When combined with diet and exercise, Alli can be a useful tool for helping you to lead a healthier lifestyle. Alli is the brand name for the over-the-counter version of orlistat, a medication for people who have a body mass index that qualifies them as overweight or obese. The prescription version of orlistat is sold under the brand name Xenical.
Who Is Alli For?
Alli is for overweight or obese people age 18 and over. If you are not currently overweight, you should not take Alli for weight maintenance. Alli should not be taken by people who have had an organ transplant, as this medication interferes with the drugs that are used to prevent rejection of the new organ. Alli is not suitable for pregnant women or nursing mothers. People who are taking medication for diabetes, gallbladder problems, kidney stones, or pancreatitis should consult a doctor before beginning a weight-loss program using Alli.
Amount of Weight Loss
Alli is not a magic pill for weight loss. For the treatment to be successful, you must make continuous efforts to adopt healthy lifestyle habits. For every 5 lbs. you lose through the combination of exercise and a low-fat diet, Alli can help you lose 3 to 5 lbs. more, notes MayoClinic.com. This means that you would lose approximately 15 lbs. with Alli but you would lose 10 lbs. through diet and exercise alone.
How Alli Works
Alli capsules should be taken with each meal, up to three capsules per day. Alli works by preventing a portion of the fat you eat from being absorbed, lowering the total number of calories entering your system. The active ingredient in the Alli capsules attaches to some of the enzymes in your intestines that break down fat from food, which keeps the fat from being digested and causes it to be eliminated from your body. This process also reduces the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and beta-carotene. When taking Alli, you should take a multivitamin at bedtime that contains vitamins A, D, E, K and beta-carotene, notes PubMed Health.
What to Eat
When taking Alli, follow a low-fat diet that meets the calorie requirements for your height, weight and activity level. Depending upon these factors, the Alli plan allows for 12 to 19g of fat per meal and 1,200 to 1,800 calories per day. You can follow the Pritikin, Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers or DASH diet plans while taking Alli. However, the South Beach or Atkins diet plans are not suitable for use with Alli, as these diets contain too much fat for each meal.
Side Effects
The most noticeable side effect of taking Alli occurs when you eat a meal that contains more fat than is recommended. Diarrhea and gas with oily spotting can occur up to 48 hours after eating a high-fat meal while taking Alli. While embarrassing and uncomfortable, this is not physically harmful. In the Alli program, these symptoms are referred to as "treatment effects" that can motivate you to make healthier food choices.
Length of Treatment
Because most weight loss occurs within the first six months of a diet and exercise program, this is the recommended length of time for taking Alli. However, you can stop the treatment sooner if needed or begin the treatment again after the six month mark if you notice you are having trouble maintaining your weight loss.
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