Isn't the marketplace great! If you're at least 20 pounds overweight, thanks to the kind folks at Generix Laboratories, you can now get the same great weight loss formula as found in more expensive Leptoprin at a much more affordable price. Yes! Now you can not lose any weight at all and pay less at the same time. It's a medical miracle!
I have to give credit to the grifters at Klein-Becker (under the name A. G. Waterhouse) for coming up with a brilliant marketing idea for Leptoprin. The idea of selling a worthless diet pill at an insanely high price - currently $153 a bottle, down from $249 - in order to convince people that it's super powerful and must actually work, is pretty clever. It plays to the simplistic mentality of the diet pill buyer, that if he takes more pills or takes bigger and more expensive pills then he's sure to get results. Their TV ad is fantastic, with an overly intense and somewhat scary lady suggesting that you're just too poor and stupid not to be fat if you don't fork over hundreds of dollars for their product.
But wait, they're even more brilliant and more ballsy than anyone ever expected. As sales of Leptoprin start to fail, here comes Leptopril from Generix Laboratories with the same powerful formula as Leptoprin - and with a similar hard-sell ad - but at a generic price of only $29.95 a month. What a great deal. Thank God for generics so that we can all sit in our double-wides watching TV and yet still afford the amazing weightloss previously only available to the bloated wealthy pigs who could afford Leptoprin.
The TV ad for Leptopril - featuring the Leptoprin lady's slightly cuddlier amateur dominatrix sister - makes it sound like your friends at Generix have come to rescue you from the high prices of Leptoprin and are cutting into the market for this miracle drug and doing you a real favor by saving you money on their generic equivalent. The inevitable irony, of course, is that just like A. G. Waterhouse who make Leptoprin, Generix is one of the score of front companies for the same weasels at Klein-Becker. It's not a competing brand, it's the same pills in a different bottle with a (slightly) different name and a lower price. And in fact, they also sell the same pills under a third name, as Anorex, a name which they presumably though would help them cash in on the lucrative eating disorder market.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Victor Plenty
Who came up with the name "Leptopril" anyway? In my mind's ear it comes out with almost exactly the same cadence as the phrase "leper pill" which really is not the kind of mental association I would think likely to boost sales.
2 - Dave Nalle
They wanted it to sound like Leptoprin, presumably, to maintain the ruse that it is a rip-off clone of their enormously expensive identical product. But how about the other name it sells under - Anorexa - now that's really appealing.
Dave
3 - RJ
Well, these pills might very well "work" indirectly...
Like, if you are serious enough about losing weight to drop a nice chunk of change on some pills, you will probably also do other things as well, like eating less and exercising more. And then, when a little weight is lost, the foolish will credit the pill instead of these other variables. (Think: placebo...)
4 - Dave Nalle
Which is a big part of the reason why these scam artists can get away with what they do. Doesn't make it right, tho.
Dave
5 - Leoniceno
Excellent piece, Dave. Our consumer watch-dog!
6 - Victor Plenty
Sadly, the name Anorexa is understandable, taken from the purely mercenary and ruthless point of view these businesses surely have. Many people (especially young women) are so desperate to lose weight by any means, some of them set anorexia as their conscious goal.
I really wish I was joking about that.
It would be a tasteless joke, to be sure, but not nearly so disturbing as the reality of the situation.
7 - dietdoc
Victor writes: "Who came up with the name "Leptopril" anyway?"
Reply: It most probably comes as a derivation of the known weight/appetite control hormone, endogenously produced in the human body, called "leptin." It received a great deal of press 3-4 years ago as the "answer to obesity."
It started with the discovery of a strain of leptin-deficient mice. These strains of mice (who either did not produce leptin or had defective leptin receptors) inherited a metabolic obesity syndrome. Unfortunately, in human research, leptin - which must be injected - has proven only modestly effective in weight control in human studies, must be injected and, in most obese patients, is already elevated.
Anyway, just my thoughts on the name of this "product line."
Cheers,
Ron
8 - Bennett
This was an interesting read, but not very surprising. My favorite of these BS "products" is "Propelyne" and all of the people in the commercial talk out of the side of their mouths.
Like they already had a stroke or something...
And they are the unhealthiest group of folks I've ever seen in one place. Kinda like a commercial for "The Crack-Addict Diet".
Good one Dave.
9 - Dave Nalle
Yeah, I've never understood the sense of naming a bogus diet aid 'Propelyne', with the similarity to 'Propylene Glycol' (antifreeze) which is one of the most toxic substances most people keep around their houses.
Maybe drinking antifreeze explains their stroke-like symptoms. Or it could just be that they're trying to keep a straight face through their pitches.
Dave
10 - Bennett
Actually Dave, there's a food grade propelene glycol that is used as a cooling fluid. I bought five gallon pails of it for the fermenter cooling jackets in the brewery.
Wouldn't want to drink it though...
11 - Rick
The great american RIP-OFF!! What happened to truth in advertising laws? Is there any accountability at all???? What are we paying "those people" in Washington for??? What about stores like Wal-Mart that sells this CRAP. If you sell this CRAP, are you not apart of this SCAM??? Do I sound mad? I just bought this stuff. We'll see how good Wal-Marts return policy is. I guess I need to check things out and ask for references before I buy.
Sincerley, Fat and Gullible!
12 - Taloran
What? Dr. Greg Cynaumon and his competitors aren't for real? Next you'll be telling me that Dr. Greg Cynaumon is just his stage name, that he's not a real doctor (I have wondered why it says PhD and not MD after his name) and that his product isn't worth the money he's asking.
And I had complete and total trust in all these folks!
13 - Dave Nalle
From what I've read it appears that they are PhDs and not medical doctors, and in some cases their PhDs are of questionable legitimacy as well, likely from diploma mills. I don't know Cynaumon;'s story beyond the fact that he's not an MD, but the guy from Leptoprin apparently worked briefly as a psychologist, which doesn't require a medical degree or even a PhD.
And Rick, the FTC is doing what it can by shutting these operations down when it identifies them. IMO their enforcement ability is way too limited and Congress ought to do more than just hold hearings as they did in 03, after which there was much wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth, but little concrete done.
Dave
14 - works4me
Okay, I read these posts, and I have to admit, I don't think anyone that has posted has tried the pill. I am 28, 5'7", and was 149 lbs, I want to get back to the 125 i was two years ago. I wasn't sure if it would work for me, because I drink a lot of caffeine products each day, but I honestly have absolutely NO desire to eat at all since I started taking Leptopril. I don't care if it is a generic, or the real deal, it works. So please, let me know if you are speaking from experience, as in taking it yourself, or a friend or relative, or what, but I know my mother just bought it too because she noticed my weight loss. If I know I am going to one of my favorite restaurants, I don't take the pills, because I want to want those meals. So it does work. At least it is working for me, and I promise you, I am not exercising any more than I used too, probably less actually, just eatting less, because i am not hungary. By the way, I don't work for any of those companies. The part that really made me mad about your article, is that I paid 34.95 at Walgreens, and it was on sale from 44.95. Hmmm, I did get screwed there didn't I?
15 - gina
this is not specifically about leptoprin but about the pill ads you get in your email. how is it being sold without actually physically visiting a doctor. is it legal or what?
16 - Kelly
Well, I hope it works, because I just bought the product today. I am glad to hear that sombody else is using it and losing weight. I am 5'10 200 lb. and would like to lose about 50 pounds. I usually dont take pills for anything, but I have to admit, the advertisment looks appealing. I guess I'll give it a shot and hope it works.
17 - Luella
I am an R.N. and am happy to see you are protecting the people from the drug scammers out there!
18 - Julia
hilarious, and right on!!!
19 - John A. Richardson
Great piece,although I had it figured out and was looking for a Generix connection when I found this blog which I have favoritized.I would like to shoot down that "Kabam" add with its chemical color change hokus pokus.And the furniture polish,thats another one. Debunking rules!!! Regards,JR
20 - Ken
This was clearly a well thought out scam. I knew this from the moment I saw the first commercial. It was a good idea though. (for the scammers)
I also felt there would be another price at a later date to seal the deal.
Ken
21 - DrPat
Durnit! You just made me realize I've wasted all that money I spent for Lepto-whatever.
Not to mention the year's supply of mandrake root...
[grin]
22 - Phillip Winn
No, no, you have to eat the mandrake root and put the diet pills under your pillow!
It would have the same effect, as would throwing them both away.
23 - DrPat
Here's a thought. Klein-Becker can put out yet another rename of their product: Kleptoprin. The price is even lower: you steal it.
Guaranteed weight-loss, too, since it comes with a built-in exercise program: running from the floor bull....
24 - Dave Nalle
>>Okay, I read these posts, and I have to admit, I don't think anyone that has posted has tried the pill. I am 28, 5'7", and was 149 lbs, I want to get back to the 125 i was two years ago.<<
You do realize that you're by no definition severely overweight, right? You barely qualify as overweight at all. You ought to be able to lose the weight you're talking about with almost any reasonable diet plan that involves knocking your consumption down by just a few calories.
>> but I honestly have absolutely NO desire to eat at all since I started taking Leptopril. I don't care if it is a generic, or the real deal, it works.<<
Since the ingredients have no appetite suppressing qualities whatsoever, the effects which you are getting are almost certainly entirely psychological.
>> So please, let me know if you are speaking from experience, as in taking it yourself, or a friend or relative, or what, but I know my mother just bought it too because she noticed my weight loss.<<
We know it because there's something called science which tells us that the ingredients have no known value in suppressing appetite or causing weight loss.
>>this is not specifically about leptoprin but about the pill ads you get in your email. how is it being sold without actually physically visiting a doctor. is it legal or what?<<
Legally it's considered a 'dietary supplement', like a vitamin, so it can be sold over the counter with virtually no oversight.
>>Well, I hope it works, because I just bought the product today. I am glad to hear that sombody else is using it and losing weight. I am 5'10 200 lb. and would like to lose about 50 pounds. I usually dont take pills for anything, but I have to admit, the advertisment looks appealing. I guess I'll give it a shot and hope it works.<<
It doesn't. Just cut your calory intake and avoid sugars and you'll lose the weight if you're patient enough to give it 6-8 months.
Somehow I never expected this article to lead to people actually buying and using this crap.
Dave
25 - Dave Nalle
>>Okay, I read these posts, and I have to admit, I don't think anyone that has posted has tried the pill. I am 28, 5'7", and was 149 lbs, I want to get back to the 125 i was two years ago.<<
You do realize that you're by no definition severely overweight, right? You barely qualify as overweight at all. You ought to be able to lose the weight you're talking about with almost any reasonable diet plan that involves knocking your consumption down by just a few calories.
>> but I honestly have absolutely NO desire to eat at all since I started taking Leptopril. I don't care if it is a generic, or the real deal, it works.<<
Since the ingredients have no appetite suppressing qualities whatsoever, the effects which you are getting are almost certainly entirely psychological.
>> So please, let me know if you are speaking from experience, as in taking it yourself, or a friend or relative, or what, but I know my mother just bought it too because she noticed my weight loss.<<
We know it because there's something called science which tells us that the ingredients have no known value in suppressing appetite or causing weight loss.
>>this is not specifically about leptoprin but about the pill ads you get in your email. how is it being sold without actually physically visiting a doctor. is it legal or what?<<
Legally it's considered a 'dietary supplement', like a vitamin, so it can be sold over the counter with virtually no oversight.
>>Well, I hope it works, because I just bought the product today. I am glad to hear that sombody else is using it and losing weight. I am 5'10 200 lb. and would like to lose about 50 pounds. I usually dont take pills for anything, but I have to admit, the advertisment looks appealing. I guess I'll give it a shot and hope it works.<<
It doesn't. Just cut your calory intake and avoid sugars and you'll lose the weight if you're patient enough to give it 6-8 months.
Somehow I never expected this article to lead to people actually buying and using this crap.
Dave