# Weight loss pill, 78% pure fat?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-loss-pill-78-pure-fat/465474>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 27, 2008, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-loss-pill-78-pure-fat/465474 "2008-09-27T16:29:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-loss-pill-78-pure-fat/465474/1 "2008-09-27T16:29:17Z")

</div>

There’s a commercial for one of those “miracle” weight loss [pills](http://www.lipozene.com/indexa.php) that claims that “78% of every pound lost is pure body fat”. I’m wondering what the other 22% might be. Water seems to be the obvious answer to me, but how would that be measured?  
BTW; I do not use any of this kind of snake oil product, so no warnings are needed, 😉  
I’m just curious what that other 22% might be and how they arrive at that claim.  
Peace,  
mangeorge

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-loss-pill-78-pure-fat/465474/2 "2008-09-27T16:32:56Z")

</div>

The other 22% comes out of your wallet.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-loss-pill-78-pure-fat/465474/3 "2008-09-27T16:44:01Z")

</div>

> [@Q.E.D](#):
>
> The other 22% comes out of your wallet.

😛  
A lot more than that, I’d say. Once they get your info.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-loss-pill-78-pure-fat/465474/4 "2008-09-27T16:52:42Z")

</div>

You lose muscle, hit the gym. Losing muscle mass(along with a slower metabolism) is one of the reasons diets alone generally don’t work long term. Less muscle means fewer calories needed to maintain weight.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2008, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-loss-pill-78-pure-fat/465474/5 "2008-09-27T21:14:18Z")

</div>

> [@runner pat](#):
>
> You lose muscle, hit the gym. Losing muscle mass(along with a slower metabolism) is one of the reasons diets alone generally don’t work long term. Less muscle means fewer calories needed to maintain weight.

That sounds right. But that much? I know that if you simply reduce calorie intake you lose muscle, and that’s all this (and similar) product does, by making you feel fuller.  
Problem is that hunger isn’t always triggered by lack of fullness.