An Introduction and Brief History of Weight-Loss Diet Pills
Precursors to Diet Pills
Legend has it that late in the 19th century there were “diet pills” that claimed to contain tapeworms or tapeworm eggs. Advertisements depicted women standing in front of mountains of food with phrases like “Fat is the enemy that shortens your life – Banish it Now with Easy-to-swallow sanitized tapeworms. Jar packed…” There were even reassuring statements noting that sanitized tapeworms are “guaranteed harmless” and have “no ill effects.”
Tapeworm diet stories persisted up through the 1950s when newspapers accused opera singer Maria Callas of ingesting tapeworms to lose weight. In actuality, it was more probable that Callas contracted tapeworms as a result of her weakness for semi-cooked raw meat and liver. But despite the unproven accounts about Callas, there were people who continued to deliberately ingest tapeworms to lose weight – and stay slim.
Then, on May 25, 1999, a New York Times article reported another precursor to diet pills called dinitrophenol back in the 1930s. The chemical claimed to prevent food energy from being turned into fat. According to the report, approximately 100,000 Americans took dinitrophenol. It was later learned that dinitrophenol was actually poisonous and resulted blindness and, in some cases, death.

(Here you see some examples of the various diet pills that exist today.)
Early Diet Pills
The 1950s saw the birth of the nuclear age and a time when science and medicine were making strides never-before-seen. It was during this decade that doctors prescribed the first diet pills to patients. Unfortunately, the doctors were prescribing amphetamines, which were used extensively during World War II to keep soldiers alert and to help them overcome fatigue. One of the side effects of amphetamine use was appetite suppression. The use of amphetamines led to substance abuse problems for many of these weight loss patients. Doctors eventually stopped prescribing amphetamines for weight loss in the 1960s.
The health-obsessed 1970s and 80s saw the resurgence of an appetite suppressant candy called Ayds that was first introduced in the 1940s by the Carlay Company of Chicago. It would come into greater prominence some 30 years later via TV and newspaper advertisements. The chewy candy cubes came in chocolate, chocolate mint, butterscotch, caramel and peanut butter flavors. In a case of the wrong name at the wrong time, sales of Ayds plummeted as the media turned their attention to the AIDS epidemic. The candy, which was not very helpful anyway, soon faded from the market by the end of the 80s.
The Rise of the Diet Pills
The diet pill and weight loss drug industry has been growing for the last four decades as people have become more health and image conscious. A fitness craze blossomed in the 1970s and boomed in the 1980s giving way to a wide variety of diet pills and weight loss supplements that flooded the market. Many contained appetite suppressing drugs such as fenfluramine, phentermine and phenylpropanolamine (PPA). As time went on, alternative medicines gained in popularity. And now, after the FDA banned the once popular ephedra pills, many herbal weight loss supplements have risen to prominence.
A New and Exciting Era
A safer, more effective breed of natural diet pills have now taken over the market. They fall into four categories: fat burners, metabolism boosters, appetite suppressants and fat / carbohydrate absorption blockers. Fat burners and metabolism boosters help increase a person’s ability to burn fat and calories. Appetite suppressants decrease feelings of hunger (sometimes include a stimulant). Fat / carbohydrate absorption blockers prevent a person’s intestines from absorbing either fat or carbohydrates.
(Keep an eye out for the next article in this series in which we follow the evolution of diet pills and diet drugs into the modern day and consider their consequences and impact on society and today’s growing obesity problem.)
TOP DIET PILLS (last updated January 2012)
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MeltRx® |
Review Fully 88% of volunteers independently confirmed that MeltRx 24 Ultra® which contains ingredients that are generally safe and offer other proven health benefits, also was the most effective weight-loss diet pill. Featuring 35 powerful ingredients (12 of which are patented and clinically proven, MeltRx 24 Ultra® attacks body fat from more angles than any other diet pill. The science behind it says, it burns fat, prevents new fat storage, suppresses appetite and makes fat cells disintegrate. Some voluteers even says it enhances mood and boost metabolism. With its unique ability to empower the body to lose weight quickly and safely and a 30-day money-back guarantee, MeltRx 24 Ultra® outdistances the competition to claim the number #1 spot as the best fat-annihilating weight-loss diet pill. Read More. |
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The |
Review The Slenderizer™'s popularity lies in the fact that it not only produces significant fat-loss, but also it keeps weight off and enhances overall health and well-being. The Slenderizer™ unique formulation enables it to expel harmful toxic substances from the body and activate your body's brown fat. Also called metabolic fat, it generates extra body heat which leads to greater calorie burn. With a constant drumbeat of eulogizing customer and expert feedback, the Slenderizer™ has grown both in popularity and demand. It is the perfect choice for someone who wants to look thinner, feel healthier — and prevent weight from bouncing back. Read More. |
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CarboRid |
Review Now you don't have to feel guilty for eating that serving of pasta or potato salad. CarboRid™'s features Phaseolamin®, a clinically proven ingredient designed to inhibit the body's carb digesting enzyme. The result — you can enjoy your bread, muffins and cookies while you lose weight! Other reasons why CarboRid™ outclassed the competition include its 6 all-natural ingredients, plus Chromium—a crucial nutrient for spurring fat burn and metabolizing fat while regulating blood-sugar levels (which helps you feel full and curb your appetite). Read More. |
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Includes MELTRX 24 ULTRA®, THE SLENDERIZER™ and CARBORID™ for One Low Price!
+ 1 Free Bottle of Colon Cleanse Detox Ultra (a $25.95 value)
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The Perfect Diet Pill Companion
Colon Cleanse |
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Colon Cleanse Review
($14.42 - $25.95 / bottle)
While Colon Cleanse Detox Ultra™ is not actually a diet pill, it can be an excellent aid to weight loss. This all-natural, laxative-free colon cleanser gently removes toxins and accumulations from the intestines to purify and restore optimum digestive health as you drop between 5 and 10 pounds.
Taking a colon cleanser prior to starting a weight loss diet helps to clean out the intestines and makes it easier to drop unwanted pounds. Read More.
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