Many weight loss pills are on the market, and not all are effective or safe. One popular diet pill that is available over the counter is Alli. Before deciding on Alli or any weight loss pill, it is best to understand how it works and to speak with a health care provider to weigh side effects, possible interactions with other medications and the results that can be expected.
Identification
Alli is the over-the-counter version of the prescription drug orlistat. Alli is a lipase inhibitor, which works by blocking the absorption of some of the fat that is eaten at a meal. This unabsorbed fat is then removed from the body in the stool. It is designed to be taken up to three times a day, either with a meal or up to one hour after a meal that contains fat.
Considerations
Alli and other weight loss medications are usually only recommended for obese adults whose body mass index is greater than 30. They are not intended for those who only have a few pounds to lose. Alli is only meant to jump-start weight loss efforts and must be combined with regular exercise, behavioral changes and a low-fat, reduced calorie diet. Pills cannot replace developing a lifelong program of healthy eating and physical activity. However, for some people, taking Alli may help to provide motivation to change by causing weight loss more quickly than would be seen with lifestyle changes alone.
Benefits
Lipase is an enzyme found in the digestive tract that helps to break down fat that is eaten, so it can be used for energy or stored in the body for use later on. Alli hinders the actions of lipase, so some of the fat ingested is eliminated from the body. However, just taking Alli alone does not cause a large amount of weight loss. The MayoClinic.com suggests that using Alli results in a one-year loss of about 5 to 7 pounds more than would be lost through diet and exercise alone; these figures were based on people taking the prescription-strength version. Taking the over-the-counter version results in a one-year loss of about 3 to 5 pounds more than would be lost through diet and exercise alone. In addition, for many patients, once the pills are stopped the weight returns because they did not make the necessary behavioral changes and changes to eating patterns.
Warnings
Since Alli causes fat to be eliminated through the bowels, it can lead to side effects. Even taking the recommended dosage can lead to upset stomach, stomach cramps, gas with an oily discharge, diarrhea, more frequent bowel movements and difficulty controlling bowel movements. In severe cases it can cause weakness, fatigue, fever, jaundice or brown urine. Eating 15 g or less of fat each meal should help to control side effects. Taking the prescription-strength version of the pill may hinder the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D and E, so supplementation may be required.
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