Years and centuries pass, but the eternal female question “How to lose weight?“ remains relevant, peši dariknews.bg.
There are no limits in the war against excess weight. Just like today, in the past, ladies were ready to make any sacrifices to achieve the desired slim figure. For this purpose, they used drugs, cigarettes and even intestinal parasites.
See which are the strangest and most dangerous weight loss methods popular in the last century.
Tapeworms and the Cocaine Diet
As strange as it may seem, cocaine was once considered a miracle cure for many diseases, including obesity. In the early 1900s, the drug was sold freely. In addition, coca was widely advertised as a means of combating impotence and toothache. Cocaine was even an ingredient in Coca-Cola until it was banned in 1903.
Times have changed, but the white powder continued to be associated with fashion and the catwalk, as many models began to resort to its help to stay thin. Cocaine has not yet disappeared from the fashion industry, and some models are "addicted" to it in order not to lose their slim professional appearance.
In the early 20th century, not only cocaine, but also tapeworms gained popularity among women trying to lose weight. Ladies willingly swallowed parasite larvae so that the worm could grow in their bodies and absorb the food they ate, and they would lose weight. Often, this dangerous method of losing weight led to constant diarrhea and nausea.
In addition, tapeworms can reach a length of up to 9 meters and cause not only intestinal diseases, but also vision problems and meningitis.
Smoking for weight loss
In the 1920s, people tried to lose weight by smoking as many cigarettes as possible. Tobacco was believed to suppress hunger and appetite.
Shortly after, the harmful effects of cigarettes on health began to be discussed, so tobacco companies continued to use the weight loss trick to sell more cigarettes. For example, the slogan of one of the famous cigarette brands was: “Light a cigarette and you will forget about sweets that make you fat“.
Pesticides as diet pills
Dinitrophenol was one of the first weight loss drugs used in the 1930s. It was banned in the United States in 1938 due to dangerous side effects. This substance is widely used as a photochemical, fertilizer, pesticide and in the production of paints and explosives.
The chemical is able to speed up the metabolism in the body, which is why it began to be used to combat excess weight. Some people still use it today. Unfortunately, there have been cases of dinitrophenol use that have resulted in death.
Amphetamines
Amphetamine, now considered a recreational drug, was prescribed by doctors as a weight loss aid in the 1940s and 1950s. Advertisements were full of how a few grams of amphetamine would help you lose weight without much effort.
Sleeping Beauty Diet
The fairy-tale diet that was supposed to turn a fat woman into a thin one became popular among women in the 1960s and 1970s. It is said that even Elvis Presley resorted to this extreme method to fit into his tight stage costumes.
To sleep for long hours and not feel hungry, those who wanted to lose weight took sleeping pills, thus postponing food intake. This method, in addition to causing many drug addicts, has also caused quite a few deaths due to overdose.
Today, with the huge number of existing diets, you can choose what is right for you, without any risk to your health. You just need to consult a specialist to avoid side effects, because we only have one life.