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Chemists will weigh customers who want diet pill
Anna Davis and Sophie Goodchild20.04.09
PHARMACISTS have been trained to weigh and measure customers to prevent some customers taking a new diet drug
Weight-loss drug Alli goes on sale over the counter on Wednesday.
Eating disorder charity Beat has urged drug company GlaxoSmithKline to ensure only adults with a BMI of 28 or more are allowed to buy it. As a result, 6,000 pharmacists have been sent on a training course before the launch and given a BMI tape measure.
This is the first time the European Commission has approved a non-prescription weight-loss drug. Until now a stronger version of the drug, containing more of the active ingredient orlistat, was only available from doctors.
A spokeswoman for Beat, which was consulted over the decision to allow the drug to be sold over the counter, said: "We said we wanted pharmacists to check people's BMI and look out for anybody who is purchasing other products such as laxatives and diuretics. They have taken this advice on board. We will be keeping an eye out for any problems involving people with eating disorders."
Alli works by letting about 25 per cent of the fat a person eats to pass through the gut without being absorbed. It allows dieters to increase their weight loss by 50 per cent. The pills cost £49.95 for a month's supply.
Reader views (9)
This has to be a joke! why is this being sold over the counter for £50? the rouges out there will make a killing on this. The price on the Black Market will double. If this is to go ahead the price needs to drop so no proffet can be made.
- Simon Richards, Caldcot, South Wales
I think as always there's going to be a risk of some sort. I believe the drug should always be prescribed by a doctor or at least for the person to check with their GP first. What about contraindications and allergies?
- Susana, Farnham, Surrey Uk
OUTRAGEOUS - we`ll be expecting publicans to stop selling alcohol to the drunkard next!
- Darius Midwinter, London UK
I would never take such a medication without consulting my own doctor first.
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford England
Nice try but the idea of weighing customers to assess whether they should be sold diet tablets might appear worthwhile; but cannot work in real life precisely for the following reason: it creates arbitrage opportunities for certain unscrupulous overweight persons to buy the tablets, and then later sell them to underweight persons who wish to diet. In other words it just introduces another 'middle man' to the chain of distribution and will serve no other purpose. Other than that, what's to stop an underweight person deliberately attaching 'heavy items' to their underclothes to fool their measurement? Sadly, if certain yet determined people want to shed pounds, by any means, they will always find a way.
- Tw, London, UK
I do hope you are joking Aria - ebay is rife full of fake medicines and I would never ever ever condone people purchase medication here are fakes can be fatal in some cases.
- Aria, London
I think this is a good idea, I have always had a weight problem and 25years ago saw a private doctor I kept the weight off until I gave up smoking. I have seen my GP who will do nothing to help because of government guide lines, I have gained 14IB and am very worried about heart disease as the weight is around my middle and my mother had a heart attack. I am 63 and work in an office 3 days a week when I walk 3 miles a day to and from work I also visit the gym twice a week and go for walks week ends I am sick of hearing how overweight we all are and yet those of us who do worry cannot get help
I do not eat red meat nor butter chips potatoes cakes
my diet forbade any flour but for the last 8 years I have ate 1 slice of granary toast in the morning spread with diabetic marmalade
Regards
Val Hooper
- Val Hooper, London
£50 for a month's supply? Do they not realise that you can get the same pills on ebay for £30?
- Aria, South London
An eminently sensible precaution.
- Squiz, Islington
