Let’s face it, losing weight is a difficult business. If there was a way to keep your body from turning food into fat, that would solve a lot of problems.
A combination of diet, exercise and a weight loss supplement called orlistat are the foundations of the Alli diet program. Sold by GlaxoSmithKline and approved by the FDA, Alli is a product that promises swifter weight loss than by diet and exercise alone.
In other parts of world orlistat is sold in prescription strength by Roche. Alli has been approved in the United States as an over the counter drug that can be bought without a prescription in drug stores and pharmacies.
So how does Alli help you lose weight? One of the jobs of the pancreas is to produce an enzyme (called pancreatic lipase) that help to break down food so your body can absorb the nutrients. Stands to reason that if you had less of that enzyme, you would absorb less of the nutrients and therefore fewer calories.
The Alli program also includes a program of moderate exercise and a low fat diet. Clinical studies performed by GlaxoSmithKline have shown that people on the Alli program lost about 50% more weight. It would have been useful to see a control group that only took Alli without doing the exercise to see how much the weight loss had only to do with taking the supplement.
Taking diet pills can have some unpleasant and scary side effects. Anxiety, stomach cramps and dizziness are just a few of the side effects reported with many popular supplements. Alli avoids these because it does its work in the digestive system. There is a downside, though. Loose stools, excessive gas and something called Brown Stain Problem (BSP) are all regular side effects of taking orlistat.
Another drawback to taking orlistat is the rare possibility of severe liver damage. Just over 30 cases of liver damage has been reported by people taking orlistat supplements in the last decade. Jaundice and weakness are the most common symptoms. The FDA recently started requiring the makers of Xenical and Alli to include information on liver damage with their products.
The Alli diet program has been an enormous success with many people obtaining positive results through its use. When used correctly with a low fat diet and regular exercise Alli has been shown to be effective in helping people to lose weight. Unfortunately, studies have shown that after stopping the Alli program most people gained the weight right back. Ultimately, a change in lifestyle to include diet and exercise is still the best way to maintain a successful weight control program.
Looking for more information on the best weight loss plan for you? Visit www.HealthyLiving411.com to find advice and dieting reviews.
