Hoodia Latina

The buzz log. What the world is searching for…

Hot for Hoodia?
By Molly McCall
Fri, January 05, 2007, 2:05 am PST
Endorsed by Anna Nicole Smith, peddled by diet pill makers, and publicized by a legion of spammers, hoodia gordonii has become one of the hottest things to hit the multi-billion dollar weight-loss industry. Reportedly, African tribes have long used hoodia, an endangered, cactus-like plant, for its magical ability to suppress appetites. Now, dreamers hoping to get thin quick and schemers hoping to cash in have packed in the buzz on dieting supplements that use it.

In the past week, searches for “hoodia gordonii ” rose more than 530%, landing between “south beach diet recipes” and “weight watchers points” in our top health movers. Searches on “hoodia diet pills” surged 266%. Even the sensible “hoodia side effects” leapt nearly 300%.

But nothing compares to the volume of buzz for just-plain “hoodia.” Despite the fact that supplements using the plant are 100% testing- and regulation-free, hundreds of thousands of searchers are eager to shed their flab with no more effort than it takes to pop a pill. This week, the South’s deep-fried fancy leads the way. Tennessee, Kentucky, and Mississippi top the list of states seeking the desert species online.

The FTC just slapped hoodia merchant TrimSpa and three other diet supplement marketers with a $25 million fine for deceptive advertising. Maybe that will dampen the plant’s feverish buzz. On the other hand, knowing Americans’ hunger for one-pill wonders, maybe not.

Source Yahoo Buzz