February 10, 2010 – As desperate times call for desperate measures, dieters have been turning to intestinal worms to precipitate weight loss.

Evocative of the olden days, when swindlers hawked off snake oil as a cure all to unsuspecting customers, the marketing of parasites as a dieting method, features many of the same dangerous risks that have come to be associated with those times. Hong Kong health officials are warning against the new trend, pointing out the potential fatal consequences of putting these intestinal worms inside the body. Parasites such as the roundworm and tapeworm are either directly ingested or taken in pill form, with the understanding that they will eat away at fat. Particularly popular among dieters is the “pig whipworm”, which is believed to help in maintaining a healthy immune system. If, however, the parasites multiply, they could go on to attack vital organs in the body and place the dieter in a grave situation.

Moreover, there is no demonstrable scientific evidence to support the claims that these parasites do in fact serve to bring weight reduction to those who subscribe to this method. The use of parasites for such purposes is illegal in America, but the internet offers plenty of websites whereby the product can be purchased.