# Can AIDS or Cancer treatments be used for weight loss? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 21, 2005, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-aids-or-cancer-treatments-be-used-for-weight-loss/327279 "2005-10-21T16:42:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-aids-or-cancer-treatments-be-used-for-weight-loss/327279/1 "2005-10-21T16:42:25Z")
There was a guy on Nip/Tuck who was taking an AIDs cocktail that had the side effect of killing off a lot of his fat cells. So, I got to wondering if it was practical to use whatever caused that to lose weight. Or is it dangerous or prohibitively expensive? ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-aids-or-cancer-treatments-be-used-for-weight-loss/327279/2 "2005-10-21T17:20:47Z")
Well, really expensive for sure. And I suppose a healthy person could take some sort of chemo, which has the delightful side effect of shitting/puking, which could lead to weight loss… It seems like an exceptionally bad idea tho… ---
**Author:** ![Burrido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Burrido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burrido)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-aids-or-cancer-treatments-be-used-for-weight-loss/327279/3 "2005-10-21T19:23:52Z")
I guess in a technical way you could. The question is if you should. You would gain some pretty nasty side effects as well in addition to the astronomical costs. Retrovir- Nausea, rash, GI problems, and anemia. Crixivan- Kidney stones are a problem hence you would need to drink alot of water. Epivir- has the fewest side effects of any of the NRTIs. Or you could just watch what you eat and excerise. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-aids-or-cancer-treatments-be-used-for-weight-loss/327279/4 "2005-10-21T19:39:50Z")
Not to mention all the **extra** bonus weight you’ll lose by having all your hair fall out. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-aids-or-cancer-treatments-be-used-for-weight-loss/327279/5 "2005-10-21T22:00:05Z")
As an aside, you’d probably have to get your family physician at frelling gunpoint before he’d even consider this as a weight loss strategy. You’d have an easier finding a doctor to prescribe prescription stimulants for weight loss than finding a doctor to prescribe chemo. If you need to lose weight that bad, try two hours of exercise per day. It’ll suck if you don’t like to exercise, but less than chemo. Jeez. If that doesn’t cut it, try bariatric surgery. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-aids-or-cancer-treatments-be-used-for-weight-loss/327279/6 "2005-10-21T22:15:45Z")
For really quick weight loss, why not just cut off a leg? Much more straightforward than poisoning yourself slowly without need. I mean, I know folks like to find easier, softer ways to do things, but this ain’t it. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-aids-or-cancer-treatments-be-used-for-weight-loss/327279/7 "2005-10-21T22:34:19Z")
I found it amusing that the ever-helpful Google-ad folks supplied this thread with an ad for Weight Watchers! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-aids-or-cancer-treatments-be-used-for-weight-loss/327279/8 "2005-10-21T23:08:58Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > For really quick weight loss, why not just cut off a leg? Much more straightforward than poisoning yourself slowly without need. Or just poison. You just need something non-fatal. Or salmonella would work. ---
**Author:** ![aamco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@aamco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aamco)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-aids-or-cancer-treatments-be-used-for-weight-loss/327279/9 "2005-10-22T00:20:55Z")
> [@SmackFu](#): > > Or just poison. You just need something non-fatal. Or salmonella would work. Well, presumably the story is that the AIDS drugs selectively kill fat cells (which I don’t think is a factual truth, but since most people with AIDS look skinny, it’s believable, which is all that matters for TV). Salmonella would kill cells indiscriminately.