By summer 2009 an anti-obesity pill will be sold in chemists without prescription in the UK and across Europe. But not just anyone can buy it, you have to have a BMI of 28 or more (BMI calculator).

It is called Orlistat or Alli for short and will cost £1.45 a day. Surely this pill will just be a cop-out for lazy people who may lose the weight but will still have an unhealthy lifestyle that will lead to an early death anyway?

The pill has already been on sale in America for a year. A spokesman for GSK Consumer Healthcare UK said: “It is not a magic pill but it can help people lose more weight than dieting alone.”. So there you have it, it’s not a magic pill, but tests have shown it does work.

Although some lazy people will see it is a magic pill I’m sure the pill will be taken by lots of sensible people who have trouble losing weight, and I hope it works for them to help solve Britains obesity issues.

Time will reveal all….

Sources: NT, Mirror. Image: colros