Xenical


Alli is the manufacturer name for Orlistat. If the name Orlistat sounds familiar to you, then you may have been among the hundreds of thousands of people who purchased Olestra fat-substitute potato chips during the mid-nineties, which promised to help control fat. This product was originally touted to not only offer a fat-substitute chip, but to also help the body reduce up to 30% of the fat you ingest on a daily basis. The side effects? Diarrhea, stomach cramping and oily poop.

Alli, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline in FDA approved pill form, (and an over-the-counter less-potent form of Xenical) touts similar benefits and side effects.  Without getting an exact chemical make-up of these two products, it is impossible at this writing to determine how alike they truly are.  But most roads lead to the fact that they are one-in-the-same.

Olestra was submitted for FDA approval by Procter and Gamble.  Even then, the introduction of Olestra was met with a storm of protest.  For one thing, vitamins A, D, E and K are delivered via oils.  Since Olestra cannot determine which oil, bad or good, is affected by its mechanism, both are removed from the system.  Mechanics.  That is another trail that leads this author to believe they are one-in-the-same product.  Olestra blocked the absorption of fat throughout the intestines. Alli diet pill behaves in the same manner. 

As far as using this product as part of a diet regime, its proponents are not promising the moon.  They agree that it only increases weight loss by about 5% when used with a viable food and exercise program. The big hype is that it is FDA approved for over-the-counter sales and, just like in the case of Olestra, its approval was protested because of the possible vitamin deficiencies that could occur from its use.

Alli’s website suggests their clients plan on a gradual weight loss and offers an accompanying book that educates the user with regard to modifying food intake and increasing exercise. When addressing side effect issues, those that are outside the obvious embarrassment of leaking bowels are considered a matter of user responsibility.  In other words, Alli will not take responsibility for your dietary choices while using the pill and does not espouse recognition of any additional side effects than the aforementioned embarrassing discomfort.  In fact, it holds that the gastrointestinal affects that may accompany its use are not serious enough to be considered adverse.

That, however, is not what the food industry decided when it pulled Olestra-laden chips from the shelves.  The gastrointestinal side effects were so wide-spread that the products were pulled within six months.  Furthermore, most physicians believed that its far-too-sparse benefits are outweighed by the fact that a patient with true symptoms of serious disease might not seek medical attention, if they believe their malady is associated with the pill.  Therefore, since the use of this pill does not have to be monitored by a physician, it is best for the potential user to educate themselves as to the pros and cons associated with its use.

It’s painfully evident that the market is saturated with diet pills, gadgets and miracle drugs bragging about their fantastic ability to help you conquer your weight loss once and for all. It’s a billion dollar industry that feeds off of the hope that most consumers aren’t reading the fine print on the packaging. The overwhelming majority of these drugs do not have any FDA approval and do not always provide the results users are hoping for.

One bright spot in this crowded field is Xenical. This 120mg diet pill is FDA approved for those who are seriously over weight and can only be obtained with a doctor’s prescription. Doctors aren’t handing prescriptions out to anyone worried about their waistines. Those classified obese by their physician, based on BMI of more than 30, are eligible. However, it’s not going to be your doctor’s first action to help you start losing weight. You’ll need to show your commitment to a healthy diet and steady exercise regimen. Although you might find it frustrating, finding that those means are still not helping you lose weight, and surgery being a drastic measure, you and your doctor can then discuss the possibility of taking Xenical.

Xenical isn’t going to do the work for you. Along with this prescription pill, you’ll need to stick with that healthy diet that is low in fat. You’ll limit fat intake to less than 30% of calories. The American Heart Association has an ideal low-fat diet that many Xenical users follow.

Not only will you see results from reducing your fat consumption, but Xenical works with your digestive system to block about one-third of the fat you eat from ever being absorbed. So the limited fat that does sneak into your diet, Xenical will keep most of it from ever being digested.

A recent study in London suggests that diet pills such as Xenical aren’t actually doing consumers that much good. The study claims that while some weight loss is experienced, it is modest compared with what consumers are likely anticipating- and sometimes promised.

Xenical was matched up against two other prescription diet pills, that are not available in the U.S., and found that the average weight lost was only 11 pounds. The study was made up of both men and women, aged 45-50 with a BMI of 35. Participants used one of the three drugs for 1-4 years.

Health experts said that even though slight weight loss was achieved, some is better than none. Losing just a few pounds that are directly tied to fat can mean generous health benefits. In fact, shedding five pounds will make you less likely to develop heart disease or diabetes.

Studies show that Xenical helps patients lose about 7 pounds, and also see better cholesterol, blood pressure and a lesser risk of diabetes. These are ideal benefits for obese individuals trying to not only lose weight, but have better overall health.
Visit with your doctor if you think you might meet the criteria to take prescription Xenical and be sure to discuss honestly all information about your health, weight and goals.

Who could have predicted that we would spend billions of dollars each year on diet pills? Yes, billions. These tiny little capsules, powders, juices and patches, that we are so certain provide the absolute cure for a thin, slender body, rake in substantial amounts of money each year and have very little regulation. They are as varied as diets on the market and provide everything from fat burning and weight loss, to increased energy, sex drive, more youthful skin, metabolism boosters and appetite suppression.
The most recent breakout on the diet pill scene is Alli. It’s a first, as it’s the only one available without a prescription stamped with an FDA approval. It’s the lesser-dose sister of Xenical, a prescription diet pill that’s only available from your doctor for obese individuals. Those taking Xenical, must have physician clearance and be commited to a diet low in calories and fat. Xenical and Alli both use the active ingredient Orlistat.
If you’ll remember, Orlistat was the popular food additive in the 90s that was linked with serious bowel problems. The WOW! brand potato chips being the most popular of those products. Many diet pills have side effects, many due to the high doses of caffeine they contain, like racing heart, nausea and the jitters. Alli and Xenical have side effects like uncontrolled gas, urination and bowel movements. This is preventable when you stick to the recommended diet guidelines.

Alli and Xenical, unlike many diet pills, are not solely responsible for weight loss. Both require you stick to a low-fat, low-calorie diet. When you manage what you’re eating, Alli and Xenical can help you shed about 50% more weight than when you’re solely following a diet. How does that work? The active ingredient Orlistat makes it so that the body is not able to digest about a 25% of the fat you’re eating. Blocking the absorption of these fats makes it possible to lose weight. And since you’re already eating a low-fat diet, 75% that gets through is a much smaller number.

If you’ve ever visited a Web site for a diet pill, they usually look like giant tabloid advertisements and typically leave visitors with more questions than they do answers. The Alli site is quite different- once again sticking out as a clear leader in the diet pill industry. The Alli Web site offers journals, calorie counters, meal planners and grocery lists and a community to converse with other Alli users.

Alli seems to be the most reliable diet pill on the market. It’s managed to stay fairly clear of the usual controversy and has the FDA approval, which none of its competitors can claim.

With all of the yo-yo approvals for Ephedra and Ephedrine and the questionable “certified” Hoodia floating around- people should definitely question any supplement they’re thinking about using. Fortunately, there are a lot of product reviews available and, thanks to the Internet, consumers aren’t quiet about keeping bad product experiences to themselves. It’s definitely advised that you do your homework before trying a new or different diet pill.