Alli Weight Loss Supplement - What You Need to Know

Alli is an over-the-counter weight loss drug approved by the FDA. The biggest drawback is Alli's side effects - which are a result of how it works in your body. Here are the most common side effects and one way to stop, or minimize, them.

Let's get right down to brass tacks. Yes...Alli® (pronounced al-eye) is a weight loss drug but it's far from being anything 'new'. Actually, Alli is the half-strength brother of the prescription weight loss drug Xenical® (orlistat). Xenical is available in a 120mg capsule while Alli is available in a 60mg strength.

And yes, if you want the short answer Alli does cause weight loss...but it can cause a fair amount of side effects too. The side effects usually aren't serious - but they can be very embarrassing. Here's what I mean.

Alli Side Effects

To understand the possible side effects you may experience from Alli it's important that you understand how it works in your body.

When you eat any meal containing fat your body sends out lipases - enzymes from your pancreas that break down fats (particularly triglycerides) into a form that can be absorbed in your intestines.

Alli is a lipase inhibitor - it stops the lipases from doing their job. Keep in mind, it doesn't inhibit all fat breakdown, more like 20% to 30%. But it's enough to cause troublesome side effects.

Why? Well, when your body is not able to break down and absorb fats it eliminates them through your bowel movements. Meaning, your stools will be 'greasier'. I know that paints a pleasant picture. If you think that is pleasant, take a look at this excerpt from Xenical's home page for medical professionals:


I took this information from Xenical's website because I could not find quality information from Alli's website. Besides, they are both the same active ingredient, just different strengths so the side effects you could possibly see would be the same but with likely lower frequency.

How to Limit Your Risk of Experiencing Side Effects

You have to be very, very careful about how much dietary fat you are consuming with each meal. Because, the more you consume the more that is going to be coming out in your stool and maybe even in your underwear. I kid you not. I remember people telling me that when they took orlistat (Xenical)!

If you think that was tough to keep a straight face on you should have been there when the lady asked me if I thought she had cradle crap (she was trying to say cradle cap...big difference).

Anyways, Alli is not without side effects. Whether or not you choose or are able to tolerate those side effects isn't something I can answer for you. Like I said above, many folks who I knew who tried it simply weren't able to continue using it.

Hidden Long Term Side Effect

One of the side effects I don't see discussed too much is the decrease in absorption of the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K.

Remember, fat soluble vitamins are absorbed in the small intestine along with dietary fat. If you are inhibiting (even if it's only partially) the absorption of fat with Alli you run the risk of having low levels of these various vitamins.

Alli recommends that you take a multivitamin like Centrum® to counteract the effects. This is fine in theory but it seems to me that you are adding another level of complexity and pill-taking rather than addressing the root cause of the problem - which is a healthy eating lifestyle.

Besides, you're still consuming less fat overall so how much of the fat soluble vitamins would you need to supplement with to get appropriate absorption? Good question and one I couldn't find any evidence or studies on.

In short, the Alli weight loss pill is unhealthy and unpleasant. If you want to go through that just to lose a little weight that's up to you. But there are smarter ways of going about it.

My Concern With Alli

It's clear that Alli does cause weight loss. My concern though, is for people to depend on it rather than adjusting how they eat. Despite what our 'low fat' dominated culture says, fats are not all bad. In fact, they are needed for a healthy mind and body.