(February 8, 2007)--A health research advocate is calling the government's decision to approve an over-the-counter version of a diet pill the "height of recklessness."

Dr. Sidney Wolfe says studies have linked the prescription version of the drug, called Xenical, with pre-cancerous lesions of the colon.

The director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group says the plans to market a non-prescription version are a "dangerous mistake" in light of what he calls the product's "marginal benefits."

He also says the diet pill can have "bothersome adverse reactions."

The Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday that it had approved sales of a lower-dose version of Xenical.

The non-prescription version is called "alli."

Officials stress that it needs to be used in combination with a diet and exercise program and that using the pill alone isn't likely to do any good.

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