The Ban of Weight Loss Supplements For Minors

Minor kids, especially teenagers are so often pressured to maintain a certain weight in order to be popular or to live up to societal expectations in movies, magazines, etc.  So what are some common ways to be thin?  Many kids take diet pills.  The state of California wants to do something about weight loss supplements. The California State Assembly has passed a bill (AB-1341) effectively banning the sale of dietary supplements either formulated or marketed for weight loss to anyone under the age of 18. The bill is now advancing to the committee process in the California Senate. 

The ban refers to “dietary supplements for weight loss,” which legislators define as a “class of dietary supplements sold for or used with the intent to achieve weight loss that are lawfully sold, transferred, or furnished over the counter, with or without a prescription.” Without listing any ingredient in particular, the legislation seeks to ban: thermogens, which are compounds that stimulate metabolism and can include caffeine, green tea, and capsaicin; lipotropics, which are a combination of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals formulated to support fat metabolism; hormones, including hormone modulators and hormone mimetics; appetite suppressants; and ingredients deemed adulterated under section 342 of Title 21 of the U.S. code. 

The bill seeks to prohibit access to these products by customers in retail environments, and limit direct access only to managers, assistant managers, acting managers, or any other supervisory personnel at an establishment. There are similar proposed bills being considered in New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Missouri.  

One group that is opposed to the legislation is the Natural Products Association (NPA).  NPA believes that there could be an unintended consequence: that those under the age of 18 might be driven away from responsible retailers toward “shady online sellers” to buy dietary supplements.  

The Natural Products Association (NPA), which has been fighting against this legislation and similar proposed bills being considered in New York, New Jersey, Missouri, and Massachusetts, issued a statement in opposition to its passage. Of note, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts have companion bills in both state legislative chambers.