Michigan lawmaker introduces bill that would prohibit sale of diet pills to teens

A Michigan lawmaker is taking action to keep weight loss products out of teens’ hands.

State Representative Erin Byrnes, D-Dearborn, introduced a bill to give the Board of Pharmacy the power to create a list of restricted dietary supplements. House Bill 5250 would ban minors from weight loss or muscle building and over-the-counter diet pills in stores or online and require ID checks at purchase.

Similar laws have already been passed in New York and are being considered in nearly a dozen other states.

It comes after a Harvard study showing almost one in ten adolescents worldwide use unapproved weight-loss products. A study from Michigan Medicine last year also showed an increase in weight-loss drug use among youth ages 12 to 25.

Rep. Byrnes joined Local 4 Live to talk more about the proposed bill. You can watch the full interview at the beginning of this article.