Controversies have arisen over the matter of endorsement of celebrities for promoting health awareness campaigns, a recent report published in the British Medical Journal has found. Celebrities are often seen in health causes, but some suspect if the idea is a good one to encourage people live well.

Montel Williams was seen while raising awareness about multiple sclerosis, Rosie O'Donnell was endorsed for desmoid tumors and for fighting Parkinson's disease, Michael J. Fox was seen an endorsee. Jenny McCarthy too had spread the information that childhood vaccines cause autism. And many people are seen driven by the things celebs reveal. Since, these people are first of all their fans.

Besides, 'the Kylie effect' had given rise to a similar debate. It has been found that Kylie's diagnosis with breast cancer had brought a significant rise in the number of screenings for breast cancer at the time.

The University of Sydney's professor of public health Simon Chapman is in favour and says that celeb endorsement can have long-term effects on people. However, others, including City University London's honorary research fellow Geof Rayner in Britain says celebs are not experts; neither are they ideal role models.

A medical journalism professor on the other hand says, "It all depends on the quality of information that the celebrity is purveying".