Wate-On
1984 was one of those strange times when being too skinny was still a problem. Now, too skinny means anorexic in the fashion industry and even though they pretend to think that’s bad, they would NEVER advertise a product to rectify that “problem.”
So, this ad for Wate-On is a strange thing to see now. The ad reads:
TOO SKINNY? NOW HAVE THE BODY YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED
Skinny because you don’t eat right? Let WATE-ON help fill out, shape your entire body. WATE-ON has extra calories under weights need plus vitamins, minerals and energy nutrients. Users report gains of 5-10-15 pounds and more. Try WATE-ON or extra strength Super WATE-ON in liquid, tablets or tonic or shake forms. At drug stores everywhere. For a free guide to successful weight-gaining, write.
Here are some other ads for Wate-On:
- TGLOB: WATE-ON, Regular or Super
- Wate-On! on Flickr – Photo Sharing!
- Too Skinny? Try Wate-On | YepYep
- PCL LinkDump: Wate-On!
- Donna Lethal » It’s Diet Time
- dustysevens: sorry for laughing
Until recently it was actually still available:
- ZUCKERMAN PHARMACY: Super Wate-On Liquid Strawberry – 16 Oz
- Med Shop Express: Wate-On Liquid Regular Strawberry – 16 OZ
Based on its ingredients, it looks like an expensive version of Ensure.
Active Ingredients: Per 2 Tablespoons (30 mL): Total Fat (Saturated Fat 2.5g) 15g; Sodium 10 mg; Total Carbohydrate (Sugar 2g) 5g; Vitamin A 2000 IU; Vitamin C 20 mg; Vitamin D 200 IU; Vitamin E 15 IU; Thiamin 0.75 mg; Riboflavin 0.51 mg; Niacin 10 mg; Vitamin B6 1 mg; Vitamin B12 3 mcg; Biotin 0.015 mg; Pantothenic Acid 5 mg; Iron 9 mg; Zinc 7 mg; Copper 1 mg.
Inactive Ingredients: Hydrogenated Stabilized Soybean Oil; Water; Sugar; Propylene Glycol; Polyoxyethylene 20 Sorbitan Monolaurate; Sorbitan Monostearate; Xanthan Gum; Methyl Paraben; Sorbic Acid; Artificial Flavoring; Propyl Paraben; Ferric Citrate; Niacinamide; Panthenol; Pyridoxine Hydrochloride; Riboflavin 5 Phosphate; Thiamin Hydrochloride; Calciferol; Vitamin A Palmitate; Ascorbic Acid; dl-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate; Biotin FFC; Copper Sulfate; Zinc Oxide; Artificial Color; Butylated Hydroxytoluene; Cyanocobalamin.
The common thread to all of the advertisements are women with big breasts. I wonder if being “too skinny” is just a euphemism for being flat-chested. There are companies out there trying to take your money to make you thinner and others waiting to take your money when you get too skinny. Don’t let yourself be tempted by their promises.
Previous: It Feels Good To Be Thin
Next: Walking Video: Wildwood Walk 2008
October 1st, 2009 at 10:54 am
For all those women out there who’ve felt less than because of their weight. The wait is over! This is the best product I’ve ever come across. I gained weight in no time at all. This product really works! Become the woman you’ve always wanted to be with Wate-On!
October 7th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Apparently Wate-On was advertised for men, too. I have an old issue of “People” magazine celebrating the then-upcoming marriage of Di to Charles, and the ad inside for Wate-On features a not-skinny/not-buff young man with a girl hanging all over him.
December 18th, 2009 at 7:01 am
how long will one expect to start seeing changes after taking wate on? Because, i ‘ve taken a bottle of wate on & there is still no changes.
March 5th, 2010 at 12:11 am
Hi everyone. I have been trying to purchase this product but havent had any luck finding it. Where can i buy it? Thanks!
March 22nd, 2010 at 1:39 am
Yes, how long does it take to notice a differnt in weight gain?
September 13th, 2010 at 6:14 am
can you still purchase this anywhere?
November 13th, 2010 at 11:36 am
Hi, I am a college student who is doing research on Wate-On ads. I was wondering if you remember where you saw these ads (as in what print media they originially appeared in). You have found some wonderful examples, but in order for me to be able to use them, I must know when/where they originate from.
Please, if you remember anything at all it would be incredibly helpful.
Thanks,
VT
December 2nd, 2010 at 7:20 pm
Hello. I am a former media buyer for United Advertising Cos., Inc. that placed the Wate-On ads many years ago. The Fleetwood Company developed and manufactured Wate-On for many years selling throughout the U.S. thru major drug store chains. Advertisements for Wate-On could be found in many popular magazines geared to the 18-34 year old market i.e. Glamour, Fitness Magazine. Much of the advertising was on radio stations that targeted the 18-34 age group with heavy emphasis during the Summer months. Raquel Welch, believe it or not, was actually one of the Wate-On models. Hope this was helpful to you. Any other questions, please feel free to ask.
December 30th, 2010 at 2:15 am
@V. Tuttle: Those ads were in pretty much every popular print publication from the early sixties till about the mid eighties. I remember seeing them in comic books in the seventies when I was a kid (spider-man, X-men, etc.).
February 3rd, 2011 at 11:26 am
These adverts were popular in the UK too, in girls’ magazines like Blue Jeans and Jackie, around 1979. As a skinny 14 year old I remember asking my mum if I could buy some – luckily she refused. If only I had that problem these days!
August 2nd, 2011 at 4:54 am
I just took two teaspoonful and want to know how long i will notice change in my body. I am slim,i want to be curvy,fleshy little. Thank you,waiting for your reply
September 12th, 2011 at 2:32 am
How long does it take to have effect? av been taking it for like 4days now, no effect
October 17th, 2011 at 12:34 am
I am living in Riyadh,Saudi Arabia.I would like to know from where i can purchase super wate on product in Riyadh.
October 18th, 2011 at 9:43 am
can you tell me where u purchased wateon?
March 30th, 2012 at 8:58 pm
I am a male survivor of this disgusting product. It tasted beyond awful.. If someone barfed in my mouth.. it would have been an improvement.
And it was useless. I grew out of it.. but I’m sure this has also been as equally… if not much more.. an issue that affects teenage males, like it did me.
April 18th, 2012 at 6:47 pm
I used to take wate-on every summer and it works fine i always gain 10 to 15 pounds every summer. I only took it in the summer so i could look good in my summer clothes. I wish I could find it now. I don’t need it now myself, but my grand daughter needs it.If anyone know where i can get this PLEASE let me know
June 28th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
The reason this stuff makes you gain weight is because of the hydroginated soybean oil. The fat you will gain is unhealthy and it could easily damage your heart and liver. If you want to gain HEALTHY weight, try extra virgin coconut oil.
July 6th, 2012 at 12:42 am
I am 5’6 and I weigh only 100. I really really need to gain weight. I drink Ensure but it hasn’t worked. please tell me WHERE I can find this super wate-on.
It’s so hard to find clothes that fit and I want to look good not skinny. I feel very insecure as to my body image. Thanks!!
July 8th, 2012 at 8:27 am
I went from skinny to strikingly gorgeous with a little trick that I learned from my obese friends. If you eat a minimum of twelve cheeseburgers per day along with a large order of fries, you will add the weight that you desperately need to fill out your sexy summer swim suit. For a bit more weight, add a gallon of ice cream to your diet daily and wash it down with at least 2 or 4 liters of Coke or Pepsi. Buuuurp!…Good luck!
November 14th, 2013 at 2:07 pm
In 1 month, i saw my body changing … 2 months, i had boobs again,,,
July 23rd, 2015 at 7:20 pm
My new girlfriend of that time looked pretty good and chubby enough for a skinny guy that I used to be. She told me she used a product called Wate-On and that in a week, with half the bottle she changed from skinny to the pretty looking chick I saw. So I gave it a try myself. I didn’t get fat. But I looked pretty good and for the first time, I had bums and chest. It seems to work better on females. But it did help me too.