Vintage Weight Loss: Sanitized Tapeworms

In the early 1900s a “nutrient absorption” product appeared. Call it an early version of Xenical…

“No diet, no baths, no exercise. FAT – the enemy that is shortening your life – BANISHED. How? With sanitized tapeworms – jar-packed”

No baths? What?


The product appears to be legitimate and was referenced in a 1999 diabetes journal (PDF)

Approaches to decreasing nutrient absorption date from the early 1900s, when diet treatment with “sanitized tapeworms” was widely advertised.

Elsewhere

89 Comments

  1. Laura Apr 29 2012

    if ANYONE has any idea on where to get these tapeworm pills. I’ve found a couple different sites that offered them but have not replied to my emails.. “extractotape” and “weight-b-gone” and “w8bgone” are what I have come up with so far and I am still searching “Megaslim” seems like a scam. Also you could try googling “tapeworm pills order online weight loss” or something like that in Spanish because it is legal and offered in Mexico. I’d love to get some of these and willing to pay good money it’s just a super challenge trying to find them

    Reply
  2. sarah

    Im sure the F.D.A. frowns on tape worms…..but only because their little pills are more easily marketed. The F.D.A’s standard about selling things that are safe, are much, much lower than you might think. Taking a tapeworm, then taking a pill to kill it before it grows to much, is much safer than most of the pills that the F.D.A allows through their doors on a yearly basis. True,….its unsightly, however there is no need to have a tapeworm get so big that it crawls out your anus. With a little planning you could take them, use them for a short time, and dispose of them before you have any unsightly effects. If used carefully it wouldnt be to ugly…..and my medical advice is that it would definately be safer than many of the F.D.A’s previous recomendations. I don’t have a weight problem, but if I did, I would consider this method over a very invasive surgery.

    Reply
  3. Rickey Lefort

    mail me P.O. Box 1085, Galliano,Louisiana 70354

    Reply
  4. Rickey Lefort

    Your teacher was messing with the class. That description sounds like something from a horror show. It is verry simple you take a pill to get the worm and you take a pill to remove it.

    Reply
  5. cody

    well anyone that comes up with a weight loss method like this thats safe and WITHOUT the damn worms will be a very rich person indeed. although even with the worms i bet the number of people that would buy this would be crazy

    Reply
  6. genny holland

    Hello hun, where did you get the worms from? Was it by accident or were you trying to get them? If you were trying and did aquire them just by eating or drinking, would youu mine telling me. I do not want to eat raw meat, sorry. If you answer me I would love to thank you at this time. Genny

    Reply
  7. katlyn

    did you ever find a site that sells tapeworms?? i want to try it.

    Reply
  8. uratan

    Hello, from Japan.
    I have one more question.

    near lower-right corner, written
    “SEND NO MONEY”
    “PARTICULARS MAILED”
    “FREE”

    How they earn with this commerce ?

    Reply
  9. Martin

    Not enough real scientific work or results are known about this rather seemingly strange method of dieting. Im sure there must be some form of careful monitering programme if not now at some point in the future. I like the idea of using tapeworm but have just recently watch a program where one has killed its host.

    Reply

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Date Created / Updated: April 29, 2012