# Who needs these pills? Stupid fat people! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 12, 2004, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-needs-these-pills-stupid-fat-people/239623 "2004-04-12T16:39:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-needs-these-pills-stupid-fat-people/239623/21 "2004-04-13T14:08:01Z")
> [@buttonjockey308](#): > > Meh. It ain’t gonna matter anyway come monday. A Federal Judge in NJ has banned the sale of all weight loss products containing ephedra, or so it says [HERE.](http://cnn.aimtoday.cnn.com/news/enhancedstory.jsp?photoid=ephedra135.jpg&maxstories=5&storyterm=diet&floc=FF-APO-1500&idq=/ff/story/0001%2F20040412%2F1309725869.htm&sc=1500) Unfortunately, if you scroll down on the link I posted above, there’s an analysis of the “stimulant free” version of Leptoprin. This includes aspirin, a couple sources of calcium, some kind of chemical typically used as a pesticide, a diuretic, some extract that works on mice but has been shown to not work on humans, a couple laxatives, and some other assorted things that could possibly be used in treating liver disease, and one that possibly causes liver damage. So, that’s just great - go from stimulants that can cause heart palpitations especially in combination, to assorted chemicals that could cause harm, that might work for things other than weight loss, and some laxatives and diuretics. ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-needs-these-pills-stupid-fat-people/239623/22 "2004-04-13T14:15:28Z")
I’ve seen the commerical in the OP, and I have the same reaction she (he?) does! And while they say “it’s not for people who just have to lose 5 or 10 vanity pounds”, what’s to stop somebody who’s anorexic and already underweight from buying them? And I agree w/ the poster that said it was clever advertising, implying that they are SO powerful, you should only use them if you are obese. However, while clever, it is also a sure way to get people to abuse them and use them more often than directed. hehe…rather than hijacking this thread, I’m going to go make one about that PetMeds commercial I really hate… ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-needs-these-pills-stupid-fat-people/239623/23 "2004-04-13T20:11:42Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > I completely agree that’s a terrible name, due to the association with the eating disorder, but to give them benefit of the doubt I suppose it’s possible the drug and the disorder are named after the same root-word, and the drug is not named after the disorder. The broken cross, or swastika, was an ancient symbol with lots of historical and ritualistic associations before the Nazis co-opted it, but I ain’t painting one on my car. 😉 > [@](#): > > _It’s still a horrificly stupid name, I agree,_ But knowing the collective wit of the SDMB, I bet we can think of something worse. Let’s see: “New from SmithKline Beecham! It’s the Second Horseman in a pill!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Merhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Merhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merhouse)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-needs-these-pills-stupid-fat-people/239623/24 "2004-04-13T20:27:58Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > What gets me is that you are supposed to take the pills, along with eating sensibly and exercising regularly. > > At what would happen if you didn’t take the pills, ate sensibly, and exercised regularly? I always figured it was because if I bought the pills, I couldn’t **afford** food anymore anyway. I haven’t tried, though. I prefer spending the $158 on food. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-needs-these-pills-stupid-fat-people/239623/25 "2004-04-13T23:11:15Z")
I think calling it Anorex is part of the marketing. _Ohhhh, it’s so powerful it should only be taken by the obese **and** it’s related to Anorexia! I can’t lose. Or maybe I can. . ._ ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-needs-these-pills-stupid-fat-people/239623/26 "2005-01-30T12:09:26Z")
Mods, 25 posts on **Leptoprin** ain’t enough. Please let it continue. I’ve wanted to pit **Leptoprin** for at least a year. And while my libertarian spirit makes me want to say, “The market will bear”… The reality is that one year later the goddamn commercial is still on, exploiting fat stupid people. Who was the president that deregulated this shit? Carter? Reagan? Who TF? Again, I thought this freemarket deregulation would help, but it’s gone on too long, and given the longevity of the commercials, you KNOW too many idiots are getting sucked into a bunk “product”. :rolleyes: _“If it’s $153 a bottle, it HAS to be good.”_ Not for 5 to 10 _vanity pounds_, it’s WAY TOO EXPENSIVE FOR THAT. “We’re targetting the really, really fat, most hopeless depressed sad cases of all, people who are almost ready to commit suicide, and likely will after they realize they blew $153/bottle on snake oil” Makes me fucking sick. ---
**Author:** ![Zulema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/db5fbb/32.png) [@Zulema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulema)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-needs-these-pills-stupid-fat-people/239623/27 "2005-01-30T14:06:09Z")
I HATEHATEHATE the Leptoprin Chic, next time you see the ad watch for the barely perceptable “head wiggle” she does while staring at the camera with that smarmy look on her face. I wish I could slap her through the television screen right at that moment. There are way cheaper ways to get the caffiene, ephedra, aspirin threesome if you want to go that way. Don’t even get me started on the “way too powerful for the casual dieter” claim. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-needs-these-pills-stupid-fat-people/239623/28 "2005-01-30T14:07:15Z")
And for the so-obvious-that-it-shouldn’t-need-to-be-said: IF THEY INVENTED A DIET PILL THAT REALLY WORKED SO WELL, IT WOULD BE ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES, NOT IN THE BACK PAGES OF THE ENQUIRER!!! I mean, really. When they find diet drugs that actually do work, it’s big news. If they found something that works even better, with fewer or no side effects, there’s no way the product will end up being hawked on late-night TV or in classified ads. It will end up being the subject of massive legitimate news coverage, and the subject of huge marketing campaigns in prime media locations. (And that applies to breast enlargement pills, too.) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-needs-these-pills-stupid-fat-people/239623/29 "2005-01-30T14:43:04Z")
> [@Headcoat](#): > > I think these new ads are BRILLIANTLY devised… > > Anyway, their stroke of brilliance is how they stress early in the pitch “if you’re someone who needs to lose only 10 or 20 pounds, these ARE NOT FOR YOU!” Implying that these pills are so effective that your meager 20 pounds of extra baggage does not justify using such a powerful tool. So of course, the lazy chubsters watching this will suddenly be interested at its prospects; “hey if these things work on the criminally obese, then imagine the wonders it’ll do for me!” I bet they’ve sold tons of these to exactly these people. I’d been thinking about starting a thread about these pills for just hits reason. (Hence, it would probably have gone in Café Society.) **Headcoat** ’s observation is exactly the one I was going to make. ‘No, _You_ shouldn’t take these. You’re not fat enough. Why, if you took _these_ pills, then you’d look like an anorexic supermodel! You wouldn’t want _that_, would you? See, that’s one reason why these pills are so expensive; to keep casual dieters who might lose too much weight from buying them. If you’re only 20 or 30 pounds overweight, these pills are _much too powerful for you!_’ At the same time there is another commercial advertising diet pills that are being ‘given away _free!_’ One of the people in the ad says, ‘Free? Well, they _must_ be good!’ So this is the opposite pitch: ‘These are so good that we’ll give you the first bottle free. You’ll be so satisfied that you will want to stay on the programme.’ ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-needs-these-pills-stupid-fat-people/239623/30 "2005-01-30T14:48:02Z")
Aaauuugh! Zombie! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-needs-these-pills-stupid-fat-people/239623/31 "2005-01-30T16:16:51Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > But knowing the collective wit of the SDMB, I bet we can think of something worse. Let’s see: > > “New from SmithKline Beecham! It’s the Second Horseman in a pill!” 😃 Naw. We can do better. “Diet and exercise aren’t working? Try new Bulimine! The new diet pill guaranteed to work miracles or your money back! Here’s how it works: Eat whatever you want, even rich pastas and delicious desserts. Then take just one Bulimine and 10 to 12 minutes later, the calories will leave your body like magic!” Warning – may cause severe vomiting. The other things that get me are the articles in women’s magazines. “The last diet you’ll ever need”, “The ultimate weight loss plan”, etc. Think about it. If they are so good, then there would be no need for yet another ultimate diet in next month’s issue. Or the month after that. Or the month after that. Same with “10 ways to drive your man wild in bed.” Come to think of it, I think I’ll track down some women who have just finished up long-term subscriptions to these magazines, because you know they’re in fantastic shape and are most excellent in the art of pleasing me. And they probably live in spotless homes, to boot. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-needs-these-pills-stupid-fat-people/239623/32 "2005-01-30T16:32:34Z")
We’ve all seen those ads. It’s the “magic bullet” people keep chasing, thinking they will instantly become beautiful and happy, with no effort. They think the body type they were born with can be changed by a little pill. Let me be the first to say it. You’re not fat because you are stupid/lazy/gluttonous/bad. You’re fat because of the body you inherited. Fat people come from fat families, It’s an inherited trait. If it was a simple matter of buy the SuperAtomic Home Gym and a few tablets, or reciting a “secret” mantra, then why are so many people struggling with their weight, only to fail? Why do so many people practically starve themselves, trying to attain an impossible image? The skinny people in the ads were always skinny. No diet did it for them, it was genetics. No superheros got that way because they use Doc Samson power bands, they were natural mesomorphs to begin with. The Rock would be strong even if he was a couch potato. Pee Wee Herman would never be an Olympic power lifter. It’s the basic body type that decides this. But the $185 pill ads are the worst. You really want caffeine? Drink more coffee. You really want ephedra? Guess what - it’s speed. You can get speed from the neighborhood dope man for a lot less. The other thing that gets me is if you are fast enough to actually hear the disclainers, they sound like Do not take if you ever had a heart condition, breathing problems, zits, warts, common cold, fallen arches, falling of the room rent, or everyotherthingyoucanthinkof. Side effects may include extreme pain, difficulty in breathing, profuse sweating, violent convulsions and finally uh death. It would be OK, if someone wants to lost a few pounds for health reasons or vanity, but come on. I can’t imagine how it must be when everything you see, hear or read tells you that you are a worthless failure, just because of some arbitrary and false standard of beauty. This comes from the other side of the fence. I’m one of those who was always thin and will always be thin, no matter how many Supersizes I cram down my gullet. I also never made it to the Olympics or Super Bowl, despite having worked out intensively for a long long time. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-needs-these-pills-stupid-fat-people/239623/33 "2005-01-30T16:42:26Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > We’ve all seen those ads. It’s the “magic bullet” people keep chasing, thinking they will instantly become beautiful and happy, with no effort. They think the body type they were born with can be changed by a little pill. Let me be the first to say it. You’re not fat because you are stupid/lazy/gluttonous/bad. You’re fat because of the body you inherited. Fat people come from fat families, It’s an inherited trait. Gotta disagree with you on this. I’m fat, but I come from a pretty thin family. All of them have been pretty athletic their entire lives, but I’m a sloth whose idea of exercise is doing a few “donups” per day. I’ll be the first to admit that lifestyle is not the one and only component of health, but nor is it fixed in your stars. (Then again, my grandmother was diabetic, so maybe I should check out that angle.) ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-needs-these-pills-stupid-fat-people/239623/34 "2005-01-30T16:52:59Z")
Ahhh, but how overweight are you? Just few pounds, or “grossly obese”? If you come from a thin family, you can lose the weight easily, without any “secret formulas”. You are not the sort these ads are targeting. I doubt you have the same sense of desparation or failure that these vultures prey on. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-needs-these-pills-stupid-fat-people/239623/35 "2005-01-30T17:09:39Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > I honestly don’t understand how people get away with this stuff. And it isn’t just the outright lies … There’s no ethical difference between fraud of this sort and physical assault — both are means to the same end, to nullify your consent so that you will do something you would not do given the right of meaningful consent. So **Lib** , a lot of people thought the Atkins diet was full of shit. Are you still consenting to that diet plan ? ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-needs-these-pills-stupid-fat-people/239623/36 "2005-01-30T17:15:17Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > You’re fat because of the body you inherited. Fat people come from fat families, It’s an inherited trait. Fat people come from fat families because they inherit bad eating habits. > [@](#): > > This comes from the other side of the fence. I’m one of those who was always thin and will always be thin, no matter how many Supersizes I cram down my gullet. Not true. If you consume more calories than you expend you will become fat just like anyone else. Otherwise you would be a physical miracle and breaking so many laws of science I wouldn’t know where to start listing them. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-needs-these-pills-stupid-fat-people/239623/37 "2005-01-30T17:23:33Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > Ahhh, but how overweight are you? Just few pounds, or “grossly obese”? If you come from a thin family, you can lose the weight easily, without any “secret formulas”. You are not the sort these ads are targeting. I doubt you have the same sense of desparation or failure that these vultures prey on. On the scale of overweight/obese/morbidly obese, I’m smack dab in the middle of obese. I could stand to lose about 70 pounds. And I can lose the weight, but not “easily.” A few years back, I lost about 45, but it was a monumental effort. I couldn’t keep up with it. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-needs-these-pills-stupid-fat-people/239623/38 "2005-01-30T18:19:34Z")
Can we agree to put the brakes on here and not turn this thread into another 50 page nature vs nurture fat thread? We have a local talk radio station in town that is really chapping my ass. They present themselves as looking for the real lowdown, and trying to get to the bottom of things, etc., but they advertise Slim-Weigh, which sounds exactly like a cheaper (and less illegal-drug-filled) version of Anorex, and not only do they advertise it, but they use those ads that sound like real interviews. GAH! If the government is supposed to protect us from ourselves, this industry is where they can start. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-needs-these-pills-stupid-fat-people/239623/39 "2005-01-30T19:19:38Z")
> [@Eleusis](#): > > I’ve wanted to pit **Leptoprin** for at least a year. Ironic, that, seeing as how this thread was started about a year ago. “You’ve had the means to go home the whole time! Just click your heels together three times!” ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2005, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-needs-these-pills-stupid-fat-people/239623/40 "2005-01-30T23:15:22Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > Aaauuugh! Zombie! Even though this IS a zombie thread, the rant remains valid, as the stupid commercial is still playing. So I’m going to leave it open for now, as long as the thread doesn’t start demanding brains to eat. Lynn For the Straight Dope [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-needs-these-pills-stupid-fat-people/239623.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-needs-these-pills-stupid-fat-people/239623.md?page=3)