Fighting fat can be dangerous

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.