Fighting fat can be dangerous
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Some people will do anything to become thin. Unfortunately, some companies may resort to questionable products which can be harmful to your health.
Consumers, mostly women, are attracted to the incessant bombardment of advertisements claiming to offer products that can produce the perfect body.
Such ads, often featuring a doctor stand-in or a local actress, spur those in search of quick-fix solutions for a perceived excess of flab.
Employing "scientific" jargon to impress the everyday commoner, these ads psychologically trap customers.
Unfortunately, many of the products may not include thorough information which adequately warns consumers on the possible side effects of substances contained in the slimming product.
Instantaneously reducing weight through the use of chemicals in essence can be dangerous since it disrupts the natural metabolism process.
This is compounded by the fact that some of the chemical substances which induce the slimming process may be hazardous if not administered in controlled doses.
Concerned by the cowboy approach adopted by some companies offering various slimming products, the Indonesian Health Consumers Empowerment Foundation on Friday went public, claiming that in January alone it had received around 50 complaints from consumers concerned by slimming products.
Foundation chairman Dr. Marius Widjajarta said its survey of 500 slimming product consumers, 20 drug stores and 20 pharmacies, found that 20 products misled consumers.
The 20 products are among the top sellers.
One of the most commonly used substances in these products is amphetamine.
Doctors have repeatedly warned of the addictive nature of the substance which could eventually result in recurring headaches and even heart attacks.
For some, the experience can be fatal.
Daisi, an accountant, recounted how her weight-conscious mother died. While the diagnosis was kidney failure, Daisi believes that her mother's obsession with consuming slimming products may have contributed to her death.
"She was obsessed with being slimmer. Although she was only five kilograms heavier than her ideal weight of 50. Without consulting our doctor, she kept consuming it for a year," Daisi told The Jakarta Post.
"Doctors said the slimming product was the main cause of her illness. Her medical record showed her kidneys were okay before she consumed the product," she said.
Another source of concern for the foundation was that many slimming products failed to provide adequate information for consumers.
"Giving misleading information is hazardous to consumers' health. In some cases, it can even claim lives," Marius said.
"There is even a slimming product which gives misleading information by saying that consumers need not worry about abnormal heart rates after taking the pills," Marius said.
"It's completely misleading, I suspect it contains amphetamine."
Marius produced two easily-available products from China which did not have the Food and Drugs Control Agency's (BPOM) mandatory batch register.
Others simply did not mention the possible side effects nor the expiry date on its casing.
Marius questioned the role of BPOM in supervising the distribution of the products in the country.
Officials of BPOM could not be reached for comment.
People's desire to be attractive is human, Marius said, but they also deserve to be protected as stated in Law No. 8/1999 on consumer protection which stipulates a maximum punishment of five years imprisonment or compensation payments of up to Rp 2 billion (US$196,080).
"Be critical, be realistic. If people want to be slim, adopt a healthy lifestyle. Exercise and diet," Marius suggested.