Over-the-counter and out-of-control: Legal strategies to protect youths from abusing products for weight control

J.L. Pomeranz, L.M. Taylor and S. Bryn Austin

American Journal of Public Health, 2013, vol. 103, issue 2, 220-225

Abstract: Abuse of widely available, over-the-counter drugs and supplements such as laxatives and diet pills forweight control by youths is well documented in the epidemiological literature. Many such products are not medically recommended for healthyweight control or are especially susceptible to abuse, and their misuse can result in serious health consequences. We analyzed the government's role in regulating these products to protect public health. We examined federal and state regulatory authority, and referred to international examples to inform our analysis. Several legal interventions are indicated to protect youths, including increased warnings and restrictions on access through behindthe- counter placement or age verification. We suggest future directions for governments internationally to address this pervasive public health problem. Copyright © 2012 by the American Public Health Association®.

Keywords: antiobesity agent; behind the counter drug; lactone; laxative; non prescription drug; tetrahydrolipstatin, addiction; adolescent; drug control; female; food and drug administration; health care planning; human; legal aspect; male; obesity; pilot study; review; United States, Adolescent; Anti-Obesity Agents; Behind-the-Counter Drugs; Drug and Narcotic Control; Female; Health Planning Guidelines; Humans; Lactones; Laxatives; Male; Nonprescription Drugs; Overweight; Pilot Projects; Substance-Related Disorders; United States; United States Food and Drug Administration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.2105/AJPH.2012.300962

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2012.300962_7

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.300962

Access Statistics for this article

American Journal of Public Health is currently edited by Alfredo Morabia

More articles in American Journal of Public Health from American Public Health Association
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Christopher F Baum ().