Closed petition Make appetite suppressants an age-restricted product, bound by law.

Closed on 6 November 2019

Currently it is not illegal to sell diet pills and slimming aids to those under the age of 18. From working in a young persons eating disorder service I have been shocked at how children as young as 10 years old have had access to diet pills and use these to lose dangerous amounts of weight.

Despite shops like Superdrug and Holland & Barrett adopting policies that prevent products aimed at adults being sold to children, this is not bound by law like alcohol sales. The government restricts products that pose a potential risk to those under the age of 18. However, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. I believe it is irresponsible that the government does not restrict the sale of products that enable children to access dangerous means of weight loss.