Review of Alli
Alli review
Alli is a FDA approved, over-the-counter weight loss product produced by GlaxoSmithKline PLC. Alli is a reduced strength version of Xenical, a prescription drug used to treat obesity. The Alli program has two parts, the Alli capsules and an online action plan to help you lose weight gradually. The Alli capsules are designed to promote weight loss by decreasing the absorption of the fat that you eat. By implementing a good reduced calorie, low-fat diet, and taking Alli capsules, it can help you limit the total number of calories that you take in every day.
How it works?
Alli works to block fat absorption in the intestine. Alli reduces the lipase enzyme which is necessary for the absorption of fats in the small intestine and stomach. This prevents the enzyme from breaking down the fat while it is in your digestive tract. Undigested fats are not absorbed and continue through the intestine and are eliminated through bowel movements. This may result in a reduced caloric intake, and therefore, weight loss.
Alli unfortunately does not differentiate between the blocking of saturated fats and poly and monosaturated fats. If you are already on a low fat diet and eating healthy, taking Alli may only inhibit the lipase enzyme to absorb good cholesterol lowering poly and monosaturated fats.
The Effects of Alli
Alli is taken up to three times a day. Because of how Alli works, GlaxoSmithKline PLC recommends that you eat no more than 15 grams of fat with each meal. Eating higher amounts of fat can cause unwanted effects, such as urgent bowel movements, diarrhea and gas with oily spotting. Yeah I know that sounds disgusting, but there numerous reported cases of worse side effects.
Alli can help you lose weight, but the weight loss likely won’t be great. In fact, the makers of Alli suggest that there is a gradual effect of weight loss. The makers of Alli also suggest that it will only supplement your normal diet and exercise by helping shave a few more pounds from the weight loss due to diet and exercise. Alli attributes its main effect in weight loss to the consumer’s diet and exercise.
The worst part is the suggested and documented side effects of Alli. By taking Alli, you may experience urgent and irregular bowel movements. These side effects can include:
- Gas with an oily anal discharge
- Loose stools or diarrhea
- More frequent bowel movements
- Hard-to-control bowel movements
These bowel changes result from the undigested fat going through your digestive system. You can limit the side effects by eating a low-fat diet. However, eating above 42 grams of fat a day, or about 15 grams per meal, you may crap your pants, literally. The makers of Alli suggest that these are just treatment effects and it is an indication that Alli is working and signaling users that they are not living by the Alli program guidelines. Users have made the following complaints:
“(I)’ve pooped my pants 3 times today, and sorry to get descriptive but it even leaked onto the couch at one point!” (Can you tell why these are anonymous complaints)
It can strike any time — even in the early hours of the morning. One user writes: “(Y)a know how when you start moving around in the morning ya pass a little gas. Well, I did and then went into the bathroom and to my horror I had an orange river of grease running down my leg.”
Fellow cheaters advise each other on the best clean-up methods, and some even suggest using panty liners or Depends. One frugal user noted, “I’m thinking that infant diapers might be a cheaper way to go, just use them as a large pad.”
“I think it’s utterly revolting, frankly,” Drewnowski says. “It controls your life — you focus on it all day. It’s like walking around with a colostomy bag.”.
I leave it up to you to decide, but this does not seem like the right diet pills to take. There are much more effective methods of weight loss that do not involve worrying about when you might have an accident in your pants.
Alli starter packs, which includes reference guides, a daily journal and one month’s supply of medication, is about $60. A refill pack with a 40-day supply of capsules is about $75.