Weight Loss Product, "alli"
Q. Like everyone else, we want to know if this new weight loss medication is the Holy Grail to lose weight. Is it safe and what can you tell me about it?
A. If your listeners haven’t heard of “alli” yet, they will soon. It’s being heavily advertised as a healthy weight loss program, and who doesn’t want to lose weight? Everywhere I turn I see this product and I understand Costco will be promoting and selling it off the shelf, so you know it’s going to sell!
The reason “alli” is receiving so much hype is because it’s the first FDA approved weight loss product to be sold without prescription! If you’re saying that can’t be and there’s lots of other products out there to buy, we’ll it’s true. All the other weight loss products promoted on the internet, in magazines and stores do not have FDA approval as safe and effective. This one does. Does that mean it’s safe and effective for everyone? No. It just means it’s safe and effective in a subset of people similar to those who took part in the studies. In fact, I predict it will hit with a thunder and blow away like a summer storm, although I also predict many people will have to try it just to see if it works for them.
Some people will already know if it works for them. Why? Because “alli”, which is the trade name for “orlistat,” came out in 1999 as a prescription weight loss product called Xenical. “alli” is the same product, only ½ the strength, and the manufacturer is hoping the side effects are less because of it. Xenical had limited benefit in weight loss as many people who took it had a nasty side effect, called rectal discharge! Let me explain.
“alli” (orlistat) is a fat blocker. It works by preventing the absorption of fats from the human diet, thereby reducing caloric intake. It’s supposed to decrease the amount of fat calories absorbed by about 1/3. In other words, if you eat fatty foods, this will prevent SOME, not all, of those fat calories from being absorbed. If you don't eat fat in a meal, say all carbs or just protein and carbs, this product will have no net benefit.
A drawback to fat blockade can be that your stools will be oily, as the unabsorbed fat passes through, potentially causing flatulence or rectal discharge. Basically, the more fat you eat while taking this drug, the more will come out the other end rather than be absorbed. However, the less fat you eat, the less you will experience these side-effects. This can be a wonderful behavior modification tool!
Another significant side effect of blocking fat absorption is the decreased absorption of fat soluble vitamins, such as D, E, K and beta carotene. Thus, supplements may need to be a part of the overall program.
“alli” is intended for use in conjunction with a physician-supervised, reduced-calorie diet and exercise program. Weight loss will not be dramatic, especially if someone is already on a low-fat diet. In fact, the average weight loss in the pre-marketing studies was 5 to 10 pounds over six months. “alli” also does nothing to curb or limit appetite although it can change behavior by it’s side effects!!!
The literature notes it’s important for the patient to be on a low-fat diet when taking this drug. Well, if one is on a low fat diet, then what’s the point of taking something to block a few additional fat calories?
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could eat all the wonderfully fatty foods we like and not be penalized for it? Or how about even losing weight while indulging in fatty foods? Sound too good to be true? I’m going to suggest it is, but you can be the judge.
To your good health,
Dr. Larry Greenblatt www.cmadoc.com
P.S. For those interested in the numbers for losing weight with “alli,”
let’s do the math. A meal is composed of 1500 total calories, of which 30% are composed of fat calories. That’s 450 total fat calories consumed. “alli” will block about 1/3 of that which equals 150 calories “saved.” This savings per meal would take 23 meals to equal a pound of weight loss! In other words, one piece of bread will make up for the calories reduced by this product. Is it worth it, especially when factoring in the side effects and cost at $2/day? How about just eating less fat to begin with or walking for 20 mins everyday?
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