Weight-loss experts call for crackdown on medical tourism

OBESITY experts have called for a crackdown on medical tourism to prevent further "heartbreaking" deaths.

- Hanna Geissler

Thousands of people keen to slim down are thought to travel from the UK for cut-price bariatric surgery which can shrink the stomach - in countries such as Turkey every year.

But dodgy practices mean procedures can lead to infections, permanent injuries and fatalities.

A group of 119 experts and 88 patient representatives are now listing 126 recommendations for better care.

They warned against the use of special offers, such as two-for-one deals, and said patients should not be offered bariatric surgery unless they are obese, with a BMI over 30kg/m2.