Healthy Skepticism Library item: 3853

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

 

Publication type: news

Bourrier-lacroix B.
Forget 'Julie's Story' – listen to Barbara's story instead!
Canadian Women's Health Network 2006 Mar 10
http://www.cwhn.ca/resources/eating_disorders/barbara.html

Notes:

Ralph Faggotter’s Comments:

If you are feeling a bit on the plump side and are thinking about taking Xenical, have a read of this little disertation first.

Full text:

Forget ‘Julie’s Story’ – listen to Barbara’s story instead!

Many of you have likely seen the advertisements – in bus shelters, on billboards, on television and in newspapers across the country – showing already slender women wishing they were thinner so that they could wear their bikinis, or strip tease for their husband, or wear that little black dress – if only they could lose a few pounds!

“Ask your doctor about ‘Julie’s story’” says the advertisement, selling an unnamed pharmaceutical drug for weight loss.

Well, we’re here to say, forget ‘Julie’s story’ – all your problems will not be solved by losing 5 or 10 pounds – and listen to Barbara’s story instead.

I am Barbara

Today, I went shopping for clothes that I could afford-not just everything that would fit!

Last night I wanted to do a striptease for my husband, but I was too tired after doing the laundry, taking my daughter swimming, getting the groceries, cleaning the bathroom, making lunches, emptying the cat litter box and ironing.

Just for kicks, I took out my wedding dress. Then I put it away, because I had more important things to do.

Last vacation was the first time I ever dared… Wait a minute. Does painting your house count as a vacation?
What would I do with a few pounds less?

I’d still have to wash the dirty dishes.
I’d still have a hole in my laundry room ceiling.
I’d still get woken up at 4 in the morning by my grumpy cat .
I’d still have to clean the toilet.
I’d still be addicted to Buffy, the Vampire Slayer.
I’d still collect comics.
I’d still need a pedicure.
I’d still have saggy boobs.
I’d still have eczema.
I’d still have to shave my armpits.
I’d still fart when I eat broccoli…
I’d still have to bleach my mustache.
I’d still have episiotomy scars.
I’d still have the media finding something else wrong with me.
I’d still have pharmaceutical companies trying to sell me drugs I don’t need for conditions I don’t have.

And I wouldn’t love myself any more than I already do.

Don’t ask your doctor about Barbara’s story.

Go out and enjoy yourself!

“Julie’s Story”
From fat to farts: what’s stinky about these ads…
According to the Globe and Mail (02/24/05) the “Julie’s Story” ad campaign is being funded by Hoffman-LaRoche to promote sales of their pharmaceutical, Xenical (also known as Orlistat). Xenical is no magic pill that simply melts the pounds away for those of us wanting to lose a few, as the ads may suggest, but a prescription medication approved only for the treatment of obesity.

What Xenical does to your body
Xenical works by preventing the absorption of dietary fats from the foods you eat, with undigested fat removed through bowel movements. In the process, the absorption of some important fat-soluble vitamins and beta-carotene in the diet are blocked. So those taking Xenical must also take vitamin supplements to get the essential nutrients they are no longer able to absorb from the foods that they eat.

The most common side-effects of Xenical are the following:

* Oily or fatty bowel movements (stools) * Increased number of bowel movements * Urgent need and/or inability to control bowel movement * Bowel movements that are orange or brown in colour * Gas with discharge * Oily discharge * Stomach pain * Irregular menstrual periods.

Xenical is also not recommended for those who are pregnant, planning to get pregnant, breastfeeding, or who suffer from chronic malabsorption syndrome or cholestasis.

Does “Julie’s Story” still sound sexy to you?

For other health complications associated with Xenical, visit:

* Complete Product Information: Xenical – Hoffman-LaRoche * Xenical Consumer Information – Food and Drug Administration (US)

Related Articles:

* Suzanne’s Story * CWHN Writes the Minister of Health Re: Xenical Ads

Written by: Barbara Bourrier-LaCroix
Information Centre Coordinator
Email: info@cwhn.ca
Posted: February 22, 2005