Europe is considering prescribing Xenical (Orlistat) to children as young as 12.
Pharmaceutical company Roche is citing new studies showing that Xenical can help 12-16 year olds lose weight.
As orlistat still does not have an official licence for use in adolescents, it will be up to doctors’ discretion to decide who to prescribe it for, said a spokeswoman from Roche.
Are Diet Pills for Kids a Good Idea?
Enough already drug companies. I think that much of childhood weight issues are due to a sedentary culture.
Most people of an older generation can remember getting plenty of exercise as part of a normal lifestyle.
We don’t need to begin a culture of pill-popping at this impressionable age. How on earth does that teach responsibility?
Then of course there are the unpleasant side effects of Xenical. This drug is already available over-the-counter in some countries.
Do you think kids should be on diet pills?
Alexus, talk to your doctor. That is the best solution. Good luck.
WHAT DO AN 11YRS OLD GIRL WHO DO NOT LIKE TAKING PILLS DO IF SHE WEIGH 268.5 AND WANTS TO LOSE WEIGH
I’m 16 yrs. old and I’m around 5’6 and weigh 232 i used to weigh 249 but thanks to a great diet I’ve lost around 20 lbs. Its really hard for me to stick to it but i just think of how great i could look once I weigh what I wanna weigh. Today I went with my mom to buy those new Alli pills and at first I was REALLY excited to try them, but then after reading some of these comments I’m really scared. HAS ANYONE TRIED THEM YET?
I’m 17 and 215 lbs. I haven’t gained any weight in about a month in fact I lost 5 lbs, but that’s all. I haven’t lost anymore, I have changed everything. I don’t drink soda, I eat less bread, I don’t eat ice cream, I don’t have snacks, just an occasional dessert. I can’t loose any more weight, My body is keeping off any more weight, but It won’t loose anymore. Is there a diet pill that can help me get the weight I already have off, If I get it off I can keep it off, but it won’t go away.
Good job i think i will do the same, i am 12 at 150 lbs. Thanks so much for help that i’m not alone!
I’m about 4’3 and weigh 128 and i’m 13 everyone keeps saying that I will lose weight as I get taller but I don’t see any change I do excercise every morning and night and even during the day time…everyone makes fun of me but I just ignore it but I still end up feeling fat in the long-run.Should I buy these pills?
Tara, if you are a normal weight, you don’t have any extra weight. It is impossible. It is all in your head. You are fine the way you are.
I’m Tara
I’m 14 turning 15 in Sept.. And even thou i’m normal weight for my size and body, and i’m active ( i play soccer, tennis, swimming, running, track, etc) and haven’t eaten junk food in 2 years i still have some extra weight that WON’T came off. I’m not that series of taking diet pills has other people above have written they are but it nothing else works why not give it a try…. i’ve it does not work out for me I can always stop taking them.
Marlika, I agree with Dr. J, but here is the truth: a lot of diet pills out there don’t do anything. They at best make you poop a bit more. The effects of taking one of those is you’d have less money, but you wouldn’t weigh any less. The effect of taking one of the pills that actually do something like speed up your heart rate on someone so young as you, since they weren’t tested on teens, could be fatal. So in the best case, you’d waste money, in the worst one, you’d be seriously ill or die. Not worth it.
OK, here’s the truth. Diet Pills are a bad idea! Learn life skills that will last. Healthy diet and some exercise or fun activities. I made a commitment to myself years ago, when I learned the truth, I would believe it rather than looking for a lie which I liked better. Good luck, most people can’t do that. The choices you make will determine your life. If you can’t listen to me at least try to remember that once someone who cared told you the truth.
Can someone tell me the truth, and all the side effects, and details if a 14 year old girl who weighs 137 lbs should take diet pills? is there any pills safe for my age? what will happen if I take a pill made for 18 or older?
ok i need to know if the product works because i need to lose weight before i go to high school. i need to lose about 15 lbs or even 20. where do i buy the product at?
ok, im not into this whole diet pill stuff, but while i was reading it came to me that, what if you take the pill, yeah you will lose what you want, but what happens if you stop taking it, will you gain it all back?
i understand athletes are under pressure to run and be faster than the opponent… but it doesn’t mean you have to take a pill
and not to be a hypocrite but my track coach told me i had to lose some lbs to jump higher
im 5 flat and weigh 145 but its muscle, yeah i have a belly but my boyfriend loves it,
so its not about what the magazine says or MTV, as long as your happy
shoot I LOVE FOOD more than my boyfriend
just stay active, and to those who are over wieght hey take a slow walk around your block, every little bit starts, don’t expect to look like a model overnight
I’m 14 and weigh 140 am i over weigh cause i’m 5’7 my parents say that i’m fine becsue i’m tall but i don’t think so. I want to lose 30 pounds in 3 months i can do it but it will take a long time. So i’m going to give these diet pills a try.
im tired of being fat!!!
i need this!!:)
Lesie, I’m sorry your mom is so insensitive, but since she doesn’t tell you this, I will: you are not fat. Not even chubby. You are thin at your weight and height. You are fine the way you are. I know it is hard not to let comments from parents, who are supposed to think only the best of us, get to you, but you have to try. You have to remember that when your mother nags you about your weight, she is saying that out of her own insecurities, not because there is a problem with you. She is the one who has a problem by wanting all her kids to be exactly alike. You are good just the way you are.
Lesie: Probably 18. Not trying to stop you, but diet pills are totally unnecessary. There is no magic pill that will cause weight loss. You eat well and exercise, or you don’t lose weight, even with the help of pills. Got it?
And please just tell me the truth… and don’t try to stop me!!! please don’t
i am 5’2 and i weigh 124 pounds… i was wondering how old you have to be to buy diet pills… my mom nags me all the time and it really hurts because my sister and brother are almost underweight and they eat more junkfood then i do. I want to fit in to the rest of the family but my mom will not buy me anything to help.. saying it is my responsiblility.. i’ve tried everything.. i need help… from dietpills.
Stefnie, the only thing these pills will slim down is your wallet. If you want to lose weight, cut out all junk and fast food and only eat natural foods, as much as you want. Exercise for at least 40m 5x a week. That is it. You’ll lose weight.
Same goes for you, Kyle. The pills are all either dangerous or simply a waste of money.
I am a 13 year old boy wat pill is good for me
I am over weight and i was wondering do these hoodia life pills work?? I mean im 5’4” and weigh 160+ lbs and i have chubby places but i know i can look better if i didn’t eat soo much. i eat when im bored or upset and thats not good so what should i do? does slimfast or hoodia work?? thanks
l, please see a doctor. You are extremely underweight as is, and you want to lose more weight. That is not healthy. Your weight puts you at serious risks for a lot of diseases right now. Talk to someone, like a parent, counselour, or doctor, ok?
hey
i’m 16, 5’6″ and 100lbs..i really want to loose a few pounds. anybody got any ideas..?
Lizzeth, unless you are 4’5″ tall, 80lb is a sick goal weight. I’m sorry but I’m not going to sugar-coat it. Why would you want to weigh that little? Confidence in your body will come from within, not from looking like a skeleton.
how much weight can u loose?
I’m 11 turning 12 in apirl. I would realy like to be 80lbs.. I try everything I would like to fit into a 2 pice bathing suit
I could lose some pounds,I’m getting up there on the scale.And it ain’t like I’m a couch potato,I am in ballet,soccer,basketball,and softball and this is all week long.What I want to know is why do our parents care so much,just watch how many pills we do take,just let us take them.Also,so the parents can take all these diferent kind of diet pills but when one comes around for 12-16 year olds,it’s a no.We want to look good for the summer too.You should just let us try them out and se how the work.
Cierra,Baltimore,Md Age 13
I am 5’2 and I weigh 126 pounds. I really want to look good enough to wear a 2 piece bathingsuit. I want to have these pills so i can lose 15 pounds. I am thirteen so i was wondering if I could buy these pills on my own.
Mandy, Xenical has a ton of risks too, the biggest one being vitamin deficiencies. Don’t be fooled.
hey!! i think xenical sounds pretty good. but the people advertising those other pills that cause hearts attacks, stokes, sickness. should go right to hell cause your putting peoples lives in jepordy.!!
Jaclyn, a diet pill is never an ok idea for a teen, and at 125lb at 5’6″, you are thin already. Not “not fat”, thin. If you gained 10lb you still wouldn’t be fat. You don’t need to lose any weight. The problem is in your mind, you are seeing yourself as much bigger than you are really are.
Hi
I’m 15, 5’6″ and weigh 125 pounds. I understand this is not an extreme weight as alot is muscle cause I’m an insane soccer fanatic. But I was just wondering, if I wanted to loose weight in all areas, arms, tummy, thighs, woud a combination of healthier eating, soccer, and a diet pill be an okay idea? thanks 
Reeree, how is that misleading? I said the same thing you said, that 120lb, unless the person is as short as 4’8″ or LESS, is NOT overweight. It is an appropriate weight for people from 4’9″ on.
Kay didn’t say how tall she was, but she did say she was 120lb. Since that is ONLY overweight if she is remarkably short, at 4’8″ or less, then it is safe to assume she IS NOT overweight at all. Yes, she COULD be thinner IF and only IF we assume she is like 5′ or 5’2″. If she is tall, losing weight may make her underweight. And bottomline is: she says she feels fat. She is not fat. That is a fact. She’d have to be 4’0″ for 120lb to be “fat”.