
needed.
No serious side
effects when
taken orally.
Vitamin C
(See CL's Vitamin
~
ProQLJ~tBElvLew)
May help with
weight loss in
significantly
overweight
individuals
Small studies are
suggestive of
efficacy. More
research
needed.
Safe, though in
high doses
(1,000 mg), may
cause diarrhea.
Based on the clinical evidence supporting their potential benefits and risks in weight
loss, slimming and/or diabetes, ConsumerLab.com focused its testing on products
containing the following ingredients: chromium, CLA, and/or pyruvate. In addition to
the uses indicated above, these ingredients have other potential actions and uses.
There is mixed clinical evidence that chromium may help lower cholesterol. CLA, in
animal studies, has shown a cholesterollowering and cancer inhibition effect.
Pyruvate may enhance exercise endurance when used in conjunction with DHA and
it may also have a cholesterol-lowering and blood pressure-lowering effect.
Quality Concerns and What CL Tested For:
The chromium that our bodies require is called trivalent chromium or chromium (III).
Another type, called hexavalent chromium (VI), does not occur in significant
amounts naturally but can be formed as a by-product of industry. Ingesting large
amounts of chromium (VI) can cause stomach upsets and ulcers, convulsions,
kidney and liver damage, and even death. Chromium (VI) is also a known
carcinogen (particularly when airborne) and is, for example, the form of chromium
implicated as causing cancers in the movie Erin Brokavich. While it should not
normally be found in chromium supplements, it has been known to occur as a
contaminant. Consequently, all of the products claiming to contain chromium were
also tested for levels of chromium (VI).
Neither the FDA nor any other federal or state agency routinely tests supplements
for quality prior to sale. Consequently, ConsumerLab.com tested the CLA and
pyruvate products, as wei' as the chromium products, to confirm the identity and
amount of these respective ingredients. All tablet and caplet products were also
tested for their ability to disintegrate properly so as to be available for absorption in
the body.
What CL Found:
RI19/01
lJutriWE13 lVL1laysia
•
Page 1 orz
HealthYE:~tLtlg I Y\[elgbtlssues I Fit & Trim I £@gn--9lJ~Y1k_LacJacling I Diet & Diseases I Food Laws
About NSM
Mission of f'JutriWEB
Rules of NSM
(I By-Laws ofNSM
(:I Council Member
(:I Publications
(I
(I
C) FAQs
Application FQrQ1
I\lutrition Tools
Food Pyramid
'::1 BMI Calculator (:I
CaioriesBlJIQIT
(I
(:I
o
Date: Tuesday, July 09 @ 12: 38: 32 MYT
Heart Hate Monitor
featured Content
3,«1 MIAlll ((ijlGltm
C>fmETfnCS
~y
IT is a f/ab-bergasting fact. One in every five adult Malaysians is either overw. sudden
spurt in the incidence of obesity may well lend it the infamous distinct century"s leading
national health problem.
Obesity is simply an excess of body fat. It is a contributing cause of many pre maladies.
It increases the body"s resistance to insulin and susceptibility to inf at a higher risk for
developing coronary artery disease, diabetes, gallbladder ( pressure, kidney problem
and stroke.
Statistics indicate that obesity is a high-risk national malaise. Around 7.9 per nation "s
obese adult population are women and 4.7 per cent are men. It is a not spared the
armed forces personnel for many are spotted on duty with big jutting out from behind the
shrubs and bridge columns along the highways an warning of a speed trap. This may
well be construed as, a sign of developmer infectious diseases to lifestyle diseases
implies a certain level of material afflu preventable ailments were seen as a rich man"s
disease and common only to countries. But today, the situation is reversed.
The prevalence of non-communicable diseases is rapidly rising in developing ( to the
World Health Organisation, some 79 per cent of the deaths due to such occurred in the
developing countries and, these countries would see over 100 coronary deaths during
1990-2020. Apart from hereditary factors and endocti chief culprit of obesity is a
combination of unhealthy eating habits and a sede:
Statistics show that every year globally, around two million deaths are attribu inactivity.
Most people indulge in static mental exercise such as surfing the in: the television and
reading - in Malaysia"s case, even the latter is not pursue: unflattering impression of a
nation of corpulent and mentally-lazy slobs. The f and the carbohydrate-laden twominute noodles as convenient substitutes for also contribute to weight gain.
,
.
Clearly, it is imperative that the Government prioritises disease prevention an promotion.
The Health Ministry"s Healthy Lifestyle campaign must be cornplei measures to promote
physical activity since factors such as environment, spo amenities influenced people"s
inclination in this direction. There must be ratic measures such as the creation of
protected cyclists" lane would aspire people Obesity clinics should be set up in all public
hospitals.
If Malaysians are getting fatter, it does not mean they have stopped trying to Businesses
have cottoned on to the demands for a slim, trim figure by churnir products from the
frontiers of alternative medicine. And since these products consuming approvals from
the drug control authorities, they score hugely ove Thus, the market is inundated by
slimming pills and salons.
~. nutriWEB Malaysia
Supported by
ut«
Malaysia
Page 2 of2
Alas, there is no quick fix for obesity. Not all the contents of slimming pills cal vouched
for. Those with banned substances are lethal, causing death or dame organs. Diets such
as the high-protein diet, grapefruit diet and cabbage soup about temporary weight loss,
but some is likely to be simple water loss. Wher a wide variety of whole foods or
prescribes mainly one food as the miracle die eventually one"s health is going to suffer.
The only intelligent way to lose wei is through a well-balanced diet, exercise and
prescribed drugs.
v •.• , '", .'; '" I .• ~." f,j .,.".~ l ' 1'(
All individuals have the weapon to fight obesity: living a healthy lifestyle. Ind: choices
have never been more important in determining the outcome of a nat in eliminating a
national image of indolent fatsos.
- New Straits Times (7-Juf-2002)
Copyright © 2000-2002 Nutrition Society of r"1alaysia. Website jointly deveioped by MIMCj:Q..JiQil Bhd and Versacomm Sdn Bhd. Nutrition Society
Malaysia (NSM), c/o Division of Human Nutrition, Institute for Medical Research, 50588 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Any comments, suggestions, or
questions? ~ili£U'our feecU;S'sk here!
ConsumerLab.com - Weight Loss, Slimming, and Diabetes-Management Supplements (Chromium, CLA, an .. Page 4 of4
--
"---------
COOjLI9CltGd linoleic
Aci(j~QQrngQietary
SURRls2ment (50Q
Il1c;g
)
NOW®CLA
Conjugated Linoleic
Acid 1000 mg-70%
CLA Dietary
Supplement (700
mg)
Nutritional Products
FLJD In g rElcJiEl
nls
Mfd. By Now Foods
I
[Pyruvate Products:
II
I None passed
I Combination Products:
Nutrilite® Trim
Advantage ™
Weight
Management
Support Pack
(Chromium 1 00
meg/strip; CLA 300
mg/strip)
II
I
I
DisL By Nutrilite
ELJ IL) I]g
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Unless otherwise noted, information about the products listed above is based on the samples
purchased by ConsumerLab.com for this Product Review. Manufacturers may change product
ingredients and information at any time, so be sure to check labels carefully when evaluating the
products you use or buy. If a product's ingredients differ from what is listed above, it may not
necessarily be of the same quality as what was tested. It also cannot be assumed that other
products from a Manufacturer or Distributor listed above are of equal quality to those listed.
Copyright Consurnerl.ab.com, LLC, 2002. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced, excerpted,
linked to, or cited in any fashion without the express written permission of ConsumerLab.com LLC.
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__ 1r""conSUl11crLab.c0ll1 - independent tests of herbal, vitamin, and mineral supplements
Page 1 of2
Be Sure fI 's CL Approved)
Recalls and Warnings
From time to time, ConsumerLab.com learns of recalls, warnings, or other alerts
relating to vitamin, mineral, herbal, and other dietary supplements, as well as other
nutrition products. Subscribers can access any of these reports, while nonsubscribers
can view the latest posting and the headlines of earlier reports. This new service
began January 1, 2002.
Latest Recall andW:;:,nlinn
FDA Warns Public About Chinese Diet Pills Containing
Fenfiuramine
(Date Posted 8/15/2002)
On August 13, the U.S. FDA alerted the public about Chinese weight-loss products,
Chaso (Jianfei) Diet Capsules and Chaso Genpi, because they pose a potential
public health risk.
The agency is alerting the public to this health risk because several people in
Japan have become ill, and some have died, after consuming these diet products.
"FDA is taking this action as a precautionary measure to help assure that people are
not exposed to this potentially dangerous product," said Dr. Lester M. Crawford, FDA
Deputy Commissioner.
AcJvcnliscrlkmt
Products of this type are often sold in small urban markets as alternatives to
Western medicine. In 2001, FDA issued a nationwide alert on the recall of
thirteen "Treasure of the East" herbal products because of a dangerous
ingredient, aristolochic acid, which is toxic to the kidney.
The deaths in Japan linked to these Chinese weight-loss products may have resulted
from the presence of such active drug ingredients as fenfluramine in the capsules.
Fenfluramine and another diet drug, phentermine, were used in combination for
weight loss until it was determined that the combination of drugs was linked to
valvulopathy, a serious and sometimes fatal heart disease. Fenfluramine and a
chemically similar drug, dexfenfluramine, were removed from the market in 1997.
Phentermine, when used alone, has not been associated with valvulopathy and
remains on the market.
FDA has advised its import operations personnel to be on the alert for Chaso , Diet
Capsules and Chaso Genpi.
The agency is urging consumers not to take these diet pills and to notify their
local FDA if the products are found in their area.
Archive of Recent Recalls and VV<l.rnin~s
• 8E?c;Clllgf] HerPClIPr9cJuc;tsJrQI'DE3otClllicLcabin LJsancJ AbroCld
(Posted: 8/9/2002)
http·JJwwwcons\lmerhh.comlrecal1s.asp
8/19/01
•
ConsumcrLabcom - independent tests of herbal, vitamin, and mineral supplements
Page 2 of2
•• Rec9lL91 N atu re' s _\}\/_a y Nett I Q£' rQc:JLic;t J:)1lE2J9b§'lc;LC_o_
nta min a tio n (Posted: 7/1/2002)
•• Becall QLDalyvite ligI,Jid MUltiyit~llliD (Posted: 6/30/2002)
e CClOClQian\}\/"rning on Use ofSevEln Herbal$upplernElnt::; frollJ
E3otanicLi3t:J (Posted: 6/21/2002)
eCi3Di3cJian\}\/ClrningonUse of BejaiBowyantan fgrIOfClnts(Posted:
6/20/2002)
e Rgc;ClIILJPQatEl for Portagen Iron Fortified Nutrition PoINder (Posted:
5/24/2002)
Ultra Slim~Fast with Soyprot§ioQrink::;
(Posted: 5/17/2002) <>
MorEl Information
5/3/2002)
of PC-SPES -ProstatEl SupplgllJElot (Posted:
(Posted: 3/25/2002)
•• RecCl11 of Multivitamin
Unsafej30ttling ForChilcJI§O (Posted:
3/12/2002)
..R§c;i3IIClDd\}\/arning to Stop Use of Prostate Supplements "PC$Pf':S"
i3nQ"SPES" (Posted: 3/11/2002)
•• Reci3I1QtAdcJitiOl1al Pepsin-containing Dige::;tiv§AicJs (Posted: 2/7/2002)
•• Rec;ClIL LJpdi3te for Certain
Bar::; -Exce::;sivElVitClrninA (Posted:
1/31/2002)
<> Rec;all of Certain Iron
(Posted: 1/19/2002)
•• B~LalI of P.Jill_"inSQnti3ining [)igc;stivc;_$UP[21(jrnent::; (Posted: 1/18/2002)
<>R§callot"Prostatin" Supplement -- Contain::; Aristolochic I\c;icJ (Posted:
1/15/2002)
e CClOClQ?RE;quests
of
(Posted: 1/11/2002) ..Kava (Posted: 1/7/2002)
Information from the ConsumerLab.com archive of Recalls and
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would like to subscribe, please click OE;re.
For information about reporting serious reactions and problems with medical
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MedWatch
please go to
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© 2002 ConsumerLab.com, LLC.
Page 1
Page 1 of2
Slimming pills have recently been seen by some as the easy way to lose weight. However, besid that
they have only a limited ability in assisting weight loss these pills have many inherent dange counteract
much of this limited usefulness.
It is a very human reaction to want to fix a problem fast and when people are overweight, they n an
instant remedy. Well, it would be magic if we could sort of book into a "fat transfusion service all those
unwanted kgs to other people who need a bit of padding, and then walk out of the treat weighing 20 kg
less! Unfortunately, this kind of service is not available, but we still demand fast Consequently a great
deal of research is done to find an ideal pill that will help overweight peopl excess weight.
Over the years researchers have come up with countless products that are supposed to aid wei either
suppressing appetite or increasing metabolism to help burn up fat. Most of these products do what they
are supposed to do, or they cause unpleasant and dangerous side effects.
Let's have a look at some of the categories of slimming pills and their disadvantages:
Slimming pills that contain diuretics stimulate water-loss. If you take a pill that makes you lose s water,
your weight will decrease by 1 kg, but the moment you drink liquids, this water will be repl body and
your weight will return to normal. Unless prescribed by a physician, diuretics are paten because certain
diuretics increase potassium losses along with the water-loss. You need potassi body functions and
potassium depletion can lead to muscle weakness, including weakening of t muscle, and mental
confusion. Water depletion is also dangerous, particularly in hot countries lik Africa.
Slimming pills that contain laxatives stimulate the digestive system and can cause severe diarrh are
taking one of these products and find that you are constantly suffering from diarrhoea, then it to stop
taking the diet pill. Constant diarrhoea prevents proper absorption of food and you may d dehydration
due to water-loss, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies, all of which may have bad health. Harsh
laxatives also have the disadvantage that they tend to destroy normal peristalsis (t movement of the
bowels). People who take harsh laxatives for long periods, lose the ability to pr stools.
Slimming pills that suppress the appetite often contain
derivatives which cause unpl
effects such as palpitations, dry mouth, insomnia, restlessness and anxiety.
Other appetite suppressants contain '" '0', derivatives and are highly addictive. In addit effect tends to
wear off if they are taken long periods, so the patient is inclined to take large a doses with ever
increasing addiction.
also fall into the category of appetite suppressant. Fenfluramines suppress appe
interacting with certain receptors in the brain, but the latest research shows that fenfluramines al
detrimental effects on health. PPH is a life-threatening disease which causes heart failure and d
http://www.weightlosslab.com/new_page_l.htm
8/20/01
Page 2 of2
Ncw P,lgC I
have shown that people who take fenfluramines run a 10 to 20 times greater risk of developing P those
who do not take these chemicals. In addition, fenfluramines have been linked to brain rece damage,
which may not be reversible.
But what can people do who are overweight? The most sensible approach to weight-loss is to ea highcarbohydrate, high-fiber diet and do regular exercise (NorwoodJ!I/E!tghLL,.Q~JLP'rQgr§rr1J T will make
those kgs drop, slowly, but steadily, and ensure that the lost kgs are not put on again. favor, avoid
slimming pills, and use a sensible approach to weight-loss. The results will be 100% without any harmful
effects to your health.
http://www.weightlosslab.com/newyage_l.htm
8120/01
free health and weight-loss information and advice
Page I of3
August Report:
The popularity of weight loss drugs and supplements are on the rise, but according to the
government's recent guidelines for the treatment for weight loss and obesity, about 55 percent of
people in Britain, or 32 million people, are either overweight or obese. Quick-fix diets,
pharmaceuticals, and even "natural" weight loss formulations don't promote good eating habits
because they are not a life-long plan. "When you talk to me, we're talking the 90-year plan," says
Edinburgh-based nutritionist Anne Dubner." You need to establish eating patterns that work longterm, and incorporate foods that allow you to lose, and then maintain, body weight."
Dubner, whose specialty is weight loss, found that her clients didn't want to learn anything about
diet, they just wanted to take a pill and lose weight. But when they went off the drug they gained
the weight back. "I do not recommend weight loss drugs. I'm sure they work, but they are
temporary." Dubner believes that if weight loss drugs are used they should be a part of a multidisciplinary approach. "See a dietician, psychiatrist, or psychologist, if necessary." Weight loss
drugs can serve as a jump start for an individual who is significantly overweight, or someone who
has to lose weight before undergoing surgery.
Both Fen-phen and Redux were found to cause damage to heart valves and were taken off the
market in 1997. The newly hyped weight loss drug, Meridia, released last April, acts on serotonin
and norepinephrine, another brain chemical to make users feel full, like Fen-Phen and Redux, but
not in the same way. Researchers at Knoll Pharmaceutical, , who produce Meridia (sibutramine),
say Meridia works on two neurotransmitters instead. of just on serotonin.
What's coming down the road in the way of weight loss drugs? Orlistat, which will be marketed
as Xenical, received the American FDA advisory committee's approval in May 1997, but
Hoffmann-La Roche, its manufacturer, has decided to do more analysis before releasing it for
final approval. Orlistat is a lipase inhibitor, which means it works on lipase, an intestinal enzyme
that breaks down fat. Xenical cuts fat absorption in the intestine by about 30 percent.
http://nutrel.litmania.com/article.html
8120101
'~'ec health ,1I1e! weight-loss information and advice
Page 2 of3
According to many health foodshop operators, herbal phen-fens in ali forms - from teas to pills are by far the biggest sellers of herbal weight-loss products. And, chemists and experts agree,
the reason for their popularity is probably due in part to slick marketing tactics by manufacturers
that compare their products to the banned fen-phen prescription drug. The big difference,
according to herbal phen-fen marketers, is that unlike the prescription drug, their herbal phenfens are completely safe because they use "natural" ingredients. "Some of the most potent toxins
are 'natural' ... even poison is natural ... the word 'natural' does not guarantee safety," says Dr.
Kathy Kapica, PhD, RD, associate professor of nutrition and dietetics at Chicago Medical School.
And, according to Dr. Kapica, another major problem is that due to the lack of government
standards for botanicals and herbs, consumers can't always be sure that the products they are
getting are pure, or even contain what the labels say. "It's very scary to think that consumers
invest in products that they think will help them when they'll actually be lucky if they don't harm
them," adds Dr. Kapica. Most herbal phen-fens contain a mixture of herbs which often include
ephedra, St. John's wort, chromium picolinate and others. Some ingredients like ephedra, which
is addressed below, can be dangerous when abused, while others, such as St. John's wort and
chromium picolinate, show no clinical evidence of being beneficial for weight loss.
Ephedra, also known as ma huang, is a strong stimulant found in popular herbal phenfen diet
aids. While the efficacy has been well researched and substantiated for relieving nasal
congestion and some allergic disorders, Varro E. Tyler, an authority of the medicinal use of
herbs, states in his book, The Honest Herbal, that "there is no substantial clinical evidence that
[ephedra] is either a safe or effective promoter of weight loss in obese patients." And, ephedra
can be very damaging to the body, especially when abused. Its active ingredient is ephedrine, a
stimulant that works in the body much the way that adrenaline does in what is known as the "fight
or flight" response. The danger is that when taken regularly, your body stays in an unnatural high
gear and there is risk for heart palpitations, heart attacks, and strokes: particularly for those with
a history of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, or thyroid disease. To date the American FDA
and Centers for Disease Control Prevention have received more than 900 complaints about
products containing ephedrine, including 17 deaths. The FDA has plans to regulate ephedrine
levels in dietary supplements in the future.
Many herbal phen-fen combinations with ephedra contain St. John's wort as well. Manufacturers
of diet supplements containing St. John's wort claim it may increase the production of the brain
chemical serotonin, possibly having a positive influence on mental wellness, which could help
suppress overeating that may be linked to depression. St. John's wort has been one of the most
scientifically researched medicinal herbs in history. Many clinical trials in Britain and abroad using
standardized St. John's wort preparations have confirmed its safety and effectiveness in treating
depression. However, there is no clinical evidence to substantiate that St. John's wort has weight
1055 benefits.
Marketers of this popular diet supplement tout its ability to "trap" and get rid of dietary
fat and cholesterol. The theory is that when taken regularly, chitosan-a non-digestible dietary
fiber-will decrease the absorption of fats and carry them, along with their
calories, right out of the body. While there have been some promising studies that show chitosan
to have a cholesterol-lowering effect in animals, there has been no such
evidence in humans. "There is absolutely no research indicating that chitosan is effective for weight
loss," says Dr. Kapica. "It has never been tested for weight 1055, or in humans at all." In fact, Dr.
Kapica says that Chitosan has the potential to be harmful due to the fact that it binds fat soluble
vitamins, which could result in deficiencies and set in motion, . other harmful effects. And, while
limited research has shown chitosan may help lower cholesterol in animals, Dr. Kapica says
Chitosan isn't even at a point where it can be recommended for that. The bottomline is that we just
don't know enough about chitosan and the potential dangers from taking it. Therefore, she says,
consumers would be wise
to stay away. None of the weight 1055 drugs on the market now, or any that might be available
in the future, are going to solve the problem of excess weight. And serious health effects were
found with the drugs that have been removed from the market.
Each year Britons spend billions of pounds in the hopes of finding the magic pill(s) for weight
loss. Accurate figures are hard to come by in the UK, but in the States, according
http://nutrel.litmania.com/article.html
8/20101
~~'C'
Free health and weight-loss information and advice
Page 3 of 3
to the National Council Against Health Fraud, a whopping $8.9 million are spent annually on vitamins
and dietary supplements alone. And, because vitamins, herbs and other supplements are not
officially regulated by the Department of Health, consumers are often unaware of the proper dosage
amounts, efficacy and product safety. Then, add to that the fact that an incredible amount of diet
supplements are introduced each year, making it Virtually impossible for government officials to keep
up.
There have been a number of cases recently of the Department of Health withdrawing much-hyped
slimming pills from the market, which has shaken many people's confidence in appetite suppressants.
In April 2000 the government banned several pills because trials had shown they didn't "help people
lose weight effectively" and even "caused lung and heart problems in some patients." The
supplements removed were Duromine (phentermine), Ionarnin (phentermine), Diethylpropion
(amfepramone), Tenuate Dospan (dexfenfluramine), and Ponderax (fenfluramine).
When checking out weight loss supplements, read the claims and literature carefully. One product
manufacturer, after touting its product's effectiveness, also encouraged users to exercise for 20 to
60 minutes five to seven days a week; eat three low-fat, balanced meals and two snacks every
day; eat at least two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetable each day; drink six to eight
glasses of water every day; limit or stop drinking alcohol; stop eating two to three hours before
bedtime; reach for the walking shoes before reaching for the refrigerator ... etc. This sounds very
much like the Department of Health's Dietary Guidelines for Healthy Living, which remarkably
when followed, generally result in a healthy weight and best of all, here they are for fl-ee.
Department of Health Dietary Guidelines
Eat a variety of foods
Balance the foods you eat with physical activity-maintain or improve your weight e Choose a
diet with plenty of grain products, vegetables, and fruits
e Choose a diet low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol
" Choose a diet moderate in sugars
•• Choose a diet moderate in salt and sodium
" If you drink alcoholic beverages, do so in moderation
e
e
"Weight loss should be managed long term and include modification of your diet, more exercise
and other important lifestyle changes."
Professor Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, February 2002.
© 1 August, 2001; Nadeem Azam, Bradford University
BMLCpJC:LJ.@t
Q[ I
http://nutrel.litman ia.com/article.html
8/20/01
Page 1 of 4
Side effects of diet pills
Beauty
Who's the hottest?
Slimming pills may
Earning Money
seem like a quick and
easy way to lose
weight, but they do
have side effects.
Sometimes, the side
effects can be fatal.
Entertainment and
(@
Prince William
\' Ben Affleck
\' Josh Hartnett
\' Hayden Christensen
Celebrity
Heard of Slim 10?
Women in Singapore
have been using the
slimming pills for quite
a while, before it came
the notice of the
authorities that Slim 10
contains a drug called
\' Tobey Maguire
\' Orlando Bloom
\' Matt Damon
fenfluramine. 3 cases
Health
of liver damage due to
SIim1 O. Of these, the
most well known victim
in Singapore, was local
celebrity Andrea De
Cruz.
Lifestyle
Her doctor suspects
she had been taking
the pills for 2 to 4
months when the liver
damage was apparent.
Her sister noticed that
Andrea's had a
\' Brad Pitt
\' David Beckham
\' Jet Li
\' Jackie Chan
\' Will Smith
yellowish tinge.
Love and Romance
SUbsequently, Andrea
started having fever
and slipped in and out
of consciousness.
Motherhood
----_._--------_._.
\' Denzel Washington
r
Russel Crowe
She was on the brink
death. It was literally \'
love that saved her. George Clooney
She needed a liver to
replace her failing one. \'
http://www.womanht.com/side_effects_oCdiet.-J)iIls.htm
\
.
8/20/01
•
Side effects of diet pi lls
Page :2 of 4
Her fiance, Pierre Png,
Sean Bean
also a local celebrity
took the risk. He
donated almost half his (" Pierce Brosnan
liver to her. That saved
her life. Both are
recovering now, but
(" Harrison Ford
she would be on
medication for the rest
of her life.
(' Mel Gibson
Why is he the hottest?
Merida has been linked
to 29 deaths and several
side effects.
"The department of
Health in Britain reports
that two patients taking
the anti-obesity drug ===c2...L
Reductil (Meridia) in
Britain have died and
more than 200 others
have had suspected Hettie
I-'--~adverse reactions. "
Tobey Maguire
~h Hartnett
For one thing, it
increases heart rate
Brad Pitt
and blood pressure.
Prince William
Hayden Christensen
Seizures were reported
Ben Affleck
in <0.1 % of patients -->
using it.
Orlando Bloom
George Clooney
Other side effects
Mel Gibson
include anorexia,
David Beckham
insomnia, abdominal
pain ..
Matt Damon
Russel Crowe
Will Smith
HarrisonFord
Pierce Brosnan
Phenylpropanolamine
(PPA) is found in many _.
Jet Li
slimming pills or diet pills. Sean Bean
FDA has banned Over the
Counter sales of anything Denzel Washington
Jackie Chan
containing
Phenylpropanolamine
(PPA) for safety
reasons.
Votes
73
59
40
38
35
25
22
20
14
12
12
10
10
9
8
8
7
6
2
\/otes
This drug helps you
control a huge appetite.
Thus, it was used as a
slimming aid.
Unfortunately, the side
effects of the drug can
be fatal. Examples of
such side effects are the
development
defects in their heart
valves, primary
http://www.womanht.com/side_effects_oCdiet_pills.htm
8/20/01
Side effects of diet pills
Page 3 of 4
pulmonary hypertension
which is a lung condition
that can be fatal, among
other
things,
These are fibre
supplements that bind to
some of the fat that is
not digested yet They
make the fat indigestible
and allow
the fat to pass through
the system without being
accumulated in the
body, Side effects
include uncontrolled
bowel movements, oily
discharge, oil spotting
and constant stomach
discomfort
If you plan to use
slimming pills to lose
weight, please don't If
you have friends who
are using slimming pills
Please email this article
to them. A safer way to
lose weight is
through
proper
[ill Tobey
t',/lal]uire [ill E:rad
D F'rince \,'i/illiarn
Pitt
EJj] Orlando
fill r',/lel
E:loorn
Gib::;; 0 n
[ill t',/latt Dar-non
EJj] 'V\iill Srnith
[ill
E:eckham
till Harrisonford
fit .let
!'!ill :3ean
E:ean
[ill.Jackie Chan
C;eor'l~le
C:loc1ney D Da',/id
Li
[ill Denzel \I'/ashington
Try working out. Too
broke, busy or
embarassed to get a
gym membership? Try
working out al\1home.
Another alternative for
lazy girls is
To get in shape, try
exercise instead, Run
slowly for 30 minutes
every day on the tread
mill like the one from for
the next few-months
and see the results
yourself
http://www.womanht.com/side_effects_oCdiet_pills.htm
8/20/01
Slimming pills bring fat profits - APRIL 30, 2002
Page] 0[2
Apr 30,2002
Slimrninq pills
ring fat profits
Up to 100 fat burner drugs are being developed by US pharmaceutical companies in a mad
rush to reap the billions that will come to the next firm that hits on that allelusive formula to
fight obesity
WASHINGTON - Obesity has been identified as the 'largest future market' for pharmaceutical
companies racing to develop tile next prescription diet drug.
Up to 100 obesity medications are in the early stages of development, insiders say.
Some are designed to bum calories; others tinker with brain chemistry to control appetite; still others
promote a feeling of fullness in other ways.
Some may one day be used to treat people who have only 5 kg or 10 kg to lose.
Most of the drugs in the pipeline will probably never make it to the market, and the few that look the
most promising are still at least two years away from being prescribed to obese Americans.
But for drug makers, it's worth the gamble: The company that comes up with the next really safe and
effective diet drug will probably hit pay dirt, possibly making billions of dollars, obesity researchers say.
In the United States alone, potential patients include 54 million people who are obese, which is roughly 14
kg over a healthy weight.
Add to that a growing number of overweight children and an increasing number of heavyset people
around the world.
'We think obesity represents what is unquestionably the largest future market for pharmaceuticals,'
said Mr John Maraganore, senior vice-president of strategic product development for Millenium
Pharmaceuticals, which is working with Abbott Laboratories to develop obesity and diabetes drugs.
There are only a few prescription drugs now used to treat obesity, including Meridia, which works on
brain chemicals to control appetite, and Xenical, which blocks some fat from being absorbed by the
body.
However, the cost of developing a prescription medication is estimated at US$802 million (S$1.45
billion), according to the Tufts University Centre for the Study of Drug Development.
Marketing diet drugs is also full of pitfalls.
Some people are reluctant to take them because of the withdrawal of two diet drugs from the market fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine (Redux) - in September 1997 because of concern that they could be
linked to heart-valve problems.
Furthermore, obesity drugs often are not covered by insurance, and some people expect miracles
from these medications.
But pharmaceutical companies are betting that the public's attitude towards obesity
medications will change.
http://straitstimes.asial.com.sg/health/story/0,3324,117116,00.html
8/20101
, "'~_.::1~~
,. r
Slimming pills bring fat profits - APRIL 30, 2002
Page 2 of2
Mr Terry Opgenorth, of Abbott Laboratories, compares today's attitude towards obesity drugs to past views
on blood pressure and cholesterol drugs.
People once thought blood pressure and cholesterol should be controlled with diet and exercise not
medication, he said. '
r~r Louis Aronne, director of weight programmes at the Weill-Cornell Medical Centre in New York, said
doctors might one day treat people who had 5 to 10 kg to lose in the hope of keeping them from becoming
obese.
Many experts caution that no drug wili ever be a panacea, and that nothing beats diet and exercise for
controlling weight.
Consumer advocate Sidney Wolfe, director of the Public Citizen's Health Research Group, is sceptical
of diet pills. The group is asking for a ban on Meridia, which it associates with 29 deaths.
Abbott Laboratories maintains that Meridia is safe and that experts cannot confirm whether people died
solely because of the medication.
Mr" Thomas Wadden, director of the Weight and Eating Disorders Programme at the University of
Pennsylvania School of Medicine, says drugs have an important place but are not the only answer to the
obesity epidemic.
Drugs would probably end up being most beneficial for people who had a genetic propensity to being
overweight, he said, adding: 'Even the best drugs in the world are going to be no match for billion-dollar ad
campaigns that encourage people to super-size their bur-gers and fries. People don't realise they are
super-slzlno themselves,'
--USA Today
<font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif size="- I
http://straitstimes.asial.com.sg/health/story/0,3324,117116,00.html
8/20/01
Asiawcck.cOIll I Health: Looking for Trouble 112/24/99
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roo R TUNj:SOlJ}
FORTUNE-----_._-_.~
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•
Page 1 of2
By JIM ALCIE P",nn!(nk
without having to work at it are about as has
Most know their chances of ephemeral
never stopped anyone from buying into of a
as a free lunch. That, the fantasy of
super'-duper diet pill How could
being mode! slim with they resist? In
1'1 have been purchasinq slimrninq pills,
India. girls as younq
usually over the counter
But the dream solutions come
Kong, the danqers were
starkly outlined when an
collapsed and died on
Dec 8 She had been on
for a year three different kinds Ten days
earlier, ail inquest found that another woman dieel From taking slimming pills
containing a harmful ClnoRtitR ,:"'nl'~",'c:"'nt
Just as marketing is the name of
~1dme. so it is
part of the problem, VVe have all
tile ads BUill
calories while you
use a natural formula to
block fat-absorption.
products are often solei as
herbal concoctions or dietarv
under that
amorphous heading - health'
This means pills
can turn up on store shelves without
the more
rigorous standards set for pharmaceuticals
Consider tile compound
c:/lracteci from the
Chinese herb, mahuang,
pills
which claim to burn fat by
rate
The extract certainly
heart rate but it
can also cause blood vessels
constrict,
blood pressure It can dampen
and increase
alertness, but, like caffeine, call
insomnia and
the jitters In the US, the Food and Drug Administration
decided there was insufficient evidence of danger to limit the
amount used, But ephedracontaining products still worry
some experts because of reported links to seizures, strokes
and heart
attacks. A recent report in the Journal of l'.Jeurology,
Neurosurgery and Psychiatry also implicates mahuang
extract, taken as "energy supplements," in strokes.
Not surprisingly, the Hong
deaths have
prompted calls for stricter laws on health products. (A
survey by the local consumer council found that 85% of ads
for health foods and thel'apies contained doubtful, even
hazardous, clairns.)
peg,pie
Director Ann Hui's
extraordinary coup
Cinema
From Thailand, a haunting
blockbuster
Health
fhetlazards of being tall and
thin
Newsmakers
Jailed, no bail: Lee Wenho
~
ASiAWEEK
Health: A Cut Above the
Rest Why more men are turning to
plastic surgeons
Health: This Bean isno
haS-been
Is-soya the next
wonderfood?
Health: AIDS Explosion
Of course, diet drugs obtained under prescription 2I'e not
Time bombs along the
always risk-free. Medication containinq the fenphen
Mekong call for a regional
(fenflurarnine and phentermine) mix was pulled from the
solution
U.S, market in 1997 because of associated health problems.
Besides damage to heart valves, the
cocktail was linked to prirnary pulmonary tension (when tiny arteries inside the lung
constrict, weakening the heart as it
to keep blood flowing). While diet drLiQs
taken with a doctor's advice may
point out the keys to weight loss are
simple: adequate exercise and a
diet. Stomach-staplmq aside (a radical'
measure for the seriously obese), there are no short cuts
In Brief: Wronq-footed
All the rage from-Taipei to
The more
prominent casualties include model
Campbell and Spice Girl Emma Bunton.
What are we talking about'? Platform shoes, Retro revivals from the 1970s, the footwear tends
to inflict the same injuries it did then twisted ankles, broken bones and the like, But with the
latest designs elevating wearers by as much as 25 centimeters, injuries have been more
severe In Japan, two women died - one cracked her head after falling off her shoes; another
was a passenger in a car that crashed because the woman driver could not brake properly in
15-cm boots .. Safety advocates are demanding health warrunqs. Perhaps anticipating law
suits, shoe-
http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/magazine/99/1224/health.diet.html
8/20/01
Asiaweek.col11 I Health: Looking for Trouble I 12/24/99
Page 2 of2
nave
to include caveats on labels
(Jf fashion can kill.
and
Search:
should acid"
at the
for the latest regional analysis
Display Summaries
(ID
yes
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no
8/20/01
•
J}i\ngerous obsession with dieting prompts crackdown on slimming pills - smh.corn.au
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Dangerous 0
with dieting
crackdown on
pills
n
August 3 2002
Israeli tro_oRs_anQJan~~-9uIlnto centre
of N_<3blus . - -_ .... _.
HeldjJibay
Dirty N~\,\I_'y'()ckIT~_Cl[E:Ojustihe ticket
for some
Tokyo: Weighing in at less than 51 kilograms and standing 1.63
metres tall, the average 20-year-old Japanese woman possesses the
sort of svelte figure that any weight-conscious Bridget Jones could
The_Earthlsg(OttingJ§!ter
only dream of.
_ClJ:9.llrlQ.th_~ middle
But that has not stopped increasing numbers of Japanese average or otherwise - turning to potentially deadly diet pil!s to get
closer to the stick-like ideal represented by international fashion
models and a growing number of their domestic idols.
E UjJ~_CQ.~lrl1lrl9 w 0
C'ifLllia.i]J::JlI:Qrl.,_~.<l~ whis_tl_el:ilow"r
Five people have died and almost 500 have fallen ill after taking the
dangerous and poorly regulated herbal slimming aids from China,
reports say.
~eywords--
The latest victim was a man who had been taking a brand of the
pills not previously identified as potentially dangerous.
today's edition: alll
past 10 days
This week China banned eight diet drugs containing fenfluramine,
an appetite-suppressant which has been associated with heart
valve problems and possibly liver failure, and which has been
linked to a number of deaths in Asia.
site guide
In this section
H idingir()l11hi~
The Japanese Health Ministry has issued warnings about 14
brands of imported diet aids, police have arrested one retailer
and the Tokyo municipal government has ordered shops to
withdraw two similar products.
Stilt.e._n.otcompletely a romantic desert
Fl.oLDania first to protect US from new
co lift
Ofic;l':-Ioyal w.orkers turn on departing
whiteJarmer~
Famous for a low-fat diet of fish, seaweed, and green tea, Japan Anew start to the end of history has long
been credited with a lifestyle that keeps tummies trim
and cholesterol levels low. But such healthy habits have been
changing in recent years, as the popularity of faity Western food
sends waistlines outwards, even as the media and fashion
industries apply psychological pressure in the opposite direction.
This is partly because growing Asian affluence and Western
influence have changed attitudes.
In Maya government-funded study found that 5 per cent of girls in
Tokyo junior schools had suffered from anorexia nervosa. Reports
of eating disorders nationwide have risen tenfold since 1980.
,
.
Psychologists say this is a global trend, but one that has been
accelerated in Japan because women's value in society is
determined more by appearance and age than in the West, where
there are more opportunities to build careers based on ability.
Nochiko Morikawa, a Tokyo psychotherapist, said: "In Japan the
ideal woman is cute, like a child. If you put on weight, then you look
older."
Bookshops have whole sections devoted to slimming books and
magazines of all kinds. One of them describes how to lose weight
by wrapping oneself in Cellophane and singing karaoke; belting out
one song is apparently the equivalent to jogging 1 00
http://www.smh.com.au/mticles/2002/08/02/1 028157845 881 .html
8/20/01
•
DangerouS obsession with dieting prompts crackdown on slimming pills - smh.corn.au
Page 2 of2
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INfORMATION FOR PATIENTS ON THE WITHDRAWAL OF SUMMING PILLS CIVIA Y 2001)
Page] 01'2
•
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I
Page 1
INFORMATION FOR I) A TIENTS ON THE WITHDRAW OF
SLIl\1lVHNG PILLS (MAY 20tH)
This leaflet contains important information for people who are taking slimming pills (
anorectics
appetite suppressants). You may have heard
drugs are being withdrawn in Europe.
slimming pills.
Which slimming pills are being withdrawn?
or read in the pre
the following products:
Duromine (phentcrmine) Ionamin
(phentcrrnine) Dicthylpropion
(amfepramone) Tcnuate Dospan
(amfepramone)
How can I tell if! am taking one of these drugs?
Jfyou are taking slimming pills and you are not sure which ones they are, your pharmacist or doctor
able to help.
Why are these slimming pills being withdrawn again?
This relates to a legal action; there are no new safety concerns with these pills. A European review of and
benefits of these drugs was carried out. This led to a withdrawal of the products in April last year. companies
which hold the licences for some of the products successfully appealed against the withdra leading to the
licences being re-instated. This appeal has now been overturned in the European courts licences must be
withdrawn again (in Europe). A final ruling with regard to the withdrawal ofthese p expected within a year.
Why were these slimming pills withdrawn in the first place?
The European review of the risks and benefits of these drugs concluded that trials do not show that th help
people lose weight effectively. Also, although no new safety problems were identified with these some other
anorectic products have been previously associated with heart and lung problems, in some A possible link with
amfepramone and phenterrnine products cannot be totally excluded.
When will the pills be withdrawn?
The drugs will start to be withdrawn from 11 May. The withdrawal will be complete by 10 June, by
time you should have stopped taking them.
What should I do now? Should I stop taking my pills?
If you are currently taking any of the above slimming pills, you should talk to your doctor as soon as
http://216.239.35.] 00/search?q=cache:NQMx8H90H14C:w .. ./anorpats.pd1'+slimming+pills+&hl=en&ie=UTF- 8/20/01
INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS ON THE WITHDRAWAL OF SLIMMING PILLS (MAY 2001)
Page2of2
about stopping your treatment. You may then need to be stop taking the pills gradually.
Why do I need to stop taking the pills gradually?
Some people may suffer from withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking this type of slimming pill particularly
ifthey have taken them for more than 3 months. These symptoms can include low mood depression, anxiety,
irritability, dizziness and disturbed sleep. Ifthese occur, they are usually worst b fourth day after stopping treatment.
What do I need to do if I suffer these symptoms'?
If you suffer these symptoms despite stopping the pills gradually and are worried about them. please s doctor who can
advise on whether you need any treatment.
How will I know if I've suffered harm as a result of taking slimming pills?
If you are concerned about any worrying symptoms, such as breathlessness, palpitations (rapid or irre heart beat) or
ankle swelling, which you have now or have had in the past while taking the pills, pleas doctor.
I've been on slimming pills for years without ill effects what should I do now they've been with Weight loss
should be managed long term and include modification of your diet, more exercise and at important lifestyle changes.
See your doctor, who can advise you about other ways of losing weight.
.IIZ/ ]-IP&paticnts anorectics 10050 I vFF.doc
http://216.239.35.1 00/search?q=cache:NQMx8H90H14C:w .. ./anorpats.pdf+slimming+pills+&hl=en&ie=UTF- 8/20/0]
~~~~
"'- Slimm ing pi 11s at 13 put Debbie Oil the wa) to her heroin death
Page 201'2
'Last Sunday, Debbie should have been starting a six-week detoxification session at Tolworth Hospital in South London,' Mrs Lnden
revealed. 'But I can't understand it - it went wrong and they said she could only be treated as a day patient. '
In those last few days of her life, Debbie twicc slashed her wrists and her mother was fighting a desperate battle to try to get her booked
into a hospital.
'I even begged one doctor to section her under the Mental Health Act just so I could get her round-the-clock attention,' said Mrs
Linden.
'We'd been to our GP, we'd been together to Kingston Hospital, where she was eventually found dying in a corridor, and on that final
Saturday 1 thought she was going to be adrn itted to Tolworth.
'She rang me on Saturday night from outside the hospital asking me to pick her up. But she went to some sort of drug place -Lord - I just
clon't even know where it was.'
Before she went out that night Debbie hugged her mother a said: 'I love you, Mummy. l ' always missed you, Mummy, and I
want to thank you for everthing you've tried to do for me.'
Mrs Linden said: 'It felt strange. I didn't know then, but perhaps she felt everything had gone. She had told me earlier in the day that
although she was at ruck bottom-- she had no work and no money -- she wanted live. She was desperate to live.' Actress r'v101lie
Sugden, who played Mrs Slocombe in Are You Being Served?, told last night how cast members realised something was wrong with
Debbie when she appeared in the show.
'I remember going home one day and on
drugs. Then I burst into tears.
to my sons that I was so upset because I thought the pretty little girl was
'She used to have a faraway look on her face some of the time and we all suspected something. I'm so upset by news of her death ---it is
such a shame for someone so young and pretty. I really feel for her mother.'
John Inman, who played Mr Humphries, was in the United States last night promoting reruns of the cult programme when The Mail on
Sunday told him of Debbie's death.
'What a terrible shame - I suspected that she was ill while she was in the show,' said 62-year-old Inman.
'She was often poorly and very peeky when we were filming. She was only in about six episodes but people remembered her
as she was a n ice girl.'
Debbie's death puts the spotlight on the debate over the decriminalisation of cannabis. Richard Branson, Sir Paul McCartney, Anita
Roddick, Martin Amis and Harold Pinter are among those who favour such a move.
Some, however, believe that experimentation with soft drugs such as cannabis can lead to the use of hard drugs like heroin.
for Debbie, it was cocaine counteracted by alcohol and valium that would lead to her demise.
In 1993, doctors told her she was' a month from death' if she didn't stop drinking and taking drugs. Her skin had gone grey and her
liver had almost failed completely.
Mrs Linden added: 'When you start off with babies, you never imagine that things could go so wrong.
'But I'll always remember her
laughter. She used to say I was her best friend as well as her mother. I don't really blame the hospitals. After' all, everyone has tried
to help her ever since this began.'
~.::JIWWW.Whalc.toldrugSISllmmlng.html
8/20/01
Page 2 of3
Agence France Presse
June 9, 2002
SINGAPORE
Related:
S aciJal e 0 LcLea t h ,_sl1ff(; riIlglllld_etblc s
HE Singapore girl made famous by the national airline is a
slender and channing woman, but in reality she lives in a fatphobic
society that has fuelled a multimillion-dollar diet-pill industry with
tragic consequences.
One woman is dead, another needed a liver transplant to save her life
and several others are seriouslv ill after tak iuu a herbal
slimming aid.
'c
The women all took the Chinese-made "Slim 10" diet pill, which
contained the banned substance Fcnfluraminc and has now been
yanked from the market, but its highly publicised side-effects have
had little impact on sales of other brands.
In Singapore culture, "we don't accept people who arc
,
said Tcy Beng Hea, head of a weight-management progmmme at
Singapore's Alexandra Hospital explaining the obsession with being
thin.
Most Singaporeans are petite and "the bigger ones tend to be the
butt of jokes, adding to their insecurities" he said. A J 7year-old college student, at 1.6 metres (five
three inches)
tall and 60 kilograms (132 pounds), told AFP she had been taking
diet pills on and off since she was 11.
"I wanted to look better and I guess there's pressure lrom
friends and magazines," she said.
She quit the pills last year after a series of dizzy spells and headaches
and said her weight reduction programme now was binge eating and:
"I throw up after every meal."
But slimming-pill retailers are laughing ali the way to the bank as
they cash in on the lucrative business. One local chain, General
Nutrition Centers, reaped between S$3 and S$4 million (US$1.7-2.2
million) in sales in 2001, according to chief executive Cynthia Poa.
"Slim 10" is reported to have racked up S$3 million in sales in the
five months it was on the market with 20,000 bottles sold at S$150
each.
Tey cited a patient, a university graduate in her mid 20s, who was
mildly overweight. He considered her "well proportioned" but she
was not happy. When he asked her why, she looked him in the eye
and said: "Do you think guys would look at girls like me who are
fat?"
At a recent forum on slimming which aimed to improve women's
perspective on dieting and body image, Tay recalled that: "From my
bird's-eye scan, most who attended were not seriously overweight."
;
.
The yearning to be thinner was compounded by advertisements, with
media glorifying people who were underweight and medically
unhealthy, Tey said. Normal-sized girls looked up to dangerously
thin models as having the "todie-for" physique.
The models were "so thin, they become exposed to certain health
risks", he said.
"Their immunity is compromised and their resistance to
infection is very much reduced.
http://www.singapore-window.org/sw02/020609af.htm
8/20/01
I
Page 3 01'3
~"'"':jngapore women dying to be thin
c1
~
I
"We find that statistically they are more susceptible to tuberculosis,
cancer, and their guts have problems absorbing nutrients.'
"Women are their own worst enemy," said Singapore Women's
\Veekly cditor-iu-chicfTara Barker.
"Once, we did a story featuring normal-sized women in clothes.
Almost immediately. we have women calling in, saying, 'why arc
you showing big women?'
"And when we interview men they say they prefer women with
curves. But women .just don't believe them.
"A magazine; is led by its readers. We can't force down their throats
what they don't want to sec."
Retailers say salcs of slimming pills slumped more than 30 percent
because of the publicity surrounding "Slim 10" but it was not the end
ofthe thin fad. Sales of meal replacement diet products rose; a simi lar
amount.
The medical watchdog Health Sciences Authority is now checking 45
Chinese-mack slimming products to see; if they have; been adultcratcd
with svntuctic chemicals, and the importers of "Slim I (I" have 'heen
charged with contravening the; poisons act.
Police arc also investigating the "unnatural death" of 43-yearold Rani
Raja who died early this month from liver failure after taking "Slim 10".
But despite the cout-ovcrsy, pharmacist Chen Yee Ju backed diet pills
if taken correctly and for a short term.
"I've been in this industry for about five years and no one has come back
reporting adverse side-effects.
Slim I () is a freak case," he said.
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