Liberal Democrats have revealed that Health Boards have prescribed adult anti-obesity drugs to under-16 year olds at least 1,135 times in the last five year, despite Sibutramine and orlistat not being licensed for children’s use.

A NICE guideline says that these drugs can only be used for children in exceptional circumstances.

Answers to Parliamentary Questions also show that the number of these anti obesity drugs prescribed to adults has rocketed by over 40 per cent over five years.

Commenting, Ross Finnie MSPRoss Finnie said:

“I have written to the Health Secretary demanding an explanation for this. We need to know if this means either that Health Boards are ignoring licensing laws and potentially risking children’s health or if childhood obesity has reached levels where only drugs can help.

“Childhood obesity is a ticking timebomb and is getting more serious each year. We have been vocal in our demands for action, but this does not excuse Health Boards prescribing adult drugs to children. We need to know why Health Boards have prescribed sibutramine and orlistat to so many under 16 year olds, given the clear advice that it is an adult drug.

“This is either a very serious failing by Health Boards or a totally damning indictment about the extent of the obesity epidemic in our young people.

“But the figures for adults raise questions too. We also need to know whether this 40 per cent rise in anti-obesity drugs is down to Scotland’s growing battle with the bulge, or if GPs are increasingly turning to the prescription pad rather than traditional lifestyle advice.

“There’s no doubt that obesity is at the root of many of Scotland’s killer diseases. Worryingly, there’s a risk that progress made in tackling for instance heart disease will be totally undermined if the SNP Government cannot tackle Scotland’s obesity epidemic.”