Consumer association Choice is lobbying the federal medicines regulator to revoke advertising approval for a weight loss drug and make the drug harder to obtain.

The Therapeutic Goods Advertising Council (TGAC) upheld a complaint from Choice about a television ad for the drug Xenical, forcing drug company Roche to withdraw the ad.

But Choice health policy officer Viola Korczak says the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) should ban any more ads for the drug and it should only be available by prescription.

"This is a drug that has serious side effects and also it's really only suitable for a small number of the population," she said.

"But the advertisements give the impression that they are suitable for anyone who does want to lose weight and they give the wrong impression."

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200611/s1794583.htm