The Truth Behind the Euphemism of "Julie's Story"

I don't know if they are airing where you live, but recently I've been intrigued by a slick tv ad promoting "medical solutions" to weight problems, and encouraging you to ask your doctor about "Julie's Story". Another euphemism for bariatric surgery? No, as I found out when I Googled it. It's a drug called Xenical, which basically changes the fat you eat into something that sounds suspiciously like Olestra, that fake fat your body can't absorb. Remember that? Actually, Canadians might not because I don't think Olestra was ever approved for use in food here.

When I was living in New York, I tried the potato chips they were making with Olestra. They were, ok, and I didn't suffer the distressing side effects that some people did (a hint: you wouldn't want to be too far from a bathroom after eating more than a small bag of 'em). However, it couldn't solve my eating woes either, because dietary fat was/is only a part of my eating problem. I can chow down just as easily on the mega bag of low fat whole grain oat bran flax seed omega three enhanced pretzels as anything.

Don't even get me started on all the fat soluable vitamins you might also be rinsing out of your body... for more information on this stuff than I even want to think about, check out what I found at the Canadian Women's Health Network:

"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)