There is a new over-the-counter weight loss drug called Alli hitting the market this month. It’s not actually a new drug as it has been available by prescription since 1999 when it was marketed as Xenical. Unlike many of the over-the-counter products that are advertised as weight loss aids, this particular drug has actually been tested in clinical trials. The University of Kentucky College of Medicine and Metabolic Research Group examined the effectiveness of the over-the-counter strength Alli on mildly to moderately overweight individuals.
     The study participants took the drug three times a day, with breakfast, lunch and supper for four months and lost an average of 7 to 15 pounds or about 2 to 4 pounds per month. It wasn’t dramatic weight loss, but it was a steady loss over the study period.
The drug works by reducing the amount of fat that is absorbed from the food because it blocks the digestion of about 30 percent of the fat that is eaten. The undigested fat remains in the intestines and is then excreted in the stool.
     Alli is intended to be used with a low-fat diet and combined with regular exercise for effectiveness. If the dieter continues to eat a high fat diet, the result can be unwanted side-effects of bloating, gas and diarrhea. In the past, I worked with a physician supervised program that used Xenical to promote weight loss. Many participants thought they could continue to eat their usual diet and the Xenical would do the rest. They quickly learned that eating more than about 15 grams of fat per meal would mean spending time in the bathroom.
     There are many sources of fat in the diet, some obvious and some that are not as obvious. Here are some examples:

• Oils, margarines, shortening, gravies, sauces, salad dressings, and mayonnaise
• Bacon, sausage, hamburger, regular lunch meats and cheeses
• Sour cream, whole milk, ice cream, cream cheese and cream soups
• Nuts, olives, avocados, and peanut butter
• Chips, cookies, and snack items prepared with fat

Proponents of the drug say that the uncomfortable side effects that occur when people eat a high fat diet will eventually teach them to stick to a healthier low-fat diet. Opponents of the drug say that people would lose weight anyway if they just followed the low-fat eating plan and exercised six days a week as this study recommended.
    In a previous one-year study, a significant number of those participants who stopped using the drug Xenical regained as much as 35 percent of the weight they had managed to lose. If you are interested in trying Alli, consult your health care provider and make sure there are no health conditions that might pose problems, such as intestinal or gallbladder problems. Because the drug interferes with the absorption of fat, it also interferes with the fat soluble vitamins A, D. E and K so you would need a multivitamin supplement taken two hours before or after taking the drug.