England's top doctor calls for celebrity diet ads to be "stamped out"
Professor Stephen Powis says social media firms need to protect young people from "irresponsible" diet ads posted by celebrity accounts, calling some endorsements "unsafe".
The top NHS doctor says that some of the ads, promoting pills and detox teas, could be damaging to young people's mental health and body image.
He's asking social media companies to take down any posts which promote products that could do harm.
Powis has also pleaded with celebrities to "act responsibly" when taking payments for ads that promote such products.
The announcement comes amid a conversation about images young people see on social media, especially those linked to advertising.
There are high profile concerns that this is leading to some cases of self-harm and suicide.
Professor Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: “If a product sounds like it is too good to be true, then it probably is. The risks of quick-fix weight-loss far outweigh the benefits, and advertising these products without a health warning is damaging and misleading.
“Highly influential celebrities are letting down the very people who look up to them by peddling products which are at best ineffective and at worst harmful.
Published: by Radio NewsHub