MICHELLE Mone has been criticised for using her “Lady Mone” Twitter account to appear to promote controversial diet pills.
The entrepreneur, who took up her seat in the House of Lords last month, used her social media account to share a special offer for Trimsecrets, an appetite suppressant.
She told her 1.1 million followers: “Got mine. I need a bikini body for the beach at Xmas! Training hard but Trimsecrets have helped me big time.”
The Trimsecrets tweet she shared stated: “Use the code BOGOF at http://www.trimsecrets.com for one free box just in time for the festive season #ChristmasIsComing #PartyBody”
Baroness Mone was recently appointed by David Cameron as the UK Government’s business start-up czar
Mone set up Trimsecrets but was reported to have quit the company after accepting the Prime Minister’s offer of a role. She still lists the firm on the “Portfolio” part of her official website and company records show her daughter is a director.
She credits Trimsecrets, developed by late Edinburgh naturopath Jan de Vries, for her seven stone weight loss.
Dieters pay £14.95 for a two-week supply of the capsules, made from ingredients including citrus compounds, sweeteners and guarana extract. The diet plan also includes restricting food intake to 1500 calories for women and 2000 for men, along with exercise.
But many dieticians believe the pills are an expensive waste of money.
Aishling Piggot, a spokeswoman for the British Dietetic Association, said: “Any person in a position of authority should not be advertising this.
“It’s sending a big message to the whole of the UK, particularly young girls, that they are promoting this cycle of weight loss.
“I find it very irresponsible for any celebrity. She’s a person in a position of authority and a position of responsibility.
“From a dietitian’s point of view it’s sending that message that a product will get you a certain physique or look.”
Professor of nutrition at Glasgow University, Mike Lean, said: “She discovered how to make huge amounts of money from ordinary people by selling underwear, which presumably actually had a function.
“Her diet pills do absolutely nothing.”
He added: “There is a huge objection to playing games with people’s health. Obesity is a very serious disease. It causes multiple disabilities through arthritis, and depression, and speeds up aging processes, leading to diabetes, heart disease, cancers and dementia
“Selling quack weight-loss pills to vulnerable people, who actually need proper evidence-based help from medical services, is out of order.”
The Trimsecrets weight loss plan was yesterday revealed to be among the British Dietetic Association’s “worst diets of the year”.
Other contenders included a kale and chewing gum diet, one that involves drinking coffee with melted butter, and “Super Elixir” pills which costs £96 per month.
A spokesman for Baroness Mone said: “She uses the pills every day and she swears by them. They’re completely herbal.”
A spokesman for TrimSecrets said: “During a public Twitter trial in 2013, participants lost over 30 stone between them over a three month period using the pills and following the slimming plan.
“We urge you to investigate this and speak to our repeat customers on why they follow our plan.”
TrimSecrets is not, and has never claimed to be, a ‘diet pill’.”
