Pink Diet Patch Targets Teens on Facebook

Doctors are worried about a “sinister” new diet patch that specifically targets young women and teenagers who may not necessarily need to lose weight.

The Pink Patch adverts are plastered all over websites including Facebook and Hotmail. They’re a small inch-squared patch which you stick to your skin for up to 24 hours at a time.

“Some of the girls modelling the patch, stuck to their arm or tummy, look very young.”

Pink Patch claims it works by using natural appetite suppressants which your skin absorbs to make you less hungry.

However, there have been a number of complaints saying the patch does not work.

The ads have been popping up on the left hand side of Facebook pages. The caption reads: “The Pink Patch will help you lose that stubborn stone and be your skinniest.”

When you click through to their website you’re met by lots of images of flat stomachs in tight jeans.

Some of the girls modelling the patch, stuck to their arm or tummy, look very young. The Pink Patch claims, ‘How to Be the Envy of Every Girl You Know’.

Dr David Haslam is from the National Obesity Forum. He said: “This is purely done to make money without any thought about the effect it’s having on these vulnerable teenagers with image problems who think they need to lose weight but they don’t.”

He goes on to warn the company: “stop advertising in this way… It’s dangerous because eating disorders are increasingly common… We hear about the size zero debate etc raising awareness of weight problems, like anorexia.. And this is just blatantly promoting it [eating disorders].”