Pharmacies have been selling orlistat, a fat-blocking diet pill, since 1999 under the brand name Xenical. Made by Roche, this prescription diet pill has been used by more than 22 million people worldwide. Now GlaxoSmithKline is seeking FDA approval to manufacture and market an over-the-counter (OTC) version of orlistat under the brand name Alli (pronounced “ally”).
In January 2006 federal health advisors voted to recommend FDA approval of the new weight loss pill Alli. Although the approval process may take months, the FDA typically follows the recommendations of advisory committees. If approved by the FDA, it will mark the first time weight watchers can legally add the diet drug orlistat to their weight loss program without a prescription.
Pharmaceutical industry observers expect the FDA to approve OTC sales of Alli, but not everyone is convinced that they should.
Health and fitness experts are concerned that Alli isn’t right for the average consumer. Tracie Johanson, a health club owner in Nampa, ID agrees with that assessment: “People looking for fast weight loss will be disappointed if they rely on a fat loss supplement like Alli. Orlistat and other diet products are never the answer to lifelong fitness. We like to see our gym members maintain their weight with a healthy diet and exercise rather than a diet supplement.”
Unfortunately, many Americans seeking honest weight loss information will purchase Alli and add it to their diet plan without having any knowledge of the potential problems presented. “The company estimated 5 million to 6 million Americans a year would buy the drug over the counter. Those numbers could mean at least $1.5 billion a year in retail sales” (Source: CNN; Tuesday, January 24, 2006).
The potential problems associated with this weight loss product are numerous and daunting:
Results Are Mediocre At Best:
Consumer looking for quick weight loss results may be shocked to find that Alli cannot deliver those results. “In six-month clinical trials, obese people who took orlistat lost on average 5.3 pounds to 6.2 pounds more than did those who were given dummy pills” (Source: MSNBC; January 24, 2006). Losing just five to six pounds in six months is hardly a weight loss success story worth bragging about.
Users Will Gain Weight After They Quit Taking Alli:
Buyers tempted to add Alli to their diet program on the assumption that some weight loss is better than none will be annoyed to learn that any weight lost with Alli is not likely to be permanent. “‘The pill’s effect ends once its use is stopped’, said Dr. Julie Golden, a medical officer in the FDA’s division of metabolism and endocrinology products. ‘A previous study showed a progressive weight gain in patients after they stopped using orlistat,’ Golden said” (Source: cnn.com; Tuesday, January 24, 2006). In other words, in order to maintain the minimal weight loss they’ve achieved, the consumer will need to keep using Alli forever. Not only would this solution be expensive, but it is also discouraged by the manufacturer of Alli (GlaxoSmithKline).
Weight Loss Drug Alli Is Not A Long Term Answer To Obesity:
With approximately two-thirds of the population overweight, customers in America want a weight loss plan they can stick with for life. Alli is not the answer, at least according to the maker: “Glaxo wants people to use it for only six months at a time, but as an over-the-counter item, its use would not be policed” (Source: MSNBC; January 24, 2006).
Alli Is An Expensive Way To Achieve Moderate Fat Loss:
While consumers pursuing easy weight loss will often pay more than they can afford to solve their weight issues, many will find the relatively high retail price of Alli prohibitive. The average consumer will pay $12 to $25 per week for product, much more than the average $29 monthly price for a gym membership. At prices ranging up to $100 per month, Alli is not a cheap diet pill at all.
Alli Effective Only When Combined With Diet And Exercise:
Doctors and medical experts have long held that the best weight loss program is regular exercise, a point validated by the manufacturers of Alli. “Glaxo said the drug helps the overweight slim down only when combined with a diet and exercise regimen. The drug’s actual effect on weight loss is ‘gradual and modest,’ said Steve Burton, Glaxo’s vice president of weight control” (Source: CNN; Tuesday, January 24, 2006).
Alli Contains Only