More teenagers are being prescribed diet pills to deal with their obesity problems and some experts say it's setting a dangerous precedent.

Researchers are conducting drug trials on overweight teens using the drug Xenical. It's used in children over 12.

"I had to take three pills a day, one for breakfast, one for lunch and one for supper," says Matt D'Eon who is participating in the trial. He's lost 35 pounds (16 kg) in one year.




Teen obesity is a growing problem in Canada. The Canadian Paediatric Society estimates 25 per cent of children are obese and face diabetes, high blood pressure and other health complications.

"I think that what (Xenical) will give us is another tool to add to the things that we're already trying to help with...like changing diet choices, and increasing activity levels," says Dr. Beth Cummings who is doing the testing on Xenical.

Medications help 'kickstart' people to lose weight

Dr. Glenn Berall
Dr. Glenn Berall

Dr. David Lau, an obesity specialist, is already prescribing diet drugs to children. He's selective about who uses the drugs — only those with high blood pressure or high cholesterol, or kids at risk for diabetes and heart disease.

"If health issues are serious enough, that's when medications will come in and to help kickstart...individuals to lose more weight to achieve better health status."

Dr. Glenn Berall says children do not need drugs to lose weight. Berall has been treating overweight kids for more than 15 years.

"What I have found is that people who do try that, use it as a crutch. They miss the point of what you're really trying to teach them. (They) have a harder time dealing with it later on," says Berall.

There are now more questions about the safety of these drugs.

Consumers have been told to stop using the drug if they experience any spikes in their blood pressure.

There are fewer concerns about Xenical. It blocks fat from getting through the bowel and into the body. The main side-effect is more embarassing than dangerous — it can cause diarrhea or loose stools.

Matt's experiment will help researchers understand how diet drugs work in children and whether they should be a standard treatment for kids who need to lose weight.