Alli - a diet pill for increased weight loss. Based on Orlistat

Alli is a non-prescription drug taken for weight loss. Alli's higher potency prescription counterpart is Xenical, also called Orlistat. Alli is a reduced strength type of Orlistat.

Surprisingly, the Mayo clinic has reported that Alli can be somewhat effective as a weight loss supplement. As advertised, Alli appears to decrease the absorbtion of fat by the intestines, leading to less fat intake from the same meal as if you did not take the Alli.

However, given that the average weight loss one can expect using Alli is only about 6 pound per year, and given the nasty sounding side effects (loose stool, oily discharge, and more) of this over the counter medication one should consider using this very carefully.

Weight Loss Pills

The Mayo Clinic has an excellent simple summary of the status of research on various diet pills that claim to make losing weight easier than....eating pie:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/weight-loss/HQ01160

Notable is that Ephedra, once popular, has been banned due to dangers to health. Mayo notes that Ephedra:

Can cause high blood pressure, heart rate irregularities, sleeplessness, seizures, heart attacks, strokes and even death

Ephedara was banned from the marketplace because of safety concerns, but may still be legally sold as a tea.

Despite the ban, many ephedra products are still sold on the Internet.

Mayo's basic advice is to avoid diet pills and concentrate on a healthy lifestyle which includes regular exercise and a healthy diet where you maintain a healthy weight and your calories in are equal to your calories out.