In The News:
Nearly 1 in 10 teens worldwide have used ineffective and potentially harmful weight-loss products, study estimates | …
“The incidence of eating disorders has increased pretty dramatically after the pandemic. We’ve seen the numbers skyrocket,” she said. “So I do think that the concern I had before, which was not a small matter then — I’m even more concerned now.”
When Cody is working with patients who have an eating disorder, she said she’ll sometimes see dramatic changes to their heart rate, blood pressure or sleeping patterns.
Risky weight loss products often used by teens globally, per study
N ew weight loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have garnered a lot of attention in the past year, but they aren’t always easy to get, especially for young people. Instead, teens surfing TikTok often see other options that don’t even require a doctor’s note.
In the short term, poorly regulated supplements that act as stimulants also carry more immediate cardiac risks — there’s “the consequence of potentially stressing your heart out in a way that you can’t control, once the substance is in you,” Hildebrandt said.