Alli is an FDA-approved diet pill that’s available without a prescription. Alli has been shown to help prevent the digestive system from absorbing some of the fat you eat, but it has several uncomfortable side effects, and a relatively small potential benefit.  Alli is a less potent version of the prescription diet pill, Xenical (orlistat) at half the dosage of the prescription version.

The main ingredient in Alli binds with the digestive enzymes that would normally break down fat from the meal that you consumed. Alli attaches to the enzymes preventing about 1/4 of the fat you just ate to digest, allowing it to pass through the body.  Many Alli users experience uncomfortable and embarrassing side effects including loose stools, more frequent stools “that may be hard to control”, and increased gas with oily discharge and diarrhea. In fact, the official website warns that “it’s probably a smart idea to wear dark pants, and bring a change of clothes with you to work” when you start on Alli.

Alli Ingredients

Active ingredient:

• 60 mg orlistat

Inactive ingredients:

• FD&C Blue No. 2
• Edible ink
• Gelatin
• Iron dioxide
• Microcrystalline cellulose
• Povidone
• Sodium lauryl sulfate
• Sodium starch glycolate
• Talc
• Titanium dioxide

Orlistat (At 60 mg Alli has half the amount used in the prescription med Xenical 120mg.) Its primary function is preventing the absorption of fats from the human diet, thereby reducing caloric intake. (Warning: Do not use if you have had an organ transplant. Orlistat interferes with the medicines used to prevent transplant rejection.)

Alli Marketing

Alli is marketed heavily on the fact that it has FDA approval, which certainly isn’t a bad thing. However, there have been a lot of FDA approved substances in the past that turned out to be ineffective, and even dangerous. In any case, having FDA approval isn’t necessarily proof that Alli is a great diet pill. In fact, the official site acknowledges that Alli will likely help you lose weight because the side effects are so uncomfortable “they might help you think twice about eating questionable fat content”. In other words, what they’re suggesting is that the oily gas and uncontrollable bowel movements are so annoying that you’re likely to stop eating lots of fat anyway—and that’s what will make you lose the weight—the side effects—not the actual pill! I don’t know about you, but I’d rather cut fat out of my diet on my own without having to rely on the threat of uncontrollable diarrhea! However, Alli wins points for not making exaggerated promises. The official site notes that “Alli promotes gradual, modest weight loss.”

Alli Price

You can expect to pay between $50 and $60 for a 30-day supply of Alli, which can be bought in supermarkets, drug stores, and online. That’s fairly expensive for a diet pill, putting it in the upper middle range as far as pricing goes.

Alli Guarantee

The official Alli website does not offer a money-back guarantee. Good diet pills usually do offer a money-back guarantee. After all, if your product works then why not back it up?

Conclusion

Alli comes with a plan that includes exercising more and eat healthier foods. You’ll likely lose weight that way with or without Alli, so then you have to ask yourself, is losing an extra 1/4 pound per week worth the discomfort, cost, and embarrassment that Alli causes?  For some the answer is yes, for others no. Alli may help you lose a few extra pounds more than diet and exercise changes alone, but once you stop taking Alli, you’ll likely regain any weight lost if you don’t permanently decrease your fat intake. We don’t recommend Alli as a great weight loss pill due to it’s side effects and modest results, but we certainly don’t think it’s one of the worst pills out there. If you’re okay with the side effects, it may be worth giving it a try.

Ingredients: orlistat

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