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The Tape Worm Diet

Oh, to be thin! People will do anything to shed weight fast. Some people will even ingest tapeworms.

In a nausea-inducing episode of The Tyra Banks Show featuring a massive jar filled with creamy yellow tapeworms – one of which was 15-feet long – experts explained the intricate workings of "The Tapeworm Diet." The show first aired in November but garnered an encore performance this week perhaps because Tyra likes ratings for shows with the yuck factor (remember the booger-snacking gal?).

Tapeworms are parasites that take up residence in your intestines and gobble up some of the goodies you're eating, causing your digestive system to work less efficiently. Some say you can lose up to 2 pounds a week with a tapeworm burrowing in your entrails. And, when you've lost all the weight you want, you can annihilate most tapeworms with a healthy dose of antibiotics. (Warning: pork tapeworms can kill you.)

Still want to take a shortcut to Skinnyville? The Los Angeles Times reports that in addition to weight loss, tapeworms in your body provide the following benefits: anal itching, fluid buildup in the abdomen (possibly resulting in a potbelly look), seizures, fluid-filled cysts that can damage organs, hives, malnutrition, nausea, diarrhea, anemia and vomiting. Oh, did I mention anal itching? Ick. And the worst side effect? Death.