Nearly 1 in 10 adolescents have used nonprescription weight loss products in their lifetimes that are ineffective and potentially harmful, according to a study published Jan. 10 in Jama Network Open.
This finding comes amid a social media trend in which users promote the use of laxatives and stool softeners for weight loss, referring to the products as "budget Ozempic," Scientific American reported in September.
Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 90 studies published between Dec. 1, 2020, and March 6, 2023, covering more than 600,000 people. Overall, 5.5% of adolescents reported weight loss product use About 2% of adolescents reported using such a product in the last week, 4% in the last month, 6.2% in the last year, and 8.9% in their lifetime. Girls were more likely to report weight loss product use than boys. Adolescents in North American were also more likely to use the products compared with Asia and Europe.
"Nonprescribed weight-loss products in children are not medically recommended for healthy weight maintenance as they do not work, are dangerous, are associated with unhealthful weight gain in adulthood and increase the risk of being diagnosed with an eating disorder within several years of onset of use," researchers wrote.
Given these health risks, interventions are urgently needed to prevent and regulate use of these products among adolescents, they said.
View the full study here.