Weight loss and weight gain mixtures in Algeria are causing concern.. 400 complaints per month and health warnings.

Magical mixtures and herbs for slimming and gaining weight are flooding the Algerian markets, driven by the promise of achieving the "perfect body," but they conceal deadly health threats.

Fadi Tameem, the national coordinator of the National Organization for Consumer Guidance and Protection, revealed receiving 400 complaints monthly from citizens about unknown products being promoted as aiding in weight loss or gain, despite being sold outside legal channels, whether on sidewalks or online.

To make matters worse, promoters of these mixtures use deceptive methods to attract customers, exploiting trust in medical appearances.

From those wearing white coats, to those impersonating pharmacists, and even those using artificial intelligence to fabricate images of celebrities endorsing the product, all are means used to deceive Algerian consumers.

These products are sold at exorbitant prices that may exceed 8,000 Algerian dinars, amidst a high demand from desperate groups seeking quick solutions to their physical or psychological problems.

The concerns go beyond deception to catastrophic health effects. Dr. Mohamed Kwash, a public health specialist, warned of these marketers exploiting the needs of youth and teenagers, emphasizing that obesity and thinness are issues that require precise scientific diagnosis, not random prescriptions that may actually contain medications for other diseases, or unknown components causing fluid retention or hormonal disorders.

The results could be tragic: chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer, liver damage, stomach ulcers, menstrual irregularities, and even osteoporosis and kidney failure.

According to Kwash, these products deceive consumers by promising immediate effectiveness, but in reality, they gradually destroy their health.

Amidst these risks, the Consumer Protection Organization has begun preparing awareness campaigns, urging the Ministry of Commerce to tighten control over the digital space and stop this dangerous proliferation of counterfeit mixtures.

It is no longer just about counterfeit products, but about fraudulent networks that may lead their victims to incurable diseases.

Will health awareness save society before it's too late?