Life After Orlistat

A new study on Orlistat users has found that many people using the medication may not keep up the diet changes that are necessary for the treatment's success. Orlistat, which is also sold as Xenical , aids in weight loss by blocking the absorption of dietary fat in the intestines. People who take it are advised to limit their fat intake to no more than 30 percent of their daily calories as higher fat intake increases the risk of GI side effects like oily and loose stools and fecal incontinence. Not so pleasant. Some have argued that it is precisely because of these unpleasant side effects that Orlistat aids in weight loss, as those side effects encourage people to stick with a low-fat diet for the long haul. But the new study on 44obese adults, found that orlistat users had a slightly higher average fat intake than non-users over two months which surpassed the recommended 30 %. On average, they found, orlistat users were getting 33 percent of their daily calories from fat, versus 28 percent among non-users.

The study, though small, brings up an important point about weight loss. Despite the fact that there are several great medications on the market which can support efforts to lose weight, especially needed for obese people, addressing the underlying issues such as emotions, hormonal problems and lifestyle are absolutely critical to success. Remember, drugs like orlistat are a great start but over the long term, it does affect your body’s ability to absorb vitamins, etc. And as we know now, not all fats are bad—in fact, we need fats like Omega 3 and conjugated linolenic acid for health and disease prevention. What we should learn from this small study is that these medications are here to help you but it’s up to you to get down to the bottom line of the excess weight, whatever the cause may be, and stick with a healthier diet. Its part of what is needed for the success of the medication, too.