Throughout history, humans have concocted some truly bizarre methods in their quest to shed unwanted pounds. From the peculiar to the downright dangerous, here are five of the weirdest fat reduction methods that people have tried over the years.
1. Tapeworm Diet
In the early 20th century, some desperate dieters intentionally ingested tapeworm eggs, believing the parasites would help them lose weight by consuming calories from within. This dangerous practice could lead to severe health issues and even death.
2. Vibrating Belt Machines
Popular in the 1950s and 60s, these contraptions promised to jiggle away fat without any effort. Users would stand on a platform with a belt around their waist, hips, or thighs, which would then violently shake the body. Unsurprisingly, they were largely ineffective for weight loss.
3. Sleeping Beauty Diet
This method, rumoured to have been used by Elvis Presley, involved being sedated for days at a time. The idea was that if you were unconscious, you couldn’t eat. This extremely dangerous practice could lead to numerous health complications and addiction.
4. Soap Diet
In the 1930s, a soap called ‘Fat-O-NO’ was marketed as a fat-reducing soap. Users were instructed to wash problem areas with the soap, which supposedly contained magical fat-dissolving ingredients. In reality, it was just ordinary soap with some fragrance added.
5. Cigarette Diet
In the 1920s, cigarette companies capitalised on the desire to be thin by marketing cigarettes as an appetite suppressant. One famous campaign urged women to “Reach for a Lucky instead of a sweet.” This method not only failed to provide significant weight loss but also exposed users to numerous health risks associated with smoking.
While these methods may seem laughable today, they serve as a reminder of the lengths people will go to in pursuit of the ‘ideal’ body. It’s always best to approach weight loss through healthy eating and regular exercise, under the guidance of medical professionals.
