I was waiting in line at my local drug store when I overheard several women swooning over Alli®, the new over-the-counter diet pill. Their buzzing was so loud in fact that I started listening to their conservation.
These women were convinced that Alli was the cure for their weight problems. I didn't feel that my professional opinion was warranted just then, but I would like to share some information with you about Alli.
Alli is the first over-the-counter diet pill to gain approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It works by preventing the intestines from digesting about 25 percent of the fat consumed. This undigested fat, however, cannot be absorbed by the body - so where does it go?
The company that makes Alli informs us of what it calls the pill's "treatment effects," which include "loose or more frequent stools that may be hard to control, or gas with an oily discharge."
About 50 percent of the research participants had these side effects, and so the makers of Alli recommend wearing dark pants and bringing a change of clothes to work. But sales have been high, so these embarrassing "treatment effects" must not be keeping people away.
Alli's maker does get credit, however, for recommending using its product along with a diet and exercise program. They suggest reduced-calorie meals containing less than 15 grams of fat. And I was impressed that on their Web site they recommend partnering with a registered dietitian to help with weight loss. I also thought the book "The Alli Diet Plan" had some good meal strategies and recipe ideas. Alli costs about $60 for a pack of 90 pills, and since the dose is up to three pills per day, one pack may last only about a month.
I don't believe Alli is a cure for obesity. It may be one more tool we can use, but I don't even think it is the best tool. Weight loss still comes down to a reduction in calorie intake and an increase in exercise. What's your take on Alli?
