GlaxoSmithKline has gotten their newest weight loss supplement, Alli, approved by the FDA. The over the counter pill should be out in stores by the end of the week. The pill is designed to be used under the direction of a physician as one part of an entire weight loss program. Even the pill’s makers say that this is not a miracle pill. It can help you lose up to 50% more weight than just dieting alone. . .but you will not get over night results.
Proponents of Alli say that it is a comprehensive system. When you buy the pills you also get an online account where you can chart progress. In addition, the pills come with nutritional lessons. How many lessons you get depends on how many pills you buy, but it is all supposed to be tailored to your individual needs.
Alli contains the active ingredient orlistat. Orlistat is an enzyme inhibitor. Basically it prevents your gut from breaking down triglycerides. (You know, those really-bad-for-you-fats that are in things like donuts, big greasy cheeseburgers. . .) So when you’re using the pill as a weight loss aid, the fat you eat passes right through your digestive tract and out the um. . .other end.
Beware though. As I stated previously, this is not a miracle pill. You cannot go on a donut binge happily eating your way through a box of Krispy Kremes. If you do, participants say, you’ll regret it. Not only do you lose weight by having a fat blocker, but you can’t eat lots of fatty food while on the pill without getting sick.
The most common side effects include flatulence and diarrhea. Fecal incontinence is also a possible side effect although rare. (The reason it is a rare side effect by the way is that most people figure out not to eat that much fat at one sitting.) Participants in the trial say that you can consume no more than 15 g of fat at one sitting. I should also mention that all of these negative side effects are controlled by consuming less fat.
Time will tell if this really is the next ‘cure’ for weight loss.