From tape worms to arsenic, there's been no shortage of weight loss absurdity. For years, con artists have been preying on consumers' health concerns by hawking shady pills, potions, and "medical" devices. At best, these products have been ineffective but harmless. In the worst-case scenarios, they have lead to serious injury and even death.

Since it was founded in 1906, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has worked to keep us all safe, particularly when it comes to putting a stop to the production and sale of fraudulent weight loss and diet products, many of which, have made headlines for their dangerous side effects. Remember these???

TRIM REDUCING-AID CIGARETTES

Banned in 1958, Trim guaranteed that smoking at least three of their cigarettes a day would help people lose 20 pounds in eight weeks without making any changes to their diet. The manufacturer said that the "clinically tested and medically approved" smokes could decrease appetite by drying out the the mouth. They also said that their product was "absolutely harmless" — an assertion that seems outright ridiculous now that we know how dangerous cigarettes really are. 

VISION-DIETER GLASSES

The Arkansas-maker behind these 1970s glasses claimed users lose would weight in two ways: First, shoppers would be less likely to buy food in colorful packages because they couldn't see the eye-catching hues. Second, the blue and brown shades allegedly contained a "secret European color technology" that would help squash hunger pains throughout the day.

TAPE WORMS

An ad, which dates back to the turn of the 20th century, claimed that a handy jar of tapeworms could help people "Eat! Eat! Eat! And always stay thin!" To be fair, tapeworm infestations do result in weight loss — but, according to the Mayo Clinic, other possible side effects include nausea, weakness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, bacterial infections, and even seizures.

VIBRATION MACHINES

Starting in the 1950s, these jiggling machines promised toned tummies and thighs without even having to exert any effort, but there wasn’t any proof that they worked. Women were drawn to it, though, because they didn’t have to exert any energy to get a slimmer, trimmer body.

LORD BYRON’S INVIGORATING VINEGAR

The Romantic poet with the scandalous private life had an unusual method of keeping fit and healthy. He advocated drinking vinegar daily, as well as soaking food in the acidic substance as a way of staying trim. Admirers began copying this trend to get his famously pale complexion and slim figure.

ARSENIC

Before we knew of its dangers as a poison, arsenic was used in a variety of ways, including as a cosmetic and a weight-loss aid. Victorian diet pills often contained a mixture of dubious ingredients, including arsenic, with people completely unaware of what they were taking. To be fair, arsenic, in low doses, is a stimulant. So, in theory, a nip of arsenic could pep you up, so you might become more active, in which case you might burn a few extra calories. But the line between stimulation and death is a fine one.

RUBBER CLOTHES

In the mid-19th century, American inventor Charles Goodyear, created the vulcanisation process, which allowed for the commercial use of rubber. As this revolutionary material became mass produced, inventors tried to cash in on its success by innovating new ways it could be used – including garments for weight loss. It was thought that the rubber would hold in fat while making you sweat, and therefore lose weight. Unfortunately, what the material actually did was cause the wearer’s skin to break down, leaving it vulnerable to sores and infections.

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY DIET

First referenced in the 1960s, the main principle of the Sleeping Beauty regime was that if you’re sleeping, you’re not eating. However, ardent followers of the mantra have historically deployed sleeping pills, alcohol and sedatives to ensure they stay asleep, sometimes for up to 20 hours a day. Elvis Presley was apparently a fan of the ‘diet’, having once put himself into a medically induced coma for a few days to avoid the temptation of eating.

REACH FOR A LUCKY

Lucky Cigarettes advertised their cigarettes as a diet tool, building their ad campaign on the idea that if you "reach for a Lucky when you crave something sweet," the cigarettes would keep you trim. Granted, it's something that people still use to curb hunger cravings, but that certainly doesn't make it a good or healthy thing. 

Today, scammers still try to take advantage of new year wellness resolutions. “The Federal Trade Commission is preparing for the annual spike in weight-loss product fraud that tends to occur this time of year, as consumers search for a "magic bullet," said Richard Cleland, assistant director for the FTC's division of advertising practices. "In terms of advertising issues, weight loss fraud is one of the top priorities for the Federal Trade Commission," Cleland said in an interview with BuzzFeed News. "It's very lucrative for scammers...you've got an audience that is susceptible to being scammed and a fairly sophisticated group of marketers that are very adept of taking advantage of them."

Aside from being “too good to be true” and often times ridiculous, here are a few ways to recognize if a weight loss product is fake:

• The product claims weight loss without diet or exercising.

• Advertisements tout weight-loss products with hyperbolic terms such as “miracle,” “revolutionary,” or “scientific breakthrough.”

• The product promises “instant and permanent” weight loss.

• Claims stating that in order to lose weight, all you have to do is take this pill, wear this patch, or apply this cream.

• The product lacks an ingredient list or is on the FDA’s list of potentially harmful weight loss products.

• The product cites a long list of clinical studies that are unrelated to the product, outdated, or performed on animals, not humans.

Don’t be fooled…the path to successful, healthy, and permanent weight loss is less about a new crazy fad that promises unrealistic results, and more about a balanced lifestyle of exercise and diet. To find out how Success Studio can help you to obtain your weight loss goals safely without glasses or rubber clothes, click the button below for your complimentary personalized assessment.