Alli Review

On February 07, 2007 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first over-the-counter diet pill - Alli. Alli is the marketing name, or brand name, for the generic weight loss drug Orlistat. Alli is only approved for use by overweight adults in conjunction with a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet, "alli helps people lose 50 percent more weight than with diet alone," according to GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, the marketer. The FDA says exercise should also be part of the program. 

What is Alli?

The Alli diet pill itself is a reduced strength version (60mg) of the prescription weight loss drug Xenical (also known as Orlistat). This type of diet pill, known as a fat-blocker, reduces some of the fat that you eat from being absorbed by your body. 

Enzymes in your digestive system, called lipases, help digest (or break down) fat. When taken with meals, Alli (xenical) attaches to the lipases and blocks them from breaking down some of the fat you have eaten. The undigested fat cannot be absorbed and is eliminated in your bowel movements. By working this way, Alli helps block about one-quarter of the fat in the foods you eat from being absorbed by your body. 

How do you take Alli?

For overweight adults 18 years and older:

• Take 1 capsule with each meal.
• Do not take more than 3 capsules daily.
• Use with a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet and exercise program until you reach your weight loss goal. Most weight loss occurs within the first 6 months.
• When you stop taking Alli, continue with your diet and exercise program.
• If you start to regain weight after you stop taking Alli, you may need to recommence taking Alli along with your diet and exercise program.
• Take a Vitatrol or other multivitamin once a day, at bedtime, when using Alli.

What are the Side-Effects of Alli?

Alli side-effects, although in most cases are not serious, can be quite unpleasant. In particular, people who consume large amounts of fat with their meals will likely experience the side-effects of Alli more severely than others on a low-fat diet. Alli side-effects may include:

• Loose or more frequent stools that may be hard to control
• An urgent need to go to the bathroom
• Gas with oily spotting

While excess fat that is excreted is not harmful, patients could be distressed by the experience. Treatment effects can be lessened if an individual sticks with reduced-calorie, low-fat meals that average 15 grams of fat per meal (or 30% fat or less). Diets may vary from 1,200 calories to 1,800 calories per day, so 15 grams is an average. Individuals need to be aware of hidden fat in food, so that they can lower the chance of having treatment effects. 

What are the Issues with Alli?

The biggest issue and potential health concern with Alli is related to its fat-blocking ability. This is because Alli blocks all fats, even the essential fats that our bodies need to be healthy. These essential fats include omega-3 fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins. Some of these vitamins are extremely important to human health. The fat-soluble vitamins include vitamin E, vitamin A and vitamin D. 

The other issue surrounding the new diet pill Alli is its actual effectiveness as a weight loss product. Clinical trials published show that patients who took Alli lost an average of 1 pound per month, which any dieter knows is nothing special. In fact, most people can lose much more than this naturally by adjusting their eating patterns and sticking to a low-fat and/or low-carb diet.

Where to Buy Alli Diet Pills?

Alli is the first and only over-the-counter (OTC) weight loss product approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Beginning on June 15, 2007, Alli was released for sale in the U.S. as a non-prescription diet pill. 

Alli can be purchased in the U.S. from most large drugstores such as Walgreens. Alli can also be purchased online from a number of diet pill and weight loss sites. The price for a one month supply (90 pills) of Alli is about $60 USD.