Alli is the only FDA-approved diet pill that you can buy without a prescription. The pill is sold at pharmacies, health food stores and over the Internet. While Alli can help with weight loss, the results are not as impressive as you might hope. According to MayoClinic.com, using Alli alongside a low-fat diet and an exercise program can help you lose 5 to 7 lbs. more than you would with diet and exercise alone.
The Pill
Alli is a milder version of the prescription drug Xenical. Both drugs are made with orlistat, a fat blocker. Orlistat works by simply blocking part of the fat you eat. Fat that is not absorbed passes through the body undigested. You can take up to three Alli pills a day. You should only take a pill if you're eating a meal that contains fat. If not, you can skip the pill.
The Diet
Alli pills come with a booklet that provides general diet tips. There's no specific menu plan or recipes offered unless you buy the Starter Pack. Even then, the recipes are meant to be used as examples and not as an ongoing diet. The idea behind Alli is that you simply reduce the amount of fat you eat and as a result you lose weight. According to MayoClinic.com, side effects are likely to appear if you eat a meal that contains more than 15 g of fat. Alli forces you to start reading labels and avoiding high-fat foods like fried snacks, cheese and fast food. As you reduce the amount of fat you eat, you reduce the amount of calories you eat, so you lose weight.
Diet Package
While it is possible to buy just a bottle of Alli pills, you can also buy a Starter Pack. According to Alli's website, the Starter Pack includes a 10-day plan with tips on how to eat, avoid side effects and improve results. You also get access to a personal web page where you can record your progress, an online journal, interactive tools to track calorie intake and recipe samples.
Side Effects
Using Alli can cause a number of side effects, which the company calls "treatment effects." The most common include diarrhea, oily stools, hard-to-control bowel movements and cramps. The more fat you eat, the stronger the side effects will be.
Cautions
Alli is for people who are overweight. According to MayoClinic.com, people who are already within their healthy weight range should not take Alli. Don't take Alli if you're taking cyclosporine, an immunosuppressant drug, or if you have absorption problems. If you have a history of gallstones, a thyroid problem or liver disease, talk to your doctor before taking Alli. People with diabetes should also avoid Alli unless under direct supervision of a medical professional.
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