A few readers have been asking my opinion about alli, the latest bullet in the war on weight. Xenical, the stronger prescription form of alli has been on the market for years and has a positive safety record when used correctly. Alli works by interfering with an enzyme that breaks down fat in the digestive tract. This undigested fat cannot be stored on hips, stomach and other pesky places and passes out during normal bowel elimination. The person taking alli must stay on a low-fat diet or end up having ``treatment effects.''
According to http://myalli.com, these ''effects'' can include gas with oily spotting, loose stools and more frequent stools that may be hard to control. This makes alli a motivator to stay on a low-fat food intake. Alli works, but it's not magic. For a person who stays on a low-fat, calorie-controlled diet, alli will boost weight loss by up to 50 percent. This means that a 10-pound weight loss could be increased by four to five pounds with alli and a calorie-controlled diet. I am happy to say the company website recommends consulting with a registered dietitian. The company also advises exercise along with a healthy eating plan.
Dosing recommendation is a capsule with each low-fat, low-calorie meal and a good multivitamin with minerals at bedtime. The average price is $60 for a month supply. This same amount of money each month would buy a gym membership, a cooking class or a pair of walking shoes. For some people, alli might be their diet jump-start. As always, if you have a medical condition consult with your physician before starting any plan.
Sheah Rarback is a registered dietitian at the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami.
NUTRITION QUESTIONS? WRITE TO SHEAH RARBACK AT MIAMIHERALD.COM/HEALTH.
