Date Time Share Using diet pills and laxatives for weight control linked to future diagnosis of an eating disorder Over-the-counter diet pills are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which means using them does not not require a health care provider’s guidance or prescription. A new study from University of Minnesota School of Public Health (SPH) researchers investigated how likely people using diet pills and laxatives are to be diagnosed with an eating disorder in the future. The study results showing their risk of being diagnosed increased significantly were recently published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders.