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It sounds like every dieters dream a pill that can speed up weight loss by half is available over-the-counter from today at a pharmacy near you. But is it the answer to your problems?
With two-thirds of us now either overweight or obese, a slimming pill that could help you lose even more weight on a diet sounds like a dream come true.
And especially as, earlier this year, scientists from Oxford University warned that severe obesity is as damaging to health as smoking, reducing life expectancy by about a decade.
But can a pill really solve our growing weight problems?
The drug, known as Alli, is a half-dose (60mg) version of orlistat, a diet pill that’s been available on prescription for around 10 years. It will set you back about £ 50 for a months supply.
According to trials, the pill can help you lose half as much weight again as you would by dieting alone. For instance, if you'd have lost 2lb from dieting, taking Alli in addition could mean you'll lose 3lb.
Allii interferes with enzymes that help the body to absorb fat from food. Unfortunately it doesn’t give you carte blanche to stuff your face with cream cakes (if only!).
The catch is it only works properly if you follow a reduced fat, reduced-calorie diet.
That's partly because it only prevents the absorption of up to a third of the fat you eat so if you’re eating far too much fat, a good proportion of it will still make its way on to your hips and thighs.
Anyone who thinks they needn't take that bit too seriously will be in for an unpleasant shock.
The fat that isn't absorbed is passed out of the body via the bowels. Side-effects of eating too much fat with these pills include diarrhoea, wind and abdominal pain.
Alli should only be given to people over 18 with a body mass index (BMI) of 28 or over (see Work out your BMI, below).
Manufacturer Glaxo SmithKline (GÃK) has offered training to all pharmacists help them measure customers BMI and ask them questions about their motivation for taking the drug.
Boots pharmacist Sally Ousbey says: its important that people who want to purchase Alli are committed to making dietary and lifestyle changes.
Before being sold the drug, each customer will be given a full assessment of their BMI, using one of the Healthy-Weight Check machines.
Our pharmacists are also fully trained to give guidance on the necessary dietary, exercise and lifestyle changes they need to make to help weight loss when taking the drug.
The recommended dose is one 60mg capsule three times a day with meals and your diet needs to be rich in fruit and veg with no more than a third of your calories come from fat.
Six months is the maximum amount of time recommended for taking the drug and Boots says that customers will be monitored every time they buy another supply, sold in either two- or four-week packs, to make sure the drug is working for them.
They also advise anyone with a medical condition or who has a huge amount to lose to see their GP before starting a diet and exercise plan.
Is it a good idea?
Dr David Haslam of the National Obesity Forum is pleased with the pill’s new availability and believes it makes a welcome change from unproven alternatives.
Research has shown that consumers are spending millions of pounds each year on fad diets and potentially unsafe weight-loss supplements. Medically proven licensed products like Alli give consumers the option of something that can genuinely support meaningful weight loss.
However Professor Steve Field of the Royal College of GPs has reservations. “Any patients who have concerns about their weight should consult their GP who can talk through the issues and take into account any other underlying health or psychological problems, he says.
The best way of losing weight and keeping it off is by making lifestyle changes eating healthier and taking more exercise.
How to work out your BMI?
BMI is a system used to determine how healthy your weight is in relation to your height. Heres how to work out yours:
1 Measure your height in metres and multiply the figure by itself.
2 Measure your weight in kilos
3 Divide the weight by the answer to no.1.
Under 18.5 underweight
18.5 to 24.9 Healthy
25 to 29.9 Overweight
30 to 39.9 “ Obese
40+ Morbidly (severely) obese
Source: Mirror.co.uk
http://www.mirror.co.uk/life-style/dieting/2009/04/22/could-this-pill-really-be-the-diet-miracle-we-ve-been-waiting-for-115875-21295493/