Weight Loss

A lot of us would like to find that magic pill we can take once a day and loose weight without much effort on our part. Unfortunately is does not exist and I'm sure if it did there would be a lot of harsh side effects. The only tested and proved way to loose weight and keep it off requires work and discipline on our part.

I work as a pharmacy tech in a chain store. We have many people every day come to the counter with a couple of products claiming weight loss and ask which is best. The answer is the same, try them at your own risk. There is not sufficient evidence to prove one over another. The FDA does not regulate dietary supplements in the same way as medication. Dietary supplements can be sold with limited or no research on how well it works. Some can even make you gain weight if not used properly. Out of a desire to better serve our patients, I researched one of the more popular weight loss products, Alli. Following is what I learned.

Alli is the reduced strength prescription drug orlistat (Xenacal). It is used to treat obesity in patients 18 yrs and older. Those taking over the counter Alli can conceivably lose 3 more pounds a year than with diet and exercise alone. It is recommended to be used in conjunction with a diet low in fat to limit/avoid some of it's unsavory side effects. Some of those side effects being gas with oily discharge, loose stools or diarrhea, more frequent bowel movements and hard to control bowel movements. So stay close to a bathroom and bring a change of pants!
You should not take Alli if you are at a healthy weight (healthy doesn't mean skinny, that isn't always healthy), if you are taking cyclosporines (anti rejection drugs), have had an organ transplant, or are having problems absorbing food. It also may pose a risk for anyone with diabetes, thyroid disease or anyone on blood-thinning medications. Alli may decrease the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D and E. You will need to take a supplement at a different time than when you take Alli, to prevent potential nutrient deficiencies.
Keep in mind that if you lose weight on a supplement you will most likely gain it all back when you stop taking it. You may have to continue taking the supplement along with diet and exercise in order to keep it off.
As with any weight loss or diet, check with your doctor before starting Alli to see if it is right for you and to make sure it will not interfere adversely with any medications you may be on.
Most of the research came from Mayo Clinic. Click the link to read more!