Student Presenter(s): Pari Patel and Ryan Ahmed
Faculty Mentor: Melissa Hutey, Mindy Haar, and Chester Barkan
School/College: Arts and Sciences, Manhattan

The Out of Kids' Hands campaign aims to combat the dangerous hold of the over-the-counter weight loss and muscle-building products industry on youth. Despite the continuous reports of these products containing dangerous chemicals and undisclosed ingredients, the United States has placed no restrictions on their sale to minors. Predatory campaigns, including on-the-ground sales tactics, online advertising, and affiliate marketing target marginalized communities. A recent study found that Latinx students had ~40% higher odds of past-thirty-day diet pill use than White peers. Undergraduate students organized advocacy efforts to lead legislation banning the sale of these supplements to minors. Over the past year, the Out of Kids’ Hands Bill has had unprecedented legislative success in the six states in which the bill has been introduced. Students have employed effective strategies such as conducting a nationwide survey, designing infographic fact sheets, conducting studies on the harmful effects of these products, writing and publishing journalistic stories, producing video communications, and orchestrating grassroots call-in and email drives to advance the bills through key legislative committee votes. At the end of this presentation, learners will be able to describe the consequences of these products endangering minors, report on crucial policy components to protect them, and analyze the legislative successes for the Out of Kids’ Hands bills.