The weight-loss drug Reductil that is a prescription drug only allowed to be given to obese adults in the UK may soon be prescribed for obese children as young as the age of 12 (or even younger) if controversial new recommendations being proposed by NICE are to be followed. The arguments in favour of giving these drugs to children are that the obesity problem being experienced by many young children is having a drastic effect in their health and this could lead to long-term complications and illness.

The use of Reductil or Xenical (another prescription weight loss drug) may be risky and have side effects but in comparison to the danger of remaining obese for many years especially in developing years the risk is much smaller.

Obesity has many long-term implications as if children get used to being obese during their teenage years they often remain like that for the rest of their lives. The list of obesity related illnesses is huge and even includes cancer and sight problems which many people are not aware of.

NICE are saying that these drugs must not be given as a first solution to the problem but only when all other natural remedies have been followed. The full list of NICE recommendations is due to be published next week and Ukmedix will be reporting ion them. It is likely to include information on diet and exercise as well as guidelines on obesity surgery and gastric banding that has been used to save the super obese from an early death.

The obesity problem is the UK is not just about quality of life for its citizens but also because the big number of obese people in the country are slowing down the productivity of the UK in slow work and lost work time due to illness. There is also a huge cost to the National Health Service in treating people with obesity related heart disease and diabetes not to mention many other illnesses.