"alli" and weight loss

What is alli?

"alli" is a medicine now available from pharmacies without a prescription to aid weight loss in adults who are overweight and have a body mass index (BMI) of 28 or over, and who follow a reduced calorie, lower-fat diet. It contains orlistat 60mg per capsule.

If you add alli to a reduced calorie, lower-fat diet, it can reward your hard work, with 50% more weight loss. So for every 2 lb weight you lose by your own efforts, alli can help you lose 1 lb more.

alli is exciting news for adults who are overweight with a BMI of 28 or over, want to lose weight and who understand the importance of sensible eating when they're trying to lose weight. If you know what it's like to step on the scales and not lose as much weight as you were expecting, alli could be just what you need.

• alli is not a magic slimming pill. It's a weight loss capsule designed to be used with a support programme (find out more at www.alli.co.uk ) to help boost your weight loss. It?s clinically proven that adding alli to a reduced calorie, lower-fat diet can boost your weight loss by 50%.
• It works by stopping some of the fat you eat from being absorbed, so for every 2 lb (1 kg) you lose from eating healthily, adding alli can help you lose 1 lb (1/2 kg) more.
• alli is the first pharmacy-only weight loss aid licensed throughout Europe.

Due to the way the alli capsules work, it's important to eat a reduced calorie, lower-fat diet. You may do so already, in which case you?ll probably only need to make some minor adjustments ? you can check your daily fat and calorie targets at www.alli.co.uk .

• Before you take alli, read the information contained in the alli pack.

alli is not a miracle slimming pill or a crash diet. The alli capsule, in combination with the rest of the alli programme, helps you lose weight gradually. Losing weight and keeping it off can help improve your general health and reduce your risk of developing several serious health problems.

Is alli suitable for me?

alli is suitable for adults aged 18 or over, who, in medical terms, are classed as moderately to severely overweight which means adults (over 18) with a BMI of 28 or above.

You can find out your BMI, take a quiz to see if you are right for alli, read some frequently asked questions and get lots more information about the alli programme at www.alli.co.uk .

alli is not suitable for adults who are taking certain medicines from their doctor, for example anticoagulants, ciclosporin, amiodarone, or acarbose. It's not suitable for pregnant or breast-feeding women, or people with chronic malabsorption syndrome, cholestasis (a condition where the flow of bile from the liver is blocked), or people who may be allergic to any of the ingredients.

If you are taking medicines for diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or the oral contraceptive pill, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking alli.

If you would like to discuss alli, and whether or not it would be suitable for you, contact our pharmacy team on 0845 803 9033 or email pharmacist@pharmacy2u.co.uk.

How does alli work?

If you want to lose weight, it's important to understand how body fat accumulates in the first place. When you eat more calories than your body needs, your body will store the extra ones as body fat, making you put on weight. alli is an effective answer to help you lose the weight sensibly, and the alli programme (find out more at www.alli.co.uk ) gives you lots of help at every stage.

• adding alli to a reduced calorie, lower-fat diet can help you boost your weight loss by 50%.
• For every 2 lb (1 kg) you lose from your own efforts, with alli you can lose 1 lb (1/2 kg) more.
• alli works in a unique way. The active ingredient, orlistat, attaches itself to some of the body's enzymes that break down fat. This prevents some of the fat you eat from being digested and absorbed.
• Fat is high in calories but if it isn't absorbed, it can't contribute to weight gain. The unabsorbed fat passes naturally out of your body in your stools.
• Unlike stimulants or appetite suppressants, alli is formulated to work only in your digestive system and should not affect your heart rate, your brain or cause sleeplessness.

To make the most of the way alli works and to help you achieve your weight loss goals, you'll need to follow a reduced calorie, lower-fat diet and become more active. You can find out more information at www.alli.co.uk

How to take alli

Take one capsule, three times a day at mealtimes - before, during or up to one hour after each meal.

Swallow the capsule whole with water and do not take more than three a day.

alli works on the fat in your meals, so if you miss a meal or the meal doesn't contain fat, don't take a capsule.

You should also take a multivitamin every day at bedtime to ensure adequate absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K.

If you have not been able to lose weight after using alli for 12 weeks at the recommended dosage and after making the necessary diet and lifestyle changes, you should stop using alli and talk to your doctor.

Treatment with alli should not exceed 6 months in any case.

What are the side effects of alli?

Like any medicine, alli can have side effects. The most common side effects are diet related, and are largely manageable. These include:

• Wind (flatulence), with or without oily spotting;
• Sudden bowel movements;
• Fatty or oily stools;
• Soft stools.

The chances of experiencing these side effects are reduced if you eat meals with a lower fat content. It's recommended that you start a lower-fat diet a few days or even a week before taking alli.

Other common side effects include anxiety, abdominal pain, liquid stools, faecal incontinence and increased defaecation; less common side effects may include diverticulitis, hypersensitivity reactions, skin blistering, hepatitis, cholelithiasis (the presence of stones in the gallbladder or bile ducts) and mild rectal bleeding.

Links to further information

alli website

Patient UK: ?Weight Reduction - "How To Lose Weight"