Jameela Jamil has been calling out celebrities for promoting so-called “detox teas” and other diet products for months – and it seems the Prime Minister has been paying attention.
During Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions, MP Rebecca Pow
asked Theresa May to address the “irresponsible and unsafe endorsement” of such products, saying she was bringing up the issue to coincide with Eating Disorders Awareness Week.
The PM responded by saying: “My Honourable Friend has raised a very important issue, which is about how young people may be encouraged to take products because of their celebrity endorsements.
“And the celebrities who are doing that should think very carefully about the impact that these products can have in having that effect on eating disorders, which devastates lives.”
Pow later tweeted to thank Jameela Jamil for raising awareness of the issue.
Chloe Hall, a community dietician at Dorset Healthcare University NHS foundation trust, previously told HuffPost UK detox teas do “very little if you’re lucky” and may leave you “running to the bathroom if you’re not”.
Laura Thomas PhD, a nutritionist registered with the Association for Nutrition, said her main concern was how some detox and diet brands were marketed to influenceable young women “at higher risk of abusing laxatives, a symptom of disordered eating”.
“Vulnerable people are also far more likely to take more than the recommended dose in a desperate attempt to control their weight and look like the social media influencers who are endorsing these products,” she said. “However, any weight lost with these types of products is just water weight and can lead to diarrhoea and dehydration.”
Useful websites and helplines:
Beat, Adult Helpline: 0808 801 0677 and Youthline: 0808 801 0711 or email help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk (adults) fyp@beateatingdisorders.org.uk (youth support)
Samaritans, open 24 hours a day, on 08457 90 90 90
Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393