Slimming supplements ‘do not tackle root cause of obesity’

Overreliance on health food and slimming supplements can lead to the root causes behind obesity being neglected, according to a nutritional expert.

Sian Porter, a spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association, has described the over-the-counter products as a short-term solution which fails to address the reasons why a person has become overweight.

She stated that without educating patients on healthier living and eating, many could feasibly take the supplements for their entire lives with no appreciable benefit.

The comments are reinforced by data released by the NHS Information Centre earlier this year, which showed that almost three-quarters of the British population are failing to adhere to governmental five-a-day guidelines on fruit and vegetable portions.

Ms Porter added that it is also important for patients to become more physically active, both in terms of exercise and in their general day-to-day living.

She said: “It’s important that they learn how to manage food and drink intake and re-educate themselves about healthy eating rather than relying on a short-fix substitute.”