‘They’re dangerous… but I already bought them’ — teenagers exposed to prescription weight-loss drugs on TikTok

An investigation has revealed that social media posts promoting the use of diet pills are visible to users as young as 16 years old, prompting healthcare experts to warn of the potential harms.
Woman looking at her phone, suggesting weight loss on the screen

Andrea Ucini

Regular users of social media platforms will be familiar with online health and lifestyle ‘influencers’, with millions of followers posting a range of content, from ‘what I eat in a day’ videos to personal trainers posting optimal workouts for fat burning. Online, it seems there is always a quick fix to get the ‘perfect’ body.

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