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New Diet Drug Promises To Help You Lose Weight
2007-06-02 05:01:00
A new over-the-counter weight loss drug goes on sale next week. It's the only nonprescription diet drug approved by the FDA. It claims to help people lose 50 percent more weight than diet alone.NewsCenter 5's Heather Unruh reported Wednesday on the safety of the pill"I have lost 32 pounds so far," said Ruth Tenofsky, of Hull.After a six-year battle to lose weight, Tenofsky is tipping the scale in the right direction, with the help of a new diet program."It's exercise, eating properly and taking the pills," said Tenofsky.Tenofsky is taking the diet drug Xenical, only available by prescription. But next week a lower-dose version of the pill, marketed under the name Alli , will be on store shelves. It's the nation's first nonprescription diet drug approved by the FDA."It's a safe plan and it also works," said Dr. Caroline Apovian, the director of the Center for Nutrition and Weight Management at Boston Medical Center.Alli is marketed for people over the age of 18. It claims to blo...
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Diet Drug Orlistat (Xenical / alli) Better Choice Than Acomplia: British Ex
2007-05-31 16:09:00
Claims that diet drug rimonabant (Acomplia / Zimulti) offers benefits beyond those associated with weight loss may not be justified, according to a new report by independent British medical experts. The diet drug has been sold as Acomplia in the U.K. since June 2006 for treatment of obese and some overweight adults, and developer Sanofi Aventis has claimed some of the improvement in cardiometabolic risk factors observed in clinical trials cannot solely be attributed to weight loss. Cardiometabolic risk factors -- including low HDL (good) cholesterol, high LDL (bad) cholesterol, elevated fat levels in the blood, high blood pressure and insulin resistance -- in combination increase a person's chance of developing heart disease and/or type 2 diabetes. Acomplia "has a beneficial effect on blood glucose and lipid levels -- a more beneficial effect than would be expected from weight loss alone," Sanofi claims on its website. But experts wr...
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Over The Counter - Alli Diet Pill
2007-05-29 20:44:00
You won't lose weight in your sleep or shed pounds while eating anything you want - that's the sobering message from the maker of a weight loss pill poised to hit shelves next month.While the cautionary marketing approach may not trigger stampedes to the counter, analysts say the drug's fate hinges on the pharmaceutical giant's ability to convince people that diet pills aren't a magic bullet. "People's hopes are ridiculously high when it comes to diet pills. That leads to disappointment and bad word of mouth," said Steven Brozak, an analyst with WBB Securities.That's just what happened to the prescription version of the drug, Xenical by Roche Holding, which contains twice the dosage. People were let down when it failed to deliver dramatic results and the drug never really caught on, Brozak said.GlaxoSmithKline has apparently learned the lesson and is counting on alli to become a star money maker. The company is spending $150 million on marketing alli this year, making it one ...
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Glaxo Vice President with new about to launch Alli Diet Pill
2007-05-25 20:30:00
Steven Burton, vice president weight control division of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, displays a starter pack of alli, the first over-the-counter diet pill approved by the Food and Drug Administration, in New York, Tuesday, May 22, 2007. In clinical trials, the FDA says that people using alli lost an additional 2 to 3 pounds for every 5 pounds lost through diet and exercise. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
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Alli Debuts are all Set
2007-05-23 20:49:00
Today, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare introduces a new approach to weight loss that will debut through a public multi-media exhibit in New York City -- the alli(TM) Experience. The alli Experience represents part of GSK Consumer Healthcare's comprehensive educational program to prepare adults interested in losing weight with alli -- the only over-the-counter weight loss product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) -- before it goes on sale in pharmacies and mass retailers beginning on or about June 15. The alli Experience will be open daily beginning Tuesday, May 22 through Sunday, June 10, 2007, and is open Monday through Fridays from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The exhibit is located in New York City at 20 Union Square EastMore than two-thirds of the U.S. population is overweight or obese, resulting in increased risk for serious diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and stroke. The...
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Pills or Surgery for Weight Loss?
2007-05-20 20:51:00
Lap-Band is short for laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. It's an operation. Through small incisions in the abdomen, a surgeon inserts a viewing scope (laparoscope) and instruments with which he or she can encircle the top of the stomach with an adjustable band. That creates a small pouch for a stomach. People cannot eat large quantities of food. They fill up quickly. They lose weight.The "pros" of this operation include a considerable weight loss, which brings protection against diabetes, high blood pressure and arthritic knees and hips. Cholesterol almost always drops.The "cons" are the fact it is an operation, and all operations have the potential for complications. It requires anesthesia, another possible risk. The band might need readjusting down the road. There's always a threat of infection from any surgical procedure.Orlistat has been around for some time and is sold as the prescription drug Xenical. Alli can be obtained without a prescription. It contains a smaller d...
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Sweden Girls waiting for Alli Diet Pill Arrival
2007-05-15 15:56:00
Sweden is facing a surprising statistic: its girls are more likely to be overweight than are the boys. A study found that 4-year-old girls are six times more likely to be obese than they were 20 years ago, which is a much bigger jump than boys of the same age had. In 1982, 1 percent of all 4-year-olds were obese, compared to 2 percent of boys and 6 percent of girls in 2002. A similar discrepancy is found in 10-year-olds, but researchers don?t know why more girls are heavyResearchers in America are looking at a new way to slow the rate of obesity by interviewing parents using a method popular for dealing with substance abuse. The technique, known as motivational interviewing, was used in a pilot program with 91 children of varying weights, all of whom had at least one obese parent. Some parents received a motivational interviewing session, while others received handouts or more intensive sessions with pediatricians or nutritionists. The difference in weight loss between the groups wa...
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Alli Diet Pill needs no prescription but won't work without exercise and he
2007-05-09 16:34:00
For many overweight Americans, the battle of the bulge didn't begin with great drama. Too many fast food dinners and long work hours that squeezed out time for exercise led to gradual weight gain and, eventually, a weight problem with serious health risks.Within weeks, some of those pudgy Americans may reach for Alli , the nation's first over-the-counter diet remedy approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, has been strategically placing 1 million copies of self-help diet books that will sit on store shelves until late June, when they'll be replaced with packages of Alli as the diet pill goes on sale nationwide.But for all of Glaxo's marketing might, Alli won't work unless consumers who buy it also commit to lifestyle changes. That means choosing healthy, low-fat diets and exercising. The trio maximizes weight loss: For every 10 pounds the overweight consumers would lose, adding Alli would increase that weight loss to 15...
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Alli Diet Pill Book Launched
2007-05-06 18:57:00
The makers of the first government-approved non-prescription weight loss drug have launched a book to help consumers maximize their weight loss potential by taking on a healthier lifestyle. The book, Are You Losing It? Lose Weight Without Losing Your Mind, was born out of an agreement between GlaxoSmithKline, the nutritional supplement company that created the diet pill Alli , and the United States Food and Drug Administration. The federal food and drug regulator voiced concerns about the misconceptions consumers might have about how the pill actually works. The book, on supermarket and pharmacy shelves across the country, is meant to educate Alli users about the need for exercise and adopting a low-calorie diet. Alli is expected to be available to the public this summer. The drug is designed to work by blocking the absorption of fat by the body and limiting the number of calories that are absorbed. Alli users are expected to lose up to 10 percent of their body weight when the...
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Book on Alli Diet Pill (Low-Dose Xenical) Now Appearing on Stores
2007-05-03 18:23:00
The long anticipated launch of diet pill alli (low-dose Xenical) has now been preceded by launch of the new official alli book -- called "Are You Losing It? Losing Weight Without Losing Your Mind" -- which began making a May debut on shelves of grocery stores and pharmacies all across the country. The book is part of the premarketing educational campaign for the diet pill agreed to by Glaxo Smith Kline before the Food and Drug Administration okayed alli as the first and only FDA-blessed weight-loss product that will be available to consumers without a prescription. The FDA was insistent that consumers not be led to view alli as a "magic pill" but be educated to the need to combine it with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise program, and the book gives practical advice on behavioral changes, provides low-fat menu ideas and offers physical activity tips. The book retails for $5.99 and Glaxo said consumers will find it -- as long as supplies last --...
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AN ALLY FOR OVERWEIGHT AMERICANS?
2007-04-29 18:32:00
Alli can help overweight Americans shed extra pounds, but should not be considered a miracle drug, said Malesia Dunn, a GlaxoSmithKline spokesperson. Consumers will also have to follow a reduced-calorie diet and commit to regular exercise to see results, she said. "Now, instead of [losing] 10 pounds, by including Alli in that program, you will potentially lose up to 15 pounds," Dunn said. "And for a lot of people that becomes very meaningful." The drug's active ingredient decreases the body's absorption of fat by about 25 percent per meal -- meaning that dieters do not absorb those fat calories. The undigested fat passes through the body and can cause unpleasant side effects, including gas, oily spotting and loose stools. The FDA recommends that users follow a low-fat diet to reduce these side effects. "If you eat a lot of fattening, high-fat products, you're still going to have a lot of that in your body," Dunn said. "The product only blocks a percentage." Dunn said GlaxoSmi...
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Alli: Is This the Magic Pill That?ll Drop Down Your Dress Size in Weeks?
2007-04-17 17:33:00
People have been waiting for years for some sort of a magic pill that could help them lose weight without any effort. The FDA has approved the first over the counter(OTC) weight loss pill Alli which means you don?t need any prescription to buy them. The makers of the pill, Glaxo Smithkline claim that the drug apparently cuts weight by 5 per cent in only four months and also improves the overall health by reducing blood pressure and cholesterol levels. How does it work? According to the website- The Alli capsule works by preventing your body from absorbing some of the fat you eat. When you take the capsule with meals, Alli prevents the enzymes in your intestines from digesting about one-fourth of the fat in your foods. Undigested fat can?t be absorbed and passes through your body naturally. Which means your body can?t store it as fat. If you could lose 10 pounds through dieting alone, you could lose 15 with alli. All weight loss pills come with side effects; according to the make...
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Taking a Pill to Make Eating Fat Painful
2007-04-17 17:26:00
If you remember Olestra (a fat that was unabsorbed by the body) and its side effects, you will know what the deal is with Alli . In February this year, the FDA approved GlaxoSmithKline?s ?Alli? an over-the-counter version of prescription orlistat (Xenical). It is a drug that blocks enzymes that break down fat, preventing the body from absorbing fat from ingested foods. The side effects of the drug are the extremely uncomfortable effects of not absorbing fat: fatty stools, fecal urgency and gas. Obviously these side effects are triggered by ingestion of fats, so the Alli Web site (www.myalli.com) encourages users to think of these ?treatment effects? as an ?incentive to keep from eating too much fat.? What I don?t understand is, if the idea is to prevent you from eating fat, isn?t that just a diet? Moreover, the Web site also has a ?readiness quiz? for the drug regimen. You are deemed ready to go on Alli if you are willing to commit to the hard work it takes to lose weight, eat ...
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Drugs sold over the counter present dangers
2007-04-10 17:31:00
Over-the-counter drugs offer a variety of cures for what ails the average college student, including problems such as coughs, yeast infections and headaches.But college-aged students, especially women, need to be careful and critical of emerging OTC drugs, health officials warn. Some could have negative consequences, despite the fact that the Food and Drug Administration deems them safe for use without the consent of a doctor.The FDA has no systematic way of tracking negative effects of OTC drugs yet, so patient responsibility is important, said David Brushwood, University of Florida professor in pharmacy health-care administration.Concerns arise, for example, when looking at the new OTC drug, Alli, made available this summer. Alli, pronounced "ally," is the first FDA-approved, OTC weight-loss drug.The drug, taken with meals, blocks intestinal enzymes from digesting one-fourth of food's fat."Let's face it. There is pressure in our society to be thin," said Mary Ann Burg, associate...
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Diet Pill alli May Also Be Available Over-the-Counter in Europe by Late 200
2007-04-03 16:03:00
Diet pill alli, which is scheduled to go on sale in the United States in mid-summer, may also be available as an over-the-counter diet drug in Europe by the end of next year, according to GlaxoSmithKline. The company said on April 1st that it plans to seek European approval before the end of this year to sell alli, a low-dose version of prescription diet drug Xenical (orlistat), and hopes to launch the drug in Britain and other European countries by late 2008. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave the go-ahead to alli in February, making it the first weight-loss pill ever approved for over-the-counter sale in the United States. In Europe as in the United States, hundreds of unregulated products are sold as diet aids in pharmacies and supermarkets, and Glaxo is counting on the blessing by regulators to set alli apart and lead to its use by millions of dieters. "Consumers spend billions each year on fad diets, unproven miracle pills...
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Wonder weight loss drug to go on sale in UK next year
2007-04-03 16:02:00
The battle of the bulge is soon to get a drug-fuelled boost. The first over-the-counter weight loss pill has been licenced in the US and is expected to be approved for use in Britain next year.Alli , marketed by GlaxoSmithKline, will join dozens of other slimming aids sold in chemists and supermarkets. But unlike them, Alli has been proved to work.Clinical trials have shown that when combined with a low fat diet and exercise regime over six months, Alli can increase weight loss by 50%, Jean Paul Garnier, head of Glaxo said.In the US, the Food and Drug Administration gave the go-ahead to Alli last month, triggering a marketing campaign which the company hopes will reap five to 6mn US customers a year.At a price between $12 and $25 a week (£5-£12), the drug could have annual sales of $1.5bn.Glaxo said it planned to apply for a European licence by the end of the year with the launch of the drug expected to follow within 12 months. Alli is an over-the-counter version of Xenical, the pres...
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UF experts urge caution with diet pill called Alli
2007-03-26 16:32:00
University of Florida health experts caution students about a former prescription diet pill that blocks the absorption of fat.The pill recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for sale over the counter is a reduced-strength version of Orlistat and will be sold as Alli .Anne Kendall, a lecturer in the Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, said the pill blocks the absorption of fat consumed and the fat is then transferred to the stool.Kendall said the pill is not a "magic bullet."According to the Alli Web site, for every 5 pounds lost from dieting, Alli can take off an additional 2 to 3 pounds.Kendall said the pill can cause diarrhea and deficiencies in vitamins A, D, E and K, but a multivitamin can help.Kendall explained that Alli was probably approved because the research didn't present dangerous side effects since it's a lower dose. "One of the key things is to use it as directed," she said. "There's no guarantee that people won't take larger doses than recom...
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Diet Pill alli Begins Recruiting 400 Would-Be Dieters for Prelaunch Test
2007-03-26 16:27:00
Diet pill alli (low-dose Xenical) has begun recruiting 400 would-be dieters for a prelaunch test of educational program being designed to support the first FDA-approved over-the-counter diet drug. Several readers of our sister site, alliReport.com, report they have received emails inviting them to apply to become part of something called the alli First Team Community, which is built around a password-protected online forum. "As a member of the alli First Team community, you will be provided with the only FDA-approved weight loss product (alli capsules), educational materials and tools to help you on your journey, and an on-line community to support your efforts," the email said. "If you are selected to join this community, we ask that you read the materials that we?ll send you to help you get ready, take alli with each meal containing fat, keep a daily food journal, log in to the community and contribute your thoughts (via surveys, bulletin board...
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Why Hoodia Beats Alli for Weight Loss?
2007-03-08 16:43:00
1) Alli won't be out till July 2007.Well, how could Alli beat Hood ia if it isn't even in the market yet? Isn't it better to try something that's already been out in the market for a while and has been proven to work?2) Alli is a drug whereas Hoodia is ALL natural and on the market since 2004!For me, the natural way is always better. I'm actually paranoid about using diet pills especially when I heard some speculations that diet pills may have caused the death of Ana Nicole Smith. If you ask me, I'm scared of drugs!3) Alli costs more than Hoodia.The cheaper the better!4) Hoodia has NO known side effects whereas Alli's active ingredient is 60 mg of Orlistat. Consequently Alli has side effects which include: gas with oily discharge, spotting, loose stools, and more frequent stools that might be hard to control, alli reduces the absorption of some vitamins, cannot be taken with a large list of other medications because it may interfere or cause further complications. I don't kno...
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Weight-loss drugs can't replace exercise, healthy eating
2007-03-08 16:40:00
The Food and Drug Administration's approval of a new over-the-counter weight-loss product sent dieters' hopes - and Phoenix physician Art Mollen's worries - soaring.The drug orlistat, sold under the brand name Alli in 60-milligram capsules, was approved in February. It's also is available by prescription as 120-mg Xenical capsules.The FDA says Alli should be used only by people 18 and older and in conjunction with a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet and an exercise program, but Mollen says he sees potential for abuse of the medicine.Question: Who is likely to reach for these products?Answer: There are literally millions of people in this country who want to lose weight. When someone tells them they're going to lose a lot of weight by taking a particular medicine, they're going to try it.I think the most serious potential for abuse is among teenagers, including body-builders who want to get down to the leanest body weight possible and females who want to be thinner, and among peopl...
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Is the new weight-loss drug worth trying?
2007-03-08 16:38:00
It's no longer convenient to purchase an effective decongestant these days, now that pseudoephedrine has been moved behind the counter. But if it's weight loss you're after, you'll soon be able to buy orlistat, a fat-blocking drug of limited effectiveness, with ease. In February the Food and Drug Administration gave manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline the green light to sell an over-the-counter version of the drug under the brand name Alli. Alli is half the dose of prescription orlistat, Xenical, which has been on the market since 1999.With the move GlaxoSmithKline stands to snag a chunk of the $41 billion that Americans spend on weight-loss strategies each year. The company says Alli, which is slated to hit store shelves this summer, will cost $1 to $2 per day.But if a pill that limits your body's ability to absorb fat from food seems a little too good to be true, you're on to something. The drug has several drawbacks.For one, Xenic...
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GlaxoSmithKline Allies With Web For Diet Launch
2007-02-28 16:05:00
As the maker of the first weight-loss drug with regulatory approval, GlaxoSmithKline faced a dilemma: how to differentiate its product, Alli , from the many fly-by-night remedies promising weight loss without effort. To get users to buy into its assertion that long-term weight loss can only be achieved in combination with lifestyle changes, the pharma company is taking a page from Yahoo and MySpace by constructing its own portal that in many ways resembles a social network. To accomplish this, GSK is joining the ranks of advertisers that are using the Web to become content creators and build communities around their products, like Anheuser-Busch's ambitions with Bud.TV and the vibrant running community Nike has tapped with NikePlus.com. For Alli, due to launch in June or July, the Web is not just a marketing conduit, but an essential component of the product. Unlike many diet pills, Alli is marketed as a complement to a strict diet and exercise regimen. The over-the-counter drug, wh...
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Diet Pill alli (Low-Dose Xenical) May Ultimately Be Marketed Worldwide
2007-02-24 19:04:00
Diet pill alli (low-dose orlistat), which earlier this month became the first FDA-approved over-the-counter diet drug, may ultimately be available in countries around the world. Roche, which sells the prescription version of orlistat called Xenical, announced on Feb. 20th that it had granted GlaxoSmithKline an exclusive license to sell the half-strength version in countries outside the U.S. and Japan. Roche had licensed the U.S. nonprescription rights to Glaxo in 2004. Roche said it will retain all rights for the prescription version and will continue to market Xenical worldwide. alli, which reduces the amount of fat the body absorbs from food, was approved by the FDA for use by overweight adults in combination with a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet and exercise. Glaxo expects to have it on supermarket and drugstore shelves sometime in the summer.
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First OTC obesity drug to be sold
2007-02-24 19:03:00
The pharmacy section in your local supermarket will soon carry another weight loss drug among the range of trim-this and slim-that. But the new addition will be the first over-the-counter weight loss drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration.Alli, which are orlistat capsules marketed by GlaxoSmithKline, hits shelves nationwide in June."We know that being overweight has many adverse consequences, including an increase in the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes," said Dr. Douglas Throckmorton, Deputy Director for FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, in an FDA news release. "[Over-the-counter] orlistat, along with diet and exercise, may aid overweight adults who seek to lose excess weight to improve their health."Approval of this drug comes when obesity is rising at an "alarming rate," according to the American Obesity Association.The National Center for Health Statistics says 30 percent of American adults 20 years old or older are obese. The percentage of over...
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Specialists Caution About Diet Pills
2007-02-24 19:00:00
Further to FDA’s approval on the latest diet pill under the brand name Alli, there has been much excitement in people who are keen to bring down their weight. Alli has been given the status of over the counter (OTC) drug in the U.S. This drug is said to block the absorption of fat by the body. Uncontrolled bowel movement and loose stools are reported to be the side effects of Alli.In the Indian scenario, there are many drugs and alternate remedies to bring down one’s weight. Drugs under the brand name of Obego or Obestat are said to be targeting parts of brain which is responsible for hunger. But this could have serious contra indications like high blood pressure and pulse rate.In the ayurvedic segment, many of the formulations are not clinically tested. According to Dr Gulhati, the editor of MIMS, such drugs are illegal as they will not be passed by the government unless they are prescribed by the classical books. The combination of right kind of foo...
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Lose weight or lose control
2007-02-24 18:58:00
Slimming effects of alli may trigger many unpleasant side effectsThis no-win choice is coming soon to a drugstore near you. A year ago, I wrote about the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's consideration of over-the-counter sales for the fat-blocking drug, orlistat. It now has the FDA's blessing: Expect to see it on store shelves this summer under the name alli (pronounced "ally"). This is no magic pill, and it isn't going to work if you live on deep-fried candy bars and consider lifting the remote vigorous exercise. alli might help you shed some extra pounds - if you work out and eat a low-cal, low-fat diet along with it. But if you're doing that, why take a pill? Its maker, GlaxoSmithKline, says that alli might help people lose 50 percent more than they would with dieting: that means 3 pounds instead of 2, 7.5 pounds instead of 5, 15 pounds instead of 10. No guarantees, of course. The drug works by blocking digestion of 25 percent of the fat in your food, about 150 to 200 ca...
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Experts advice caution on slimming pills
2007-02-24 18:57:00
Crores of rupees are spent on weight loss supplements, fad diets slimming pills and quick fix products, according to reports. There are more than 300 million clinically obese and one billion overweight adults, reports say.For the first time the Food and Drug Administration of the United States has given the go-ahead for over the counter sales of a weight loss compound Orlistat sold under the name of Alli.It's a move that many say will go a long way in providing a comprehensive support programme for losing weight.Alli has been approved for use along with a reduced calorie and low fat diet and promises to make people lose 50 percent of weight than diet alone.The recommended dose is one 60 mg capsule three times a day with meals containing fat.The drug blocks the absorption of fat in the intestine and calories from that fat. Glaxo claims that this will be a revolutionary approach to weight but here' s the catch."Orlistat's has no life threatening side effects but can have unpleasant...
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New diet pill has icky side effects
2007-02-24 18:55:00
Local health officials and diet specialists aren't exactly praising the recent approval of a weight-loss drug once prescribed exclusively by doctors to treat overweight patients.The Food and Drug Administration recently approved Alli (pronounced AL-eye) for over-the-counter sales. The weight-loss drug is a lesser dosage of the drug Orlistat, manufactured by GlaxoKlineSmith, and will be available this summer to people 18 and older, the first time such a pill has been obtainable without a prescription.And with the obesity epidemic growing nationwide, some health experts say the pill could come in handy for adults looking to shed some pounds. Critics, however, point out that Alli could come at a cost to your physical well-being.For one, pharmacist Dave Smatko, owner of the Medicine Shoppe in Beaver Falls, said there are gastrointestinal side effects that include severe diarrhea. When taken with meals, Orlistat blocks about one-quarter of any fat consumed, usually 150 to 200 calories. ...
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FDA sets new guidelines for diet-pill makers
2007-02-24 18:52:00
Companies should prove products help people keep off weight for a yearAs more Americans struggle with growing waistlines, U.S. health officials Wednesday set out their own tips for drugmakers seeking to develop products for people trying to shed pounds.The Food and Drug Administration’s draft guidelines — more than 10 years in the making — aim to help companies develop and test new drugs and devices for treating obesity.About a third of U.S. adults, or more than 60 million people, are obese and another third are overweight, government statistics show. Nearly a fifth of U.S. children weigh too much.The FDA proposed that companies should prove their products can help people lose weight and keep it off for at least a year. It also urged them to study people with a body mass index of at least 30 or those with a BMI of at least 27 who have weight-related conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.BMI is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters. People with a...
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Diet pill: ‘alli’ or enemy?
2007-02-24 18:48:00
In an effort to shed even just a few pounds, some students look further than diet and exercise to find a medical way to gain their desired appearance. At the local Westwood General Nutrition Center, which sells health supplements, vitamins and other health and diet related medications, diet pills are one of the most popular items, said Steven Nunes, an employee at the local Westwood General Nutrition Center. But until last week, none of the diet pills that were available over the counter had been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The pill, called alli, has drawn both criticism and praise from experts since its increase in accessibility to the general public was approved by the FDA last week. The pill’s approval is recommended for use by overweight adults in conjunction with a low-fat, reduced-calorie diet. It is expected to be available in stores nationwide by this summer. And the FDA’s stamp of approval means for some students that the use of a diet pill t...
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