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Xenical, anyone?(CHOICE cuts)

Choice (Chippendale, Australia)

| March 01, 2007 | COPYRIGHT 2007 Australian Consumers' Association. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)Copyright

The little blue pill Xenical appears to be the latest hot thing in weight loss, Hollywood style. It's a 'pharmacist only' drug--available on request at a pharmacy, not one for which you need a prescription--and it's touted by the drug company to be the scientific solution to losing weight. But it can have unpleasant gastro-intestinal side effects, and it's not intended for use by someone who just wants to lose a bit of weight. It's only been through clinical trials that show it's suitable for people who are obese, with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more, or with a BMI of 27 or more with obesity-related risk factors such as high blood pressure or cholesterol.

When its recent advertising stint during TV shows, including Australian Idol, put Xenical into the mainstream, we were concerned that the audience--with a high proportion of young female viewers--could be left with the impression that the drug was a quick-fix solution suitable for anyone who wants to lose some weight.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia has issued guidelines for pharmacists to follow when dispensing Xenical, which should ensure that only eligible people receive the drug and that they're given suitable advice and counselling. To see if the guidelines are being followed, we sent a researcher out to pharmacies across the Sydney metropolitan area.

Our researcher was a young-looking 19-year-old woman with a ...

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