Is the Hype About Alli (Orlistat) to be Believed?

Originally a prescription drug, Orlistat is now available in a low-dose version, Alli. These diet pills are manufactured by the European drug giant GlaxoSmithKline. The drug, which you take up to three times per day with meals, prevents you from digesting 25 percent of the fat you consume (by attaching to some of the enzymes responsible for breaking down fat from food). The amount of fat calories blocked depends on daily fat consumption, but most people tend to block 100 to 200 calories per day.

People who took these diet pills for six months lost 50 percent more weight than those who only dieted, according to a study done by GlaxoSmithKline. More interestingly, it also appeared to inspire positive lifestyle changes which might beg the question of a possible placebo effect. A starter pack of these diet pills includes a month's supply of pills, a dietary guidelines guide, a calorie and fat counter, and a food journal and costs approximately $60.00 US.

It has been reported that if you eat too much fat (more than 30 percent of your calories, or roughly 15 grams of fat per meal), you'll likely experience loose, oily stools, since the excess fat that is blocked from absorption is quickly excreted. In some extreme and messy cases, people have been unable to control their bowels. Also, taking these diet pills may also put you at risk for vitamin loss as people need enough fat in their diet to absorb fat-soluble vitamins such as A and D.

This diet pill is intended for people who are overweight, generally defined as those with a body mass index (BMI) — a measure of body fat based on height and weight — of at least 25. The drug also works as an over-eating deterrent as the side effects are unpleasant enough that you'll want to avoid fatty foods.

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