A Nottinghamshire woman suffered burnt skin, diarrhoea and dehydration after using weight-loss products bought online.
Trading standards officers and GPs are issuing a warning after the East Leake woman bought the chilli-based slimming body gel and pills.
Experts from the county council say the gel “made her skin burn very badly with a very bad rash” and led her to stand under a cold shower for several hours to soothe the pain.
The burning sensation eased and she instead turned to the tablets – but after taking them suffered “dizziness, feeling faint, nausea, hot flushes, diarrhoea and dehydration”.
Her condition improved after she stopped taking the pills on advice from her family doctor.
The woman has not been named but trading standards and GPs say the case should serve as warning to people turning to the internet to lose weight.
It can be life-threateningly serious
Dr Ian Campbell, a GP at the Park House Medical Centre, Carlton, said: “It can be life-threateningly serious. I do know of cases of death because of harmful drugs contained within so-called safe herbal diet supplements.
“You really are dicing with death – I accept that is a very rare event but for most people there’s a risk of significant side affects.”
The products are being investigated to see if they meet trading regulations.
But the market for slimming treatments is not subject to regulation – meaning anyone can stock and sell them over the internet.
Paul Gretton of Notts County Council trading standards said: “Anything that’s from a source outside of the UK or Europe, where there’s no address on the website, I would walk away from.
“The really dangerous ingredient is something called DNP, which is an industrial chemical it can have some slimming effects but it’s extremely toxic and can cause coma or death.”
This case highlights the dangers of purchasing slimming products
Councillor Glynn Gilfoyle, Community Safety Committee Chairman, Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “This case highlights the dangers of purchasing slimming products from anywhere other than reputable sources.
“We would advise not to purchase any slimming product over the internet without first seeking medical advice and to seek medical assistance should you have already purchased such products and are experiencing untoward side effects.”
DNP and the risk of death – signs of poisoning
- Hot dry skin
- Excessive thirst
- Excessive sweating
- Abnormally fast heartbeat
- Rapid breathing
Tracy Marshall, manager of the Little London Herbal Store, on King’s Walk in the city, says many products are safe if taken appropriately and but said people need to be wary when buying over the internet.
“The problem with a lot of people these days is they want a quick fix and none of the products work like that – they will help over a period of time,” she said.
“There’s an awful lot more online -but with slimming products, horribly so; it’s big business.”
If you have purchased any slimming products online and have fallen ill afterwards, you are advised to contact Citizens’ Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06.
