In February 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration first approved Alli diet pills as an over-the-counter weight loss aid. Alli is designed to be used as a part of a more comprehensive weight loss plan that includes making modifications to your eating habits and integrating exercise into your lifestyle. MayoClinic.com indicates that while Alli can help you lose weight, it might not be as much as you hope for.
Background and History
Alli is the brand name for the weight-loss medication orlistat, which was approved by the FDA for use by overweight adults in 1999. Orlistat can also be prescribed by physicians at a higher dosage than found in Alli. Alli is manufactured by United Kingdom-based GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare. GSK also has operations in the United States and holds around 7 percent of the pharmaceutical market globally.
How Alli Works
Alli diet pills are taken with each meal, up to three times daily, says the Mayo Clinic's Donald Hensrud, M.D. Alli works by decreasing the amount of fat your intestines absorb, reducing your total caloric intake. More specifically, Alli inhibits an enzyme called lipase, which breaks down the fat you consume. Fat continues through your digestive tract until it's expelled through bowel movements. Hensrud points out that if you take Alli, you should eat no more than 15g of fat per meal. Orlistat may cause your body to absorb fewer vitamins, according to Drugs.com, which indicates that you should take a daily multivitamin at least two hours before eating.
Diet and Exercise
Alli is designed to be used as part of a more comprehensive weight loss program, according to the manufacturer. A crucial part of your success depends on making modifications to your eating habits by curtailing emotional eating and choosing healthier, low-fat meals, as well as integrating exercise into your weight-loss plan. To help you gauge your success using Alli, as well as to get help planning meals and integrating physical activity into your lifestyle, the manufacturer has provided an online support system at MyAlli.com.
Cautions
If you eat more than the recommended amount of fat while taking Alli, this can lead to undesirable complications, such as the sudden need to have a bowel movement, as well as gas, diarrhea and oily spotting on your underwear. Drugs.com lists other side-effects of orlistat to include abdominal pain, increased number of bowel movements, inability to contain bowel movements/loss of bowel control, and abdominal and back pain. Furthermore, Hensrud indicates that the FDA received some reports of serious liver injury in 2009 from people who took orlistat. If you decide to try Alli, call your doctor immediately if you notice fever, jaundice, lethargy or dark urine--all signs of liver injury.
Does Alli Work?
Hensrud indicates that there aren't many clinical studies that have assessed the effectiveness of Alli. You can lose weight using Alli, he says, but it will likely be negligible. Nor is the average weight loss for Alli's prescription counterpart, Xenical, too impressive. Those who take Xenical lose between 5 and 7 lbs. more per year than they would had they only relied on diet and exercise alone. Hensrud estimates that if you take Alli, you may lose between 3 and 5 lbs. more per year in addition to the weight you lose from dieting and exercise.
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