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Parasite Dieting Fad Sweeps Across Asia

Posted by samzenpus on from the I'll-have-4-pieces-of-burnt-toast-and-a-rotten-egg dept.

People are willing to do some crazy things to lose weight: immersing themselves in ice-water baths to increase the metabolism, for example. But the people of Hong Kong have upped the ante with the rising popularity of parasite dieting. The practice has become so popular that the Hong Kong Health Department has issued a warning that parasitic worms can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and even death.

6 comments

  1. Eh. by JustAnotherIdiot · · Score: 1

    I don't see it as any different than these diet pills in the states. Both are killing people and they know it, but they don't care if there's a chance to lose weight.

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    What do I know, I'm just an idiot, right?
    1. Re:Eh. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It also used to be a fad in the US to use parasite egg pills to loose weight. Just remember to also take the medicine to kill off the gut worms before they kill you.

    2. Re:Eh. by v1 · · Score: 1

      where did you see that?

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      I work for the Department of Redundancy Department.
    3. Re:Eh. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I expect people will reference something like the image on this page: http://www.diet-blog.com/07/vintage_weight_loss_sanitized_tapeworms.php
      I believe I've seen something similar in a Cracker Barrel (If you've never been, it's a country style family restaurant that's generally decorated with the detritus of bygone ages).

      It's not sure if the pills *really* had a tapeworm in them, but assuming the ad itself is real, people (maybe not many) did take pills thinking there were tapeworms. I'm not sure if that reflects better or worse on the culture.

  2. China.... always behind.... by Meskarune · · Score: 0

    We were doing this in the US in the 50's and 60's http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rKvAmdl5y-8/S7H4Q7hQ3vI/AAAAAAAACu8/mWciGP9Xw3w/s1600/Tapeworms.jpg 20 years from now the Chinese will be taking green tea extract pills and wondering why Americans only drink loose leaf organic tea from mexico.

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    cat /dev/head >> post
  3. SBP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    South Bronx Paradise baby!