Alli was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in February 2007 as a nonprescription aid for obese individuals age 18 and up. However, rapid weight loss with Alli isn't a promise made by the medication's manufacturer. Designed with moderate, progressive weight loss in mind, Alli is intended to be used as a part of a more comprehensive program that includes a low-calorie, low-fat diet and more active lifestyle.
Marketing Claims
A New York Times article published in February 2007 states that Alli may help you lose 5 percent to 10 percent of your total weight when used in conjunction with a comprehensive weight loss plan to limit dietary fat and calories and integrate exercise into your daily routine. Alli manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline points out that other weight loss methods such as fad diets, semi-starvation diets, gastric bypass surgery and drugs that dampen your appetite can have serious health consequences. Successful, permanent weight loss using Alli "is not an overnight occurrence but requires long-term behavioral change," according to the manufacturer.
Alli Difference
Alli is the reduced-strength version of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved weight loss drug called orlistat, which is sold under the trade name of Xenical, which has been in use since 1999, according to a June 2007 article in Science Daily. Rather than suppress your appetite, Alli prevents your body from absorbing dietary fat, which is removed from your body through your stool.
What Studies Show
Researchers from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, published an article in the December 2007 edition of "Journal of Vascular Health and Risk Management" after reviewing studies conducted on prescription orlistat. According to researchers, orlistat typically results in a "small but significant" amount of weight loss in obese individuals, about 3 percent more than had participants simply dieted. Moreover, medium-term studies indicate that people who continue to use orlistat as a weight loss aid keep weight off. According to the Science Daily article, research indicates that Alli, combined with a low-fat diet, can result in the loss of about 5 percent of your body weight in four months.
Diet Modifications
Mayo Clinic doctor Donald Hensrud also stresses the importance of eating a low-fat, low-calorie diet when taking Alli. This medication works best when you consume 15 grams of fat or less during each meal. Side effects such as diarrhea, gas, oily spots on your underclothes and the pressing need to race to the bathroom can result when you eat meals higher in fat. Additionally, Alli also prevents your body from absorbing vitamins and minerals. You must take a multivitamin if you use Alli as a weight loss aid.
Realistic Expectations
Alli can help you lose weight, but how much and how quickly depends on your willingness to make changes to your diet, eating habits and lifestyle. You can expect slow, modest weight loss with Alli--Hensrud estimates you may lose an additional three to five pounds a year if you combine the medication with exercise and the recommended diet. Talk to your doctor first to make sure you understand all of the risks and benefits of taking Alli.
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