Alli is a nonprescription weight loss drug that is designed to help dieters to shed their excess body fat more easily. It is a product that is both created and manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the UK-based pharmaceutical giant.
According to the official website, when this Alli review was written, this product “is clinically proven to work for people who want to lose 5% to 10% of their body weight and are committed to a well-balanced diet as directed with Alli®”.
Alli is FDA Approved
The official website for this product has indicated that the FDA has given its approval for these pills. This is extremely rare for an over the counter (OTC) diet pill. However, In Alli’s case, it contains an FDA-approved diet drug for the treatment of obesity called Orlistat.
Orlistat (Xenical) is at the heart of the ingredients in Alli. It is typically sold as a prescription weight loss pill, but in this product, it is used in a considerably lower dose (60-milligrams to the 120-milligram prescription drug version), which has allowed it to be sold as a nonprescription product with the FDA’s approval.
How Does Alli Help with Weight Loss?
Orlistat works by blocking the enzyme in the body that decomposes fats in your diet. This fat that is undigested then passes out of your body through a bowel movement. Studies have found that Orlistat (in its prescription dose) is an effective and well-tolerated anti-obesity drug.
In the case of Alli, specifically, the purpose of this OTC product is to block about a quarter (25%) of the consumed fat from being absorbed into the body. This helps to reduce the number of calories that are taken in from the food that is eaten every day. The excess fat is then passed with the rest of the body’s waste.
That being said, this drug does not block the absorption of calories from sugar and other non-fat foods. In other words, you will still need to restrict your total intake of calories when taking this diet pill.
Moreover, the instructions for Alli explain that it is not designed to be used on its own for weight loss, but must instead be combined with a healthy diet and a regular fitness appropriate activity level.
Possible Side Effects
Because of the nature of this product, it is highly recommended that it be taken with a reduced fat diet because it will help to lower the chances of side effects. This is because the fat that is not absorbed and that passes through the body can lead to symptoms such as:
- Loose stool
- Flatulence (excessive gas)
- Cramps
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Gas with oily anal discharge
- Oily stools
- More frequent bowel movements
- Urgent or hard to control bowel movements
Other Things to Consider
Keep in mind, it is very important to consult with your doctor before taking Alli, regardless of the fact that it does not require a prescription.
The main reason is that this non-prescription diet drug may not be safe for everyone to take. It may interact poorly with other medications or negatively impact certain health conditions. Inform your medical practitioner if you have:
- Diabetes
- Thyroid disease
- Irregular heartbeat
- Cardiovascular disease
- HIV
- Seizures
Additionally, be sure to tell him or her of any health conditions you may have, any medications you may be taking, as well as if you are pregnant, nursing or planning to become pregnant.
Consulting with your doctor can help you to know exactly how you should be eating to take advantage of the benefits of this product and to ensure that you are losing weight as quickly as possible and in as healthy a technique as possible.
This is also important as it may be vital for you to supplement some of your nutrition while taking this product, as it may reduce the absorption of fat soluble vitamins, and you may need to compensate for that.
At the time this review was created, a 60-Count Starter Pack of Alli could be purchased online for $39.94 at Amazon and Walmart, $39.99 at Target and $49.99 at Walgreens. You cannot purchase the product directly from the official website. That being said, the official site did offer a $5 Off Coupon for the 60-Count Starter Pack and a $10 off coupon for the 120-Count Refill Pack.