New California Law Protects Kids From Unregulated Diet Pills. This Is What It Means For You.

SACRAMENTO, November 11, 2026 - Earlier this year, California passed a new law, AB 2030, that limits the sale of fat-loss or muscle-building supplements to minors. Children are at a developmentally vulnerable period of their lives, where products aimed at transforming their bodies can have far-ranging consequences on their health. For that reason, this law ensures that fat-loss and muscle-building products are left to the discretion of parents and doctors.

Asm. Josh Lowenthal's Statement

"Social media and 'looksmaxxing' trends have put enormous pressure on kids to strive for unrealistic body ideals," said Asm. Josh Lowenthal (D - Long Beach). "This has pushed many kids into the unregulated supplement market. Diet pills and muscle building supplements can impact both the long-term health and mental well-being of children at a critical stage in their development. AB 2030 puts guardrails on an unregulated market by empowering parents and doctors to make informed decisions on what supplements kids can access."

What AB 2030 DOES

• Stops the sale of fat-loss and muscle-building supplements to minors.
• Covers only products marketed or labeled with fat-loss or muscle-building claims.
• Applies only to dietary supplements, meaning products with a "Supplement Facts" label.
• Uses the same ID-at-checkout system stores already use for tobacco and certain medications.

What AB 2030 DOESN'T Do

• Doesn't restrict adults. Adults can still buy any supplement.
• Doesn't ban any ingredient, including creatine.
• Doesn't cover most protein drinks or bars, which are sold as food with a "Nutrition Facts" label.
• Doesn't limit doctors from prescribing what a young patient needs.

What Problem Is AB 2030 Solving?

Adolescents are increasingly being marketed untested products that promise rapid weight loss or increased muscle mass. Supplements are not subject to the same premarket approvals as prescription medication, and many of these products contain harmful or undisclosed ingredients, including amphetamines or contamination by heavy metals. A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that 75% of tested diet pills contained stimulants prohibited by the FDA. Moreover, many supplements have not been demonstrated to be safe or effective for adolescents.

Beyond the inherent risks that come from unregulated pills being sold to children, research has also shown that the use of weight loss and muscle-building supplements is associated with higher rates of eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and depressive symptoms for adolescents. A recent study found that nearly 1 in 10 adolescents (9%) have used potentially harmful diet pills or similar products for weight loss in their lifetime, with 6% reporting use in the past year and 2% in the past week.

Bill Details

AB 2030 prohibits the sale of over-the-counter diet pills and dietary supplements marketed for weight loss or muscle building to individuals under 18 years of age. The bill requires retailers to check valid government-issued identification for purchasers looking to buy fat-loss or muscle-building supplements. AB 2030 applies only when a product is labeled, marketed, or otherwise represented for weight loss or muscle building, and preserves access for minors with a prescription. The law comes into effect on January 1^st, 2027.