There are different types of diet pills, but the majority can be divided into four categories: Carb Blockers, Appetite Suppressants, Fat Burners and Fat Blockers. Fat blockers are one of the most popular types of weight loss supplements. The best fat blockers are diet pills that contain either Chitosan or Orlistat as their primary ingredients.

Chitosan is a natural fiber with fat blocking abilities. When Chitosan is ingested it is not broken down nor digested or absorbed into the body, it only passes through the digestive tract. As Chitosan passes through the body it attracts fat molecules and balls them up together. Much of the fats that come in contact with Chitosan inside the body’s digestive system are carried out of the body undigested and therefore with no effect on body weight.

Enough Chitosan should be taken to absorb the fat in the meal. Chitosan is able to absorb about 7 times its weight in fat, so if a meal contains about 14 grams of fat, one will have to consume about 2000mg of Chitosan. For optimal benefit, Chitosan should be taken before or at the same time as meals to have it already in the digestive system as the food passes.

Orlistat is another common type of fat blocker. It is the ingredient that is found in the non-prescription diet pill Alli, as well as the prescription diet pill Xenical. The only difference between these two diet pills is the amount of Orlistat they contain. Orlistat acts as a lipase inhibitor in the intestines. It prevents enzymes (lipase) in the gastrointestinal tract from breaking dietary fats down into sizes small enough to be absorbed through the intestinal lining.

There is a large difference between how Orlistat and Chitosan work in the body. Chitosan is simply a fiber that attracts fat molecules and helps them pass through, however Orlistat actually changes how your digestive enzymes break down fats. The drawback to using either type of fat blocker is that these supplements are not able to distinguish between good and bad fats. This means that as much as they will be effective at blocking bad fats, such as saturated fats, they will also block the absorption of good fats, such omega-3 fatty acids.

Eating a well balanced diet that is rich in fiber and low in saturated fats is a natural way to reduce fat intake. Sources of healthy fats that should be part of your diet include fish, nuts, seeds, corn, olives, egg whites, lean meats, avocados and oils such as safflower, flax seed, and olive oil. Although it may seem strange, healthy fats from these types of foods can promote a healthy lifestyle and weight loss.

One should understand that fat blockers are not fat burners. Fat blockers, unlike thermogenic products, do not burn fat but instead block or reduce the impact that dietary fats have on the production of new fat in the body. However, fat blockers do not work alone; one should not think that by consuming fat blockers, all work of dieting is done. One should take fat blockers in conjunction with healthy eating and daily exercise in order to successfully and permanently lose weight.