Over The Counter Weight Loss Pills

Now that “fat blocker” medications are available over the counter at most pharmacies, many people ask us about their effectiveness and seek advice about whether or not to try them.  Like many over the counter medications, fat blockers are simply less concentrated forms of the same weight loss medications that are prescribed by bariatric doctors to help people control their weight.  To that extent they have undergone clinical trials that have demonstrated that they work when used responsibly.

What does responsible mean when it comes to approved weight loss medications? It means using the medication as one part of a weight loss program that focuses on lifestyle changes such as eating fewer calories and increasing your activity. On their own, weight loss medications have a very limited effect.

Here is the breakdown on two very popular over the counter weight loss pills.

Alli

The first FDA approved over-the-counter weight loss pill, Alli is a chemical that blocks the enzyme that breaks down and absorbs fat into the body. This means that part of the fat from the food someone eats is not digested and passes through the body naturally. If the fat does not get digested, the calories are not absorbed.
Undigested fat is liquid, and that means there are some minor side effects (that could be worse if someone eats high-fat foods) such as loose stools and gas with oily spotting. A low-fat diet will be the best way to keep the side effects from being severe.

Proactol

Not FDA-approved, but entirely natural. The base of the Proactol is organic fiber and it works by attaching to the fat directly. This process keeps right around 27% of the fat from being absorbed and it passes naturally.

Once the fiber bonds to the fat it creates a wall around the fat particles, so they are not liquid. This results in no side effects and normal stools.