More than 5,000 illegal meds websites shut down last year

MORE than £4million of fake slimming pills have been seized by regulators since 2013 – with most of them being sold online.

Meanwhile the new #Fakemeds study by Slimming World and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), has discovered that a shocking one in three dieters has bought pills from websites without any medical advice. Some 77% of those questioned said they had been enticed by promises of rapid weight loss, and 57% were attracted to being able to order discreetly.

However, 63% suffered unpleasant side effects – including diarrhoea, bleeding, blurred vision and heart problems – after taking the slimming pills bought online.

While some slimming pills are fine to take with the correct advice and some websites are offering a genuine service, the MHRA is concerned that people could easily be putting themselves at unnecessary risk. They seized more than 4.6 million fake medical products and closed more than 5,000 websites selling medicines illegally last year alone.

Jenny Caven, Slimming World’s head of external affairs, said: “It’s easy to see how quick-fix promises made by the sellers of online slimming pills could seem tempting to people who are desperately struggling with their weight. Buying slimming pills online can be incredibly risky though.”

■ The #Fakemeds campaign website has a range of easy and quick top tips to keep yourself safe online. www.gov.uk/fakemeds