The worm turns

A person wishing to share her or his diet with a tapeworm to lose weight (Features, 4 January) would not swallow a giant worm, but a small cyst in a piece of meat, usually raw beef steak. This grows into a large worm in the intestine.

Self-infection with the beef tapeworm to lose weight is not a new idea, and though it may seem disgusting, it is relatively harmless to the person concerned.

Your feature also mentioned the pork tapeworm as an alternative. This is a very bad idea as the pork tapeworm produces large numbers of very small eggs which, if swallowed by human beings, can lead to cysts in any part of the body.

Tapeworm cysts in the brain can cause epilepsy, among other problems.

DR DAVID STEVENSON

Blacket Place

Edinburgh