Weight Loss Drugs - weight loss information

Could the first FDA-approved, over-the-counter diet pill jump start weight loss for overweight Americans?

For years, dieters across the nation have turned to drugstore aisles in search of a quick fix for their weight problems. Hundreds of bottles of supplements and diet pills line these aisles, and most use catchy advertisements and testimonials to make what many doctors say are unsubstantiated claims -- fooling dieters into believing that a bottle of pills could help them lose 10 or 20 pounds in a matter of days or weeks.

For the first time, however, medical experts at the Food and Drug Administration have stamped their seal of approval on an over-the-counter weight-loss pill. The drug, Alli (pronounced AL-eye), which will be available in stores in June, lends a helping hand to dieters looking to gradually lose weight, according to manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline.



AN ALLY FOR OVERWEIGHT AMERICANS?



Alli can help overweight Americans shed extra pounds, but should not be considered a miracle drug, said Malesia Dunn, a GlaxoSmithKline spokesperson. Consumers will also have to follow a reduced-calorie diet and commit to regular exercise to see results, she said.

"Now, instead of [losing] 10 pounds, by including Alli in that program, you will potentially lose up to 15 pounds," Dunn said. "And for a lot of people that becomes very meaningful."

The drug's active ingredient decreases the body's absorption of fat by about 25 percent per meal -- meaning that dieters do not absorb those fat calories. The undigested fat passes through the body and can cause unpleasant side effects, including gas, oily spotting and loose stools. The FDA recommends that users follow a low-fat diet to reduce these side effects.

"If you eat a lot of fattening, high-fat products, you're still going to have a lot of that in your body," Dunn said. "The product only blocks a percentage."

Source: http://media.www.dailyfreepress.com/media/storage/paper87/news/2007/05/01/Science/The-Skinny.On.Alli-2889960.shtml