The new FDA-approved weight loss drug Alli will become available to the public by June 15th 2007.  Perhaps by the time you read this article you will have already heard about it or even seen it on the shelves.  This product may be purchased without a prescription from a physician.  That's right - an over the counter weight loss drug.

How does it work?

Alli is a 60mg orlistat capsule that essentially blocks up to 25% the fat you eat from being absorbed into your body.  The claim is that combining Alli with a low calorie, low fat diet one can lose up to 50% more weight loss than through dieting alone.  In short, if the fat from food is not broken down and absorbed into your body, it passes through instead of eventually adding to your waistline.

The example they give is "instead of losing 10 pounds with diet alone, you can lose 15 pounds with the Alli program."

What are the side effects?

Of course the first question I had as a fitness professional, and a human being, was what are the side effects of such a product?

My ill will toward this product instantly grew as I learned that not only are the side effects, in my humble opinion, not worth the benefit of sparing some time it would normally take to lose the same amount of weight if you ate sensibly anyway -- but the side effects are conveniently renamed "treatment effects". 

Maybe a treatment effect is the new P.C. way of verbalizing side effects.

An extreme, yet accurate analogy would be if ephedra was put back in to certain weight loss and energy aids and the possible "treatment effects" were that of abnormal changes in blood pressure and heart attack.

The following side effect information can be found in the marketing literature and on the Alli website:
1. gas with oily spotting
2. loose stools
3. more frequent stools that may be hard to control
More explanation is offered with:
"You may not usually get gassy, but it's a possibility when you take Alli. The bathroom is really the best place to go when that happens."

"The excess fat that passes out of your body is not harmful. In fact, you may recognize it as something that looks like the oil on top of a pizza."

Here are my top 6 questions about Alli:

1. Who wants those side effects if they are dieting anyway and can avoid them?

2. What happens if someone does reach their weight loss goals with Alli and then proceed to stop?  Do they gain the weight back 50% faster?

3. Does this program not give free license to over eaters or people with poor nutritional habits to continue the same self defeating behaviors…if they don't mind a little "pizza oil" in their pants?

4. Could this drug not be abused by people suffering with laxative bulimia?

5. Why should we play into the hands of our fast paced, quick fix, I want it all and I want it yesterday society?

6. What is stopping kids from getting their hands on this and overusing Alli to drop weight for high school athletics or to fit into that prom dress?

Those are just a few of my concerns.  Although this article has a negative vibe toward Alli, I do believe it could help some people.  I believe a drug like this, although FDA-approved, should be a prescription medication only.

Over the past 15+ years of training, logging in thousands of hours helping people just like you reach their weight loss goals -- there has NEVER been a short cut that has a.) Been worth it or b.) Lasted over time.

There is no substitute for hard ward and eating soundly.  Having sound nutrition does not have to be a chore and we are always coming up with new and innovative ways to train more effectively.

Please take this article for what it is -- informative.  I trust you will make the right decision and I am confident that when you do you will reach your fitness goals.

Dave Gleason CSCS

www.HomeOfficeWorkouts.com