Lion City gripped by diet pills
Pound for pound, Singaporeans are among the world's most weight-conscious people, says a report on the use of slimming pills.
Singapore ranks fifth in per capita usage of appetite-suppressants called anorectics, according to the United Nations report. Brazil was first, followed by Argentina, South Korea and the United States. Yet Singapore's ranking seems out of kilter when its obesity rates are compared with others in the top five. Brazil has an obesity rate of 13.5 per cent, according to World Health Organisation data, with Argentina at 31.2 per cent, South Korea at 7.1 per cent and the US at 39.2 per cent. Singapore, in contrast, barely tips the scales at 1.6 per cent. Singapore's Health Sciences Authority has asked the UN to clarify the findings given that imports of anorectics have stayed flat over recent years. Three anorectics available here only by prescription are phentermine (brand names Duromine and Panbesy), mazinol (Teronac) and sibutramine (Reductil). Doctors said more patients wanted help to slim, so more pills might have been prescribed. But medics fear people are taking them just to look good. Dr Tey Beng Hea, director of the weight management programme at Alexandra Hospital, cited a 2003 survey that found 30 per cent of Singaporeans regarded themselves as overweight with half of that group saying they would take pills. "This goes to show how prevalent the slimming culture is here," Dr Tey said, adding that his clinic prescribes the pills sparingly and as a short-term boost for people well into a weight-loss regime. General practitioner Chua Ee Min pointed out that increasing numbers of patients, male and female, had been asking for weight-loss help since he opened a clinic in 2004. So many in fact that he started a second outlet last year. Women who are about to get married want pills to trim down for the big day, for example. Tey warned: "Rampant use can be dangerous, especially if people depend solely on them to lose weight. "More often than not, their appetites balloon once they stop taking the drug and they end up eating more and getting fatter than they were before."
The Straits Times, Asia News Network Singapore
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