COCAINE DIETERS

Women WHO Turn to Illegal Drugs in Their Struggle to Lose Weight |

One in seven women is using drugs such as cocaine or speed in a
desperate attempt to lose weight, according to a survey.

Many others take slimming pills or laxatives to try to shed the pounds.

Yet both drug-taking and drastic dieting are largely ineffectual,
with the great majority regaining any weight they may have lost
within weeks or even days.

Nearly three out of ten women who took part in an internet survey by
the celebrity magazine Now admitted they had made themselves sick after eating.

One in ten said they would have an operation to fit a gastric band to
control their eating.

Now, which has a young readership, also said that one in seven of
those responding to the survey claimed they had taken Class A drugs
to lose weight.

Fewer than one in ten who lose weight by dieting manage to keep it
off, according to the survey of 2,000 women with an average age of 35.

Experts said last night that women were playing a dangerous game by
using drugs to get thin. They warned the glamorous image of cocaine
masked health risks such as heart attacks and strokes.

Several dozen deaths are attributed to the use of cocaine and
amphetamines every year.

The survey, carried out by online analysts Demographix, found more
than eight out of ten of those questioned had dieted.

Thirty seven per cent had taken slimming pills, 15 per cent had taken
speed or cocaine and 26 per cent had used laxatives as slimming aids.

Almost a third counted calories all the time.

Three-quarters opted for 'faddy' crash diets - with many feeling
unwell because of them - and two-thirds feared they had lost the
ability to eat normally.

More than a third raided the fridge in secret, almost half lied about
the amount they ate and a quarter hid food in 'secret places'.

Three out of four said they spend their lives 'snacking' while two
thirds starved themselves before a big night out.

Fewer than one in five never tried to diet and only 2 per cent
claimed to be happy with their body. Women would spend on average
UKP11,000 for a better one.

A third of women said they would give up sex to be slim for ever
while 86 per cent said they would rather drop a dress size than sleep
with David Beckham.

Dr Ian Campbell, medical director of Weight Concern, said it was
alarming that women were using illicit drugs in ill-fated slimming attempts.

"There is no evidence that they have any long-term effect on weight
but a great deal of evidence that they are harmful to health," he added.

"The only long-term solution to weight control is lifestyle changes,
including dietary modification and more exercise. There is no
substitute for effort."

David Raynes of the National Drug Prevention Alliance said
cocaine-use could kill and cause facial disfigurement.

"I fear that women are using drugs as an excuse for attempts at
slimming, much like women say they smoke in an effort to keep their
weight down," said Mr Raynes.

"But its a cop-out and women should be aware of the very real dangers."

Now's editor Helen Johnston said: "Women today have a shocking
relationship with food and are living a binge/purge lifestyle.

"Sadly this survey shows once a woman starts on the path of fast
faddy diets they become her companion until the day she dies.

"Body image is the female curse of the 21st century. Whatever a
woman's achievements in life, her whole self-image is totally bound
up in her body shape."