Liposuction and Plastic Surgery Information - Advertising watchdog bans Xenica weight loss ad

Advertising watchdog bans Xenica weight loss ad

Wednesday, 22 November 2006

The Australian body that oversees advertising for pharmaceuticals has banned an ad for the weight loss product, Xenical, and instructed its manufacturer, Roche Pharmaceuticals, not to repeat it on Australian TV.

The ad was shown to Australian viewers of the popular show, Australian Idol, and was found to have breached advertising codes by failing to point out that the drug is only suitable for people with a body mass index of over 30, and that it is not necessarily for people who might just think that they are overweight or feel that they would like to lose weight.

Xenical is a popular, but controversial weight loss drug that acts by inhibiting the body's absorption of fat through the stomach. Because less fat is absorbed from food, the body's own fat stores are burned up, and clinical trials have shown the drug to be effective in weight loss, when combined with regular exercise and healthier eating.

However, the Australian consumer association choice says that the removal of this specific ad doesn't go far enough and is calling for the regulator to completely ban further ads for the weight loss drug and to restrict availability of Xenical.

Choice Health Policy Officer Viola Korczak said: "This is a drug that has serious side effects and also it's really only suitable for a small number of the population".

"But the advertisements give the impression that they are suitable for anyone who does want to lose weight and they give the wrong impression."

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