...but originally the disease was referred to as GRID, an acronym for gay-related immune deficiency. later, when doctors and researchers realized that over half of the people who had been diagnosed with the disease were not gay, the CDC changed the name from GRID to AIDS.

why is this important you ask? because the name change came about around 1982, a few years after a diet-assistance candy company was putting commercials on tv hawking its wares. the company had chosen the soon-to-be-unfortunate name of AYDS for its appetite suppressant. when the AIDS scare took off the company chose to stick with the AYDS name and simply repackage and remarket the product.

the product is no longer on the market, and all we are left with now are the television commercials that the company produced that now seem creepy, callous, and funny in a sick, evil, i'm-going-to-hell-for-laughing-at-this kind of way.

commercial one
commercial two

found via : google video of the day

references:
1983 time magazine article about AYDS remarketing
AIDS at wikipedia
AYDS at museum of hoaxes