The marketing of weight loss pills have been stopped in UK due to the increased risk of heart disease and strokes.

The two diet pills which can legally be prescribed in the UK, Xenical and Reductil, are both only suitable for people who are seriously overweight or obese, but it can make heart and lung problem if it is used repeatedly.

Moss’ comments came as a study in Exeter showed that most teenage girls feel they need to follow some sort of weight loss plan, though few were actually overweight. 40% of 10 – 11 year olds said they felt overweight.

So far there have not been any reported injuries or illnesses caused by the diet pills. The California-based GMP Herbal Products however said that as the FDA had not approved the slimming tablets to be sold as a drug, as its safety and effectiveness was unknown.

It was discovered that those who followed the weight loss program, aimed at helping them lose 7% of their body fat, reduced their chances of developing diabetes by 58% compared to the group who were given the placebo.

The diet pills caused an average weight loss of 9% on average, after the placebo effect was taken into account.

Diet pills are sold illegally on Internet. Slimming pills containing a banned ingredient called phenolphthalein proves lethal when a 17-year-old girl in Hong Kong took the drug that she bought online.