Weighing in on "Alli": Is This Over-the-Counter Weight Loss Drug for You?

By now most of your have heard about, read about, or perhaps already used the new over the counter weight loss medication, called Alli. It’s the first FDA approved weight loss medication available without a prescription. This is big news since it's a step in the right direction for ensuring both safety and efficacy for weight loss products, which right now promise a lot, and don't deliver because of the lack of regulation.

Not surprisingly, this product is literally flying off the shelves. Is this a good thing? I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments. I’d also like to answer some of the most frequent questions I've been asked about it, and help separate the hype from what can potentially be a helpful weight loss tool for the right person.

Those who are looking at this product, even with the FDA "stamp of approval," as the magic bullet for permanent weight loss will be be greatly disappointed. For those who read the fine print, and are willing to make substantial lifestyle changes, it could be a promising tool.

How does Alli work?

Alli acts to block the absorption of some of the fat eaten in each meal, and eliminating it (in a bowel movement). The prescription version of this medicine, Xenical, blocks about 1/3rd of the fat eaten at each meal. Alli, a lower dose of Xenical, blocks about ¼ of the fat eaten at each meal. So, if you have a food with 16 grams of fat (say, a hot dog), with about 144 calories, you can expect to save 36 calories if you take Alli with the meal.

How much weight can you lose?

Studies show that combined with reduced fat and calorie intake, Alli can help promote further weight loss, when compared with lifestyle alone. The results indicate that up to 50% more weight can be lost with regular use of the medicine. How does this translate into pounds? The answer really depends on how much weight you need to lose for improved health. If you lose 20 pounds with lifestyle change alone, you might expect to lose up to 30 pounds along with regular use of the medication. If you lose 10 pounds with lifestyle, you could anticipate as much as 15 pounds of total weight loss. Far from a miracle pill, but that modest "value added" can be valuable when it comes to your health.

Remember that the caloric deficit comes from a savings from the fat calories only. It's a difficult balance to reduce both total calories and fat calories consumed. If you cut back on your fat, but don't cut your total calories (replacing those fat calories with protein and/or carbohydrates), you won't lose any extra weight.

Most importantly, modest weight loss–just 5-10% of your starting weight–can be health promoting. For someone starting at 180 pounds, that's just nine pounds to better health.

What are the risks?

We've all heard about the "side effects" of digestive problems, gas, and diarrhea. To me, this is not a side-effect, but the main effect to show that the drug is working. When too much fat is consumed, that 25% that is blocked is eliminated. It can be a VERY strong behavioral reinforcement to minimizing fat intake. Can they unpleasant symptoms be avoided? They can certainly be minimized by closely monitoring meal-to- meal fat consumption. Keeping the fat calories at 30% or less of the total meal is a good way to start. Some patients prefer to think of this in fat grams, where it's a good idea to aim for 15 grams of fat or less per meal.

Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting any over the counter product to help determine whether you are a good candidate.

Is this the same product found in the "light" potato chips?

Olestra is the non-digestible fat found in some chips and is unrelated to Alli. It has nothing to do with blocking fat in the digestive track. It is a formulation of natural fat that is not digested, and eliminated directly. Many people associate the two, because of the gastrointestinal effects, which are similar.

What do you think about this newest addition to support long term weight management? Thumbs up or thumbs down? I'd love to hear from you!

Comments

While I welcome all aids to dieting, those of us who are serious about it have already eliminated all surplus fats from our diets, leaving only that which is found within other foodstuffs. However, it could be very helpful where people have to eat out and have no control over the composition of their meal. Although restaurants ought to provide low-fat foods on request!

As a bed and breakfast that attempts to meet lots of dietary requirements, we find either vegans or folks that will eat about anything. While I think choice is important, my mom always said, the best diet is "push yourself away from the table"

GP in Montana

The side effects look scary. I think I'd rather stick with my healthy diet and workout plan.

Gal

I give this blog a thumbs up because it is VERY honest. It also reminds people that the way to STAY healthy & maintain a healthy weight is by changing their entire lifestyle. This reminds us that there is not "magic pill."

I have been taking Xenical on and off for more than five years. It works really well as long as you do not use it as an excuse to gorge yourself. In other words it only works when you watch your intake. The side effects are unpleasant until you adjust to them. If anything, they are a reminder that you need to stick to your diet. If you look into your toilet and see an oil slick the size that the Exxon Valdiz left, you know you are still eating too much fat and probably deserve to have cramps and diarrhea, darling.

I applaud your honesty & frank comments, especially those regarding the SIDE EFFECTS. I feel the same way..eat correctly and there will be no worry about them.
Thank you for such an honest appraisal.
By the way, I have been on the alli plan for a couple of wks now & will accept any help I can get with the pounds.

I am considering taking alli. I realize that I need to take it in conjunction with a sensible diet. Alli may be the boost I need to take off my extra pounds.

Allie also blocks absorption of Omega 3. Taking a drug to lose weight is not the answer. That is what we all need one more drug to take.

I know it is difficult but taking responsibility for your own health through eating good foods, lifestyle changes and exercise is still the best way to be healthly. Toss in a good daily supplement. And there are no bad side effects.

Most of us live too short and die too long.

i'm walking more - trying to be more healty - i like the honesty of this blog
HERE'S TO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE!

I couldn't agree more! I think it seems tempting if you are willing to control your intake of fat. Beware of the frappucinos and cheesecake!

I like the idea of a healthy lifestyle. I think I will stick to my exercise and watching what I eat for now. I just wanted to loose 5-10 pounds and I have already lost 3. I am not sure the cost and the side effects would be worth it to someone like me who only wants to loose a few pounds.

I am a woman 5'5" 128... simply put I watch my calories and exercise ALOT...take heed when taking this medication, lol. Not once but twice before my morning work outs, I LEAKED...bluntly put a orange liquid ran down my leg... in public. Thankfully no one noticed. I am a slender girl who has tried EVERYTHING. I just wanted to state the obvious...sooner or later it will happen to u if u are on the meds. Wear your panty liners ladys as stated in the info packet.

I belive in loosing my weight natually by eating a balanced diet and controlling my portions plus exersising 5 days a week. I have already lost 3 1/2 KG almost 7 pounds in just 2 months time. I don;t think taking medicine will yeild any long term result.

I have been using alli for about 2 weeks now - i have had one episode of treatment effects -- you need to be careful about what you eat and don't snack often - first week i lost 6lbs - 2nd week did not lose nor gain but i didn't follow my diet very closely either -- walking 30 min a day helps as well - i would recommend to someone who is serious about losing weight - hoping to shed at least 20lbs and it has made me pay more attention to food labels and think twice about inhaling junk!

I have been on Alli now for 2 weeks. I have lost 6 Lbs. My Doctor placed me on Phentermine On January 17th 2007. I weighed 342 Lbs. I asked my Doctor to take me off phentermine because i leveled off at 300 LBS in June. So i lost 42 Lbs on Phen. The bad thing is you level off. I am really hoping that Alli is the answer i have been looking for. For me being on a extreme budget and 102 Degree weather in Oklahoma it makes it hard to exercise. Wish me luck ! Too bad there isn't a magic pill. Don't think "Doctors" would like it if we all could simply take a pill and get to wear we don't need them anymore for weight loss. Thanks!

Haven't had much luck with Alli. If I eat a low calorie diet then why do I need this. I have spent enough money and don't see the results that were promised.

My sister's friend said she tried Alli and it was the scariest thing ever. If you consume even just a little more fat than recommended, it comes out when you go to the bathroom in the form of a gross, greasy liquid. And apparently the directions tell you to carry around an extra pair of pants because you could have accidents. Quite frankly, I'd rather stick to nice, healthy eating.

Personally I wished for the magic pill for years, but I realized there's no magic pill and got off my fat a$$ and turned it into a toned one instead by doing the hard work of running and weight lifting, and laying off the obviously bad for you marbled meats, trans fat fast food, sugar-rich snacks, and sugar-rich sodas. I seem to recall other diet medications that left people suing because of damage done... Course, they might have forgotten that they did the damage when they swallowed the food and thought a pill that weighed a few grams could undo years of extra pounds...

If you still want to try Alli with all its yucky side-effects, you can buy it at a discounted price using the card found at www.rxdrugcard.com.