Weight Loss Pills — An Introduction & Brief History

Early Weight Loss Pills

The emergence of weight loss pills dates back to the 1800s when legend has it that tapeworms and tapeworm eggs were ingested by women hoping to lose weight. Advertisements touted that these sanitized tapeworms were completely harmless with no adverse side-effects; in actuality, eating tapeworms can cause malnutrition, severe anemia and even death.

Stories of eating parasites to lose weight continued up until the 1950s when singer Maria Callas was accused of contracting tapeworms as an attempt to lose weight. While this report was likely untrue, many people continued to ingest tapeworms hoping to drop pounds and stay thin.

A second precursor to the diet pill came in the form of a dangerous chemical – Dinitrophenel claimed to prevent food from being turned into fat (much like today’s “fat-blockers”). Unfortunately, after being taken by nearly 100,000 Americans in the 1930s, it was discovered that dinitrophenel is extremely poisonous and triggered blindness and sometimes even death in its users.

The First Weight Loss Pills

The appearance of the first doctor-prescribed weight loss pills occurred in 1950s when physicians began prescribing overweight patients amphetamines to suppress the appetite. These chemical stimulants were used extensively during WW2 to keep soldiers alert and prevent fatigue, but while effective, this drug was extremely addictive and brought along numerous side-effects. Such substance abuse problems led doctor’s to discontinue its prescription in the 1960s.

The Rise of Weight Loss Pills

The 1980s brought along an era of image and health-conscious consumers, giving way for the emergence of an ever-growing weight loss pill and weight loss diet supplement market. While stimulant and chemical-ridden weight loss pills were once popular, consumers now favor side-effect-free and more effective natural weight loss pills.

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