|
CNN LIVE AT DAYBREAK
Real Skinny on Skinny Pills
Aired December 10, 2002 - 06:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Turning our attention now to health news. A new Web site that is pushing diet pills for children is raising the eyebrows of many parents and the ire of some physicians.
CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen has the real skinny on the so-called skinny pills.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): The makers of the so-called skinny pills for kids are marketing to children ages 6 through 12, and the makers say this is the first diet pill for children. But when doctors saw this Web site, they saw red. They said not only doesn't this pill work, but it actually could be harmful for your child.
The pill contains an herb called uva ursi, which, according to the "Physician's Desk Reference" which is sort of the bible on this issue, should never, ever be given to children, because it can cause liver damage.
In addition, this pill contains not one, not two, but three different herbs that are diuretic. Diuretics make you lose water, and pediatricians we talked to say that's particularly dangerous for children. If taken long-term, diuretics can cause kidney damage and electrolyte imbalance.
In addition, this pill contains four times as much niacin as an 8-year-old is supposed to get in one day. Niacin can be toxic to the liver. So, doctors who we talked to say you should absolutely not give this to your child.
Now, the makers of this pill say that the pill is safe and effective for children.
EDITA KAYE, FOUNDER, SKINNYPILL.COM: I have all the ingredients in there that my formulators have told me are safe and effective. I'm not a chemist. I think I have done everything in the safest possible way that I could, and I think I help a lot of people.
COHEN: However, a spokesman for the American Dietetic Association says that this pill doesn't work. There is no science behind it, and it could actually hurt your child.
KEITH AYOOB, AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSN.: This is a vulnerable population. To come along and give them false promises with a bogus, potentially harmful product is outrageous. It's snake oil, and it shouldn't be allowed to happen.
COHEN: So, what can you do to help your child safely lose weight? Well, the answer is still diet and exercise, just like it is for an adult. And doctors say it works particularly well with children if you give children positive reinforcement for good food choices, rather than negative reinforcement for bad food choices.
And it also helps if the entire family gets into the act. For example, if the family is sitting around watching television, turn the television off and all go take a family walk.
Back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: All right, Elizabeth, thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
|
