Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday ordered the Ministry of Health to closely monitor advertisements that promote quick and easy ways to lose weight.

The order came after district officials concluded that the reason five school students from Hun Sen Krakor high school in Pursat province fainted on Saturday was because they were trying to lose weight and had drank coffee with lemon instead of eating breakfast.

Hun Sen told ministry officials to take control of the advertising of weight-loss products in order to reduce risks to those seeking fast ways of shedding kilograms.

“People should be careful using [products for reducing weight],” he said. “They can be dangerous.

“I want to appeal to all people across the country that if you don’t know clearly about them, you should not use them.”

The Prime Minister questioned why teenagers needed to lose weight.

“The Ministry of Health should monitor the advertisement of some magazines that advertise medicines for reducing weight,” he said.

Chey Montha, director of Hun Sen Krakor high school, said he had spoken to the five students who had fainted.

“They said they drank black coffee mixed with lemon without eating breakfast.,” he said.

“When they came to class, they started to feel dizzy and had difficulty breathing. They became weaker and weaker before falling unconscious.”

Chey Montha said he had told his students to stop drinking black coffee and none had complained since.

He said he welcomed Hun Sen’s comments.