There are very few weight loss drugs approved by WHO on the market.

“Currently, in the Vietnamese market, there are very few weight loss drugs approved by WHO. We have done research and tested all types, but there are almost no drugs approved for use by the US FDA and the Vietnamese Ministry of Health.”

The Poison Control Center, Bach Mai Hospital has received patients with kidney failure, liver failure, brain damage, eye damage... due to using tea and weight loss supplements containing Sibutramine, which is widely sold in the market and on social networks. Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen - Director of the Center said that intervening in the treatment of these cases is difficult because many organs in the body are damaged at the same time.

However, because they want to lose weight quickly, many women still buy drugs according to advertisements without caring about their true origin, and many businesses deceive consumers regardless of the consequences.

Anyone who wants to buy medicine or functional food to lose weight will be introduced by the staff at a pharmacy on Lang Ha street with all kinds of products to help lose weight. According to the introduction of this staff, the products are imported from Thailand, extracted from herbs and have been used by many people.

“Take 2 pills a day. Don’t bother asking anymore. We have people who have taken it and seen results, real people with real experiences,” said the employee.

If weight loss products can be easily purchased at any pharmacy, they are also sold openly and widely on social networks. Just search Google with the keyword: find the address to buy weight loss pills. After one click, you will have nearly 31 million results. There are weight loss tea advertising clips that attract nearly 76,000 views. According to the phone number advertised online, I called an address and was advised by the seller that they are selling, users only need to drink for 15 days without dieting, without exercising, and still lose body weight.

“Price 500k/box, that’s expensive to be effective. If you drink it well, you will lose 4kg in half a month, if not, you will lose 2kg. Every day, mix the weight loss tea with 100ml of warm water and drink it,” the sales person confirmed about the weight loss effect of this tea.

Recently, Ho Chi Minh City police have prosecuted and temporarily detained Vo Thi Ngoc Ngan (nickname “Ngan 98”) for producing and trading fake food that is harmful to consumers’ health. The product “Collagen vegetable pills” of “Ngan 98” does not have a circulation license, is labeled with the same brand name X3 - X7 - X1000 and advertised as having the effect of “increasing weight loss effectiveness”. The appraisal results of the Institute of Criminal Science - Ministry of Public Security determined that the product contains sibutramine and phenolphthalein.

Dr. Truong Hong Son - Director of the Institute of Applied Medicine.

Dr. Truong Hong Son said that sibutramine is a drug that affects the central nervous system, similar to some antidepressants, causing a feeling of fullness and reducing appetite in patients. However, because this drug affects the heart, blood pressure, increases the risk of stroke, especially for diabetic patients with underlying diseases, since 2010, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has completely banned its use.

As for phenolphthalein, this type was once used as a laxative. However, since 1999, the FDA has banned the use of phenolphthalein in drugs and foods because of the increased risk of cancer and genetic damage.

“These studies at the FDA have been tested on animals. The results show that if phenolphthalein is used, it causes the following consequences: acute diarrhea, dehydration, electrolyte disturbances, damage to the intestinal mucosa and increases the risk of gastric and duodenal ulcers, damages the liver and kidneys, increases the risk of liver failure, kidney failure and it is related to gastrointestinal cancer, especially colon cancer.”

Buying and selling on social networks brings convenience and speed to buyers, but these items are often difficult to control in terms of quality. If you are not alert, it is easy to fall into the situation of "losing money and getting sick". Any product advertised as bringing fast weight loss results must be careful about the quality and safety for health.

“Many people want to lose weight quickly, especially those who are overweight or obese. To lose weight, you must combine exercise with nutrition. Nutrition accounts for 70% of success. But not everyone can follow a strict diet, so they will look for simple methods such as medicine and functional foods. But it must be said that in the Vietnamese market now, weight loss drugs used by WHO are very few. We have done research and evaluated all of them, but almost none of them are approved for use by the US FDA and the Vietnamese Ministry of Health .

The goal for weight loss is to lose 10% in 8 weeks. If it is faster than that, it will affect your health because when people cut energy, they still ensure basic metabolism. To ensure that basic metabolism, the body still maintains weight, not to lose weight as quickly as possible. Any advertisement that shows a loss of more than 10% in 8 weeks needs to be reviewed for ingredients. There needs to be tighter management of these products on the market,” Dr. Truong Hong Son warned.

All weight loss drugs can only be used when complying with regulations: Licensed by the Ministry of Health , used under the supervision of a doctor. Doctors also rely on examination and testing to see what nutrients the patient lacks before prescribing drugs or dietary supplements.

vov.vn

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/nhung-loai-thuoc-giam-can-duoc-who-cho-phep-su-dung-rat-it-tren-thi-truong-post884998.html