Does Alli work for weight loss? Has the magic pill arrived? Alli, long story short is nothing more than a fat blocker. The thing that has people convinced it’s a weight loss solution is it’s a product sold over the counter, it’s backed by the FDA and you need doctor’s prescription to get it. When people hear this they think wow this must really work. Alli perhaps can play a role in losing weight or fat but you may need to buy a case of adult diapers for the side effects.
Alli Explained
Alli is the over-the-counter name for orlistat which is also available in prescription form as Xenical. If you are going to ask for it you may like to know that it is pronounced like ally, not alley. It is essentially a fat blocker. It works by preventing the body from absorbing the fat from the foods that we eat, and it is the one freely available drug that has FDA backing for its claims to aid weight loss. You might think you could eat all the fatty foods you like and then take Alli to negate the effect but sadly it’s not true. It should always be used in conjunction with a low fat diet plan under the supervision of a doctor. The amount of weight loss achieved with Alli is variable. In one study involving one-year clinical trials, between 35.5% and 54.8% of subjects attained a 5% or greater decrease in body mass, although we do not know how much of this mass was fat. Between 16.4% and 24.8% of the subjects achieved a 10% or more decrease in body mass. In combination with a calorie controlled diet, the effects could be expected to be greater. It was also shown to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The participants regained an average of one third of the weight that they had lost after stopping Alli, but this is typical of most dieters.
Alli’s Side Effects
The main disadvantage of Alli is the side effects which center around digestive and bowel problems. The higher the fat content in the diet, the greater these side effects are likely to be, as the undigested fat is expelled from the body. Flatulence, loose stools and bowel incontinence can result, (anal leakage) especially in the early stages before the body is accustomed to the drug. The manufacturer’s website warns, “You may feel an urgent need to go to the bathroom. Until you have a sense of any treatment effects, it’s probably a smart idea to wear dark pants, and bring a change of clothes with you to work.” In other words expect diarrhea! These side effects are sometimes reduced if you stick to the recommended low fat diet. Although, Alli does not claim to work without consistent efforts toward weight loss from you; what they do claim is that it can improve your weight loss by up to 50%. That would mean a person who lost 10 pounds without taking Alli would lose 20 pounds taking it. It boosts your weight loss and rewards your efforts with better results than you could get by yourself. The manufacture notes that individual results will vary and are not guaranteed.
Conclusion
Sadly there is no magic diet pill that will melt away your excess pounds while you sleep, but Alli is a pill that has documented results in its ability to block the absorption of fat. If you are determined to lose weight and have been struggling with diets without much effect perhaps Alli can play a role in weight loss but really all you need is synergy. A synergistic approach that includes a concern for muscle, good nutrition and moderate aerobics. I say skip the Alli you could lose weight without it plus you’ll save money on adult diapers.
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