The percentage of obese men and women in the UK is increasing. Currently there are 17% men and 21% women who have BMI of 30 or more. Most overweight or obese people resort to weight loss pills to lose weight quickly. While prescription pills are by far the most popular and trusted, OTC drugs too have managed to carve a niche among dieters. alli is the first diet pill of its kind – a medicine approved by the FDA to be sold over the counter.

What is alli?

alli is the non-prescription version of the more popular Xenical orlistat. It contains a reduced amount of orlistat as its active ingredient. Like Xenical, alli too works best if taken as a weight loss supplement. It means that you should not depend on the medicine to work wonders for you. Regular exercise and nutritious diet still holds the secret to achieve a healthy and long-term weight loss goal. But the benefit of using a weight loss pills is that you can do with only light exercise, as compared to heavy workouts everyday without medication.

Manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, the alli slimming pills has already had its share of criticisms and negative feedback from customers. Some have complained about its limited ability in dealing with food that contains a high amount of fat. But then again, you cannot expect positive results when you are not willing to play your part in the weight loss program.

How does alli work?

alli works by preventing a part of the dietary fat from being digested by the system. When you take a fatty meal, some enzymes target the fat and breaks it down for absorption. Orlistat works on those enzymes and prevent them from breaking down fat. The unabsorbed fat gets expelled from the body, helping you to not put on weight.

Does alli deprive me of other essential nutrients?

No, orlistat targets only the enzymes that help in fat digestion. It does not interfere with enzymes that work on proteins or carbohydrates. So if you eat a meal that contains all 3 essential nutrients, alli will not affect the absorption of proteins and carbohydrates. But healthy eating and regular physical activities should be on top of your list of priorities if you are sincere about your weight loss goals.

What are the side effects?

The most common side effects include flatulence, bowel movements, and oily or fatty stools. The drug is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women. If you have any existing health problem, talk to your doctor before using it.

Can I take alli?

It is still early days but alli has the potential to be the right, long-term solution to obese people who are at increased risk of developing other weight-related health and psychological problems. Here you have a choice to take your time and treat your problem away from your snoopy neighbours. With a little bit of support from the people who matter to you, you can fight obesity, get the confidence back and come back to a normal life.