Alli is an over-the-counter medication that can help you lose weight. Taking Alli will help reduce the number of calories you absorb, but the amount of weight you can expect to lose per week varies depending on other factors, such as your diet and physical activity levels. Talk to your doctor before taking Alli or other weight loss medications.
How Alli Works
Alli inhibits the activity of an enzyme, known as lipase, that is secreted into your intestines. The purpose behind lipase is to break down dietary fats into a form that can be absorbed by the intestines. If the fats are not broken down by lipase, they aren't absorbed well, which reduces the number of calories you can absorb.
Alli and Weight Loss
Although Alli can help you lose weight by limiting the amount of calories your body absorbs, the effects are generally modest. Most people who take Xenical, the prescription form of Alli, lose between 5 and 7 more pounds over the course of a year. Alli is approximately half the strength of Xenical, so you can infer that your weight loss will be about half as much, or between 3 and 5 extra pounds. This translates to about 1/10 of a pound per week, maximum.
Importance of Diet and Exercise
Although Alli reduces the calories you absorb each day, it is only designed to help enhance a weight loss program instead of serving as a weight loss technique in isolation. The Alli website notes that the medication is designed to be incorporated into an overall diet and exercise program to help you safely and gradually lose weight. To lose a pound per week, you will need to burn 500 more calories than you consume, and the effects of getting more exercise and following a healthy diet are the main contributors as to whether or not you lose weight.
Safety
Alli is generally safe, but you may experience some side effects, such as bloating, diarrhea, loose stools or an oily discharge. This is especially likely if you consume meals with a large amount of fat. Alli can also cause you to develop certain vitamin deficiencies. For example, vitamin A, D, E and K all need fat to be absorbed properly, so taking Alli can inhibit your absorption of these vitamins. Talk to your doctor before taking Alli or other weight loss medications.
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