[Article updated on 19/09/2023]
Having an attractive physique without extra pounds is today a real battle faced by young and old, men and women. If practicing sport seems difficult for reasons of schedule and motivation, various pharmaceutical laboratories are developing numerous formulas that help to lose excess weight, or even treat obesity.
Before reading on
I’m not an expert in this field, but I am passionate about nutrition and health.
The articles you’ll find on my site are the result of in-depth research that I’d like to share with you. However, I would like to stress that I am not a health professional and that my advice should in no way replace that of a qualified physician. I’m here to guide you, but it’s important that you consult a professional for specific questions or medical concerns. Your well-being is important. So be sure to consult the appropriate experts and take the best possible care of yourself.
Alli is one of those miracle products that aims to make you lose weight without having to kill yourself in the gym or log miles every morning. Find out in detail everything you need to know about this pill, its composition, its real effects, the downsides of its use as well as my overall opinion on this product.
Update : The Alli product is no longer available for sale, the article has been kept for information purposes. Alternatives are available at the bottom of the page.
Presentation of Alli
The GlaxoSmithKline laboratory
History of GSK
Alli is among the drugs intended to help you lose weight fairly quickly provided that the consumer follows the prescribed treatment to the letter. This is a pill designed and sold by the British laboratory GlaxoSmithKline or GSK, one of the giants of the world’s pharmaceutical industries.
GSK has more than 100,000 employees spread across five continents and specializing in numerous pathologies such as diabetes and cancer. The design of antibiotics and new vaccines are also part of his research areas.
Development of slimming products
This duly acquired experience pushed him to design and produce the range of medicinal products intended to weight loss. Alli was founded in 2007 and first tackled American market. Why immediately target the area across the Atlantic? There reason does not come from chance.
According to a study carried out by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention published in Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2016, 34% of young Americans (over 20 years old) would be obese or at risk of obesity. In 2016, this This figure increases further with a figure rising to 40%. THE female sex would have recorded the highest rate of progression.
The United States therefore constitutes an excellent launching pad for the new range, a good part of the population being likely customers who may be interested in simple solutions, but effective.
It was only two years later that Alli is making a breakthrough on the European market, which is rather timid in this case, given the stringent restrictions on the sale of products pharmaceuticals that the European Union imposes.
Alli product description
The drug Alli presents itself (as specified above) in the form of pills or capsules. It is distributed either in a bottle or in a box, depending on your preferences.
Its active ingredient is orlistat, a component with anti-fat properties. Alli also contains propylene glycol, microcrystalline cellulose, carboxymethyl starch, povidone, sodium lauryl sulfate, talc, gelatin, titanium dioxide, sorbitan monolaurate, indigo carmine and gum lake .
Update : The Alli product is no longer available for sale, the article has been kept for information purposes. Alternatives are available at the bottom of the page.
Individuals targeted by Alli
Who is the product aimed at?
Alli is intended for people in overweight or prone to obesity. Generally speaking, when the index of body mass (BMI) exceeds a certain threshold, in particular 25, a person is considered overweight. Beyond 30, obesity begins to appear.
This product can be consumed at both by men and women. It is, however, necessary that the person is an adult (preferably over 20 years old), given that the various chemical constituents could have negative repercussions on the general health of children.
Opinions of individuals differ regarding the assessment of his weight and build. In fact, it is difficult for the naked eye to recognize if a person is overweight or obese, or if it is still below standards. It is therefore necessary to proceed when calculating the BMI so as not to be misled at this level.
What is body mass index (BMI)?
Body mass index or BMI, or Quetelet index, is a very practical indicator for judging the body size of a person. The opinion of specialists is unanimous on its effectiveness as a basis in dietetics and other fields.
To obtain the famous figure, simply divide your weight in kg by the square of your height in m. By example, for a person measuring 1.70 m and weighing 68 kg, their BMI is 68/(1.7)² = 23.52.
There are also many applications on the Internet allowing you to calculate your BMI in a few clicks without having to go through your calculator.
BMI is used to control corpulence, in order to avoid the appearance of diseases linked to excess weight and malnutrition such as hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia or cholesterol.
Interpretations of the result obtained
After finding your indicator, it is essential to know how to read this result in order to take the appropriate measures according to each situation.
- BMI < 16.5: this is thinness chronic;
- 16.5 < BMI < 18.5: the person suffers from thinness;
- 18.5 < BMI < 25: normal build;
- 25 < BMI < 30: overweight individual;
- 30 < BMI < 35: beginning of obesity or moderate obesity;
- 35 < BMI < 40: the person is suffering from chronic obesity;
- BMI > 40: this is obesity morbid.
Limitations of the scope of the BMI
If BMI turns out to be the best way safer to know one’s corpulence, this indicator nevertheless faces difficulties limits which sometimes force us to proceed differently.
First, BMI does not take take into account bone mass, muscle density and fat present on the body. High-level athletes like bodybuilders find themselves in this way with a BMI greater than 25, which will create erroneous data.
Second, calculating BMI is not applicable to pregnant or breastfeeding women, given that their weight increases due to factors other than excess mass greasy.
Finally, people aged over 65 rarely obtain an accurate BMI. In fact, muscle mass gradually begins to decrease at this age, which distorts the interpretation of the results obtained.
Update : The Alli product is no longer available for sale, the article has been kept for information purposes. Alternatives are available at the bottom of the page.
Alli’s mode of action
Orlistat: an anti-fat agent
Alli has a formidable weapon to fight against fat: orlistat. It is a molecule which has the role of inhibiting the process of fat absorption in the body.
To do this, it prevents the action of intestinal lipase, an enzyme produced by intestinal cells, supposed to break down fatty materials to make them easier to transport towards the blood. Once in the body, fat is transformed into the form energy to ensure the functioning of the body or, in case of excess, stored in fat cells. This is when the person begins to gain weight.
Orlistat stops this mechanism by directly evacuating the fat in the stools without passing through the assimilation phenomenon. When no more external energy supply is available allowed, the body begins to use its own stock (fat reserves located in the abdomen, thighs, arms, etc.) and the patient loses gradually gain weight.
In other words, orlistat does not act directly on the metabolism to lose weight, but blocks its supply of fat so that it uses its own resources. This is why this treatment is strongly recommended. recommended for people who are chronically overweight or even obese.
Product support measures
Contrary to the prejudices of many users of slimming pills, Alli is not a miracle cure that lose weight in a few weeks without changing your eating habits and lifestyle. Indeed, taking this medication requires activity regular exercise, and a balanced diet, which sometimes gives rise to opinions unfavorable from users.
Play sports
Concerning sport, it is not necessary to practice intense activity until exhaustion. The important thing is to do it moderately and regularly without demotivating yourself in order to optimize weight loss in the medium term and not aiming for too many results hastily.
Long walks, rope jumping, morning jogging on the treadmill or outside (to enjoy also pure and fresh morning air), sports dancing… these are physical activities that are not too intense and can be adjusted according to the performance of each person. In order not to become easily discouraged, the ideal would be to be accompanied by a friend or a personal coach.
Eat less fat
Regarding diet, it is recommended to limit foods that are too sweet and high in fat such as sodas, pizzas, burgers, etc. during treatment. A low-calorie, low-fat diet in energy intake is elicited.
For this, foods rich in proteins and slow starchy foods such as red beans, rice or potatoes soft are among the most recommended. Regular consumption of fruit and vegetables is also part of the usual ritual for a diet balanced excellent for maintaining good health.
Patience: a faithful ally
To lose properly and lasting weight, we must get out of our heads the prejudices that imply rapid weight loss without effort thanks to regular medication intended for this purpose.
However, there are formulas very rapid weight loss, but the body recovers with difficulty and risks having the “YOYO” effect, i.e. gaining weight too quickly that he lost it. In the long run, no treatment acts on the body.
It is therefore important to lose excess weight reasonably so as not to harm the body. So, in the long term, losing 2 kg per month turns out to be more beneficial than 10 kg in 3 weeks.
Update : The Alli product is no longer available for sale, the article has been kept for information purposes. Alternatives are available at the bottom of the page.
Effectiveness of the Alli product
Alli constitutes a program effective slimming if the accompanying measures are respected during the duration of treatment. It is also important to change your lifestyle once the results are obtained. Otherwise, it is possible to regain weight very quickly and wrongly judge the ineffectiveness of the product.
The capsule is to be taken once after or during each meal. It can be taken up to one hour after have eaten. However, if you skip a meal, it is not necessary to consume.
If customer opinions differ concerning its effectiveness, the GSK laboratory took the liberty of carrying out tests on human guinea pigs to prove the veracity of their product.
Clinical trials undertaken by the GSK laboratory
In order to prove the real effectiveness of the drug Alli, the GSK laboratory has undertaken a battery of clinical tests on numerous volunteer individuals.
The first two studies clinics lasted approximately 2 years and involved more than 1,350 individuals overweight or obese. In all cases, their BMI is greater than or equal to 28 kg/m².
Some of these individuals have received the medicine Alli and the other part, a simple dose of medicine placebo (without active ingredients aimed at reducing weight). A diet food and monitoring in terms of sports practice accompanied both experiences.
It should be noted that neither patients nor doctors know precisely what kind of treatment their was prescribed so as not to influence the results.
A control experiment was carried out, involving approximately 400 individuals placed on a placebo for 4 months and with a BMI of between 25 and 28 kg/m².
The main criterion taken into account taken into account during this series of clinical studies is the variation in the weight of people
The obtained results
At the end of the respective durations, Alli was found to be more effective than placebos. It was also noted that people with a BMI greater than 28 kg/m² experience weight loss more significant than those whose BMI varies between 25 and 28 kg/m².
According to the figures obtained, the patients lost more than 4.8 kg in one year of treatment compared to 3.2 kg for patients on placebo.
Another observation: the people treated with Alli experienced a notable reduction in the rate of cholesterol compared to those who followed placebo treatment.
These results clearly indicate that the treatment does not harm the body by making it lose weight too quickly.
Update : The Alli product is no longer available for sale, the article has been kept for information purposes. Alternatives are available at the bottom of the page.
Risks incurred following taking the drug Alli
Although the drug Alli is an effective slimming product, it is not without risks. It is to highlight that these are not necessarily side effects, but cases probable disorders linked to its consumption.
Vitamin deficiency
Regular taking of the drug Alli stops the body’s fat intake. Therefore, it is impossible for him to correctly assimilate fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin A, D, E or K.
For long-term treatment Ultimately, risks of deficiency in these vitamins may appear. It is therefore recommended to take food supplements based on multivitamins to compensate for this deficit.
Untimely diarrhea
Since almost all fat from food is directly evacuated, it is possible that people taking the drug Alli are subject to sudden diarrhea or relatively annoying fatty flatulence.
To avoid such inconveniences, it is advisable to follow a low-fat diet, especially during on working days.
Contraindications, precautions for use and side effects following using Alli
Contraindications
Alli should not be prescribed to people with the following characteristics:
- An intolerance to orlistat or any of the ingredients making up Alli;
- Chronic malabsorption: this is a serious disorder linked to the absorption of food whose causes may be intolerance to gluten, cow’s milk, pancreatic insufficiency or Crohn’s disease;
- Cholestasis: it’s a disease causing a decrease in bile secretion, leading to problems of transport of bile acids from the liver to the intestine;
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding;
- A child under the age of 18.
Warnings
Certain caveats are to be take into account especially for people with the characteristics following:
- Diabetics undergoing treatment antidiabetic medication may improve metabolism. It is therefore necessary to consult your doctor before starting treatment based on of Alli in order to adapt the two treatments to each other;
- People with hypertension high blood pressure or high cholesterol often see an improvement in their state of health following the weight loss generated by the treatment based on from Alli. A readjustment of the respective treatments is therefore also useful, in consulting your doctor;
- Before starting to take Alli medication, people prone to kidney disease are asked to consult their doctor. Indeed, in relatively rare cases orlistat generates effects that could worsen this disease;
Side effects
First effects
Consumption over a long The duration of Alli may cause side effects. However, the symptoms presented below may vary from person to person, and in some cases do not appear.
During the first days of taking the medication, here are the symptoms likely to appear:
- Flatulence followed by fatty emissions;
- Urgent and sudden needs to go to bathroom ;
- Fat emissions without stools;
- Traces of grease on underwear and by bad luck on the clothes.
GSK laboratory pharmacists also suggest wearing black pants during the first weeks of treatment, or to bring a change of clothes to avoid to buy some urgently.
Serious symptoms
Other more serious symptoms can also arise:
- Allergic reactions such as itching, swelling of the face, difficulty breathing and even fainting;
- Rectal hemorrhage manifested by bloody and sometimes painful stools;
- Pancreatitis manifested by pain in the stomach and back, followed by vomiting, nausea and fevers;
- More or less severe hepatitis having symptoms yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes or discoloration darker urine;
- Diverticulitis, a type of inflammation of the large intestine manifested by chronic pain in the lower abdomen and recurrent constipation.
Almost all of these symptoms appear during the first weeks of treatment. This phenomenon is understandable, given that the body begins to get used to a new way of life.
Update : The Alli product is no longer available for sale, the article has been kept for information purposes. Alternatives are available at the bottom of the page.
Drugs interactions
In case of treatment based of Alli or other medicines containing a high content of orlistat, there are drug interactions not recommended.
- Cyclosporine: a reduction in the rate of cyclosporine is observed when taken simultaneously with Alli. That leads to a progressive decline in the immune system, which exposes the body to various infections and diseases;
- Warfarin: when taking oral anticoagulants associated with Alli, interactions more or less harmful effects may appear. This is the reason why treatment simultaneous use of these two medications is prohibited;
- There levothyroxine: an abnormal variation in the level of hypothyroidism in the body risks occurring in the event of a combination of taking these two drugs ;
- Antiepileptic drugs: More chronic seizures are noticed in epileptic patients undergoing treatment for both epilepsy and orlistat.
What price ?
In France, the sale of Alli product in pharmacies has been discontinued for many years following a decision of the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM). However, he It is possible to buy them everywhere in Europe and in online stores. Of the Home deliveries are therefore possible to facilitate your purchase.
The price of a bottle of Alli varies between €50 and €75 depending on the specialized store you consult. Include also the price of a multivitamin supplement (around twenty euros) which is essential during your treatment.
In any case, the total price turns around €75 to €95 to get a bottle of Alli and another of multivitamins, or a month and a half of treatment. You will have it delivered your lot directly to your home or at a relay point.
However, you should not hesitate to compare prices on several sites in order to find the good deal that will allow you to save money while losing weight.
Overall opinion on Alli
My opinion on the product is pretty good. Although it is a synthetic product with its share of side effects, its effectiveness is more convincing compared to other products in the same category.
Then, although most pharmacies in France have stopped its distribution, it is not uncommon to find it on merchant sites on the internet, which greatly facilitates its purchase thanks to the delivery service. In addition, around 3 million people have obtained results using Alli, which confirms my rather favorable opinion.
Update : The Alli product is no longer available for sale, the article has been kept for information purposes. Alternatives are available just below.
The alternatives
Here are some alternatives to Alli: