Last year was a very successful year for the diet pill industry with one very successful launch from US drug company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)

Alli was released into the UK in the early spring 2009 after a being introduced into the American marketplace the previous year.

GSK with a huge advertising budget at their disposal wasted little time in getting Alli onto our TV screens, our magazines and newspapers.

Day one of the release saw high street stockists such as Boots, Tesco and Asda sell out within days – some larger branches the same day.

Alli did come under fire though initially with some rather negative comments concerning a side effect that caused some users the embarrassment and inconvenience of oily discharge – sometimes without warning.

The oily discharge side effect was highlighted by industry insiders as testament that the diet pills was actually working.

Alli is a fat blocker – the active ingredient is Orlistat. Orlistat is present in the most successful and widely used prescription diet pill in history, namely Xenical.

The whole essence as to how Alli works is to stop fat from the food that you eat from being absorbed and digested by your stomach. The unfortunate proof of the pudding is an oily discharge.

The undigested fat has to leave your body somehow and somewhere.

So there you have it – one diet pill that actually works and does what it says on the tin.

How To Buy Alli

Alli can be purchased without prescription in high stores such as Boots and Tesco’s – purchasing over the counter is not entirely straight forward as a BMI form has to be completed and handed to the in store pharmacist – this can sometimes lead to refusal as in order to qualify you need a BMI of 28 or higher.

Purchasing online can be less problematic – a form still has to be completed but this can be done in the comfort of your own home and with the minimum of embarrassment.

Currently Slimming.com offer Alli at the following discounted price.

Alli 42 pack £19

Alli 84 Pack  £34

Alli is not everyone’s cup of tea – it is after all a drug.

If you would prefer a morenatural diet pill read Best Diet Pills for an overview of what are the current most effective natural herbal based products.

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Spring 2008 saw the introduction of Alli Orlistat, the strong prescription strength slimming pill, but available to buy over the counter at selected high street and online stores.

Boots the Chemist, Superdrug and most of the major supermarket chains were authorised to sell Alli off the shelf – but certain restrictions did apply. It was not quite as simple as popping a packet in your shopping basket and paying at the checkout.

To qualify to purchase Alli customer had to be in a real need of a weight loss product – a BMI (Body Mass Index) of over 28 was the most obvious requirement.

Customers wishing to buy from the high street had to and still have to complete a questionnaire detailing their lifestyle and certain question that could be perceived as rather embarrassing.

High street prices are still reasonably good but the the prices offered via some authorised online pharmacies are more competitive – plus of course the questionnaire can be completed in relative privacy.

Cheapest online price for Alli

Currently the cheapest price we have found to buy Alli online is from UK authorised reseller Slimming.com

Alli Fat Blocker  42 pack – £24.46

Alli Fat Blocker 84 pack – £38.13

The new “miracle” diet tablet, Alli is now available to buy in the UK.

Alli is the first “diet drug” to be made available without the need of a prescription. Alli is also the first FDA (Food and Drugs Administration) approved diet tablet that is freely available to purchase on the open market.

Alli is a lower strength version (60mg) of the prescription only Orlistat, better known by its brand name Xenical.

At first glance Alli has many positives and is sure to make its manufacturers GlaxoSmithKline huge profits.

It is when the layers are peeled back that Alli may not be the miracle diet tablet that the GlaxoSmithKline marketing machine would have us believe.

Where To Buy Alli In The UK

Can be purchased in numerpus high street stores – but a Body Mass Index form will need to be completed.

Or alternatively online atthe following stockists

Boots the Chemist -42 pack £32.00 /84 pack £38

Slimming.com – 42 pack £19 /84 pack £34

Express Chemist – 42 pack £23 /84 pack £39

Alli In The United States

While Alli is the new diet tablet as far as the UK is concerned – US dieters across the Atlantic have been using Alli for a little under 2 years, with mixed results.

There is little doubt that the active ingredient Orlistat is a powerful drug and its fat blocking technology is pretty much unrivaled – but at what cost!

To date the most discussed side effect that Alli can cause is oily stools.  Many US dieters have complained that the blocked fat has contributed to anal leakage, or to put it bluntly and rather crudely – an orange goo has a tendency to leak from the anal passage frequently and without warning.

This has been coined the Alli Oops and lead to many American christening Alli as the Poo Pill

The oily stool (alli opps) although embarrassing could be perceived as a minor irritant when compared to the potential benefit. The oily stool or anal leakage is solid (sic) evidence that the tablet is working and that fat from your food is indeed being blocked and not digested.

There is though another potential side effect that seems to have been conveniently ignored.

Serious Alli Side Effects

Prescription diet drugs all have one thing is common – they are chemically produced pharamaceutical substances – or put simply, drugs.

Chemically produced prescription  drugs need approval from governmental bodies such as the FDA and MHRA to ensure they are safe for human consumption. This approval process can take time.

Although Orlistat (the active ingredient within Alli) has been approved by due process the feeling is that the product Alli has been rushed through without considering the long term implications.

The most worrying study was undertaken by Public Citizen, a non profit group.  Their suggestion as a result of their independent studies concluded that Alli could cause pre-cancerous lesions in the colons of mice.

Dr. Sidney M. Wolfe, director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group also suggested that while it is not known whether these pre-cancerous lesions will lead to colon cancer, he and other cancer experts do not believe use of the weight-loss drug is a risk worth taking as no long term studies on humans have been undertaken.

Alli Summary

Alli is targeted towards people who have a high BMI (Body Mass Index) upwards of 28 – if you do have a high BMI you may be eligible for the full strength and more thoroughly studied Xenical. More about Xenical

The non prescription market has completely natural products that can rival Alli for effect but without both the minor and potentially fatal side effects. Proactol is a natural fat binder that binds with fat rather blocks. Proactol is clinically proven, accredited and available to buy direct without prescription. More about Proactol

Alli sits in a category of its own – it is a non prescription weight loss pill that has been approved by the FDA (Food And Drugs Administration) which is the US governmental organisation responsible for overseeing and making sure that products are fit for human consumption.

This is quite unique – a commercially available weight loss pill that has been given approval usual reserved only for prescription only drugs.The reason for this is that Alli is a lower strength version of Xenical (Orlistat) - Xenical is FDA approved and so it would follow that a commercially available product that shares the same compound with a prescription only counterpart would be granted the same level of approval.

Xenical And Alli

Xenical is the possibly the prescription weight loss pill of choice for many GP’s and doctors the world over – an effective fat blocker designer to counter obesity. Xenical is not free to buy over the counter and must be administered by a healthcare professional. Read more about Xenical

Xenical is a strong weight loss drug and is not offered to anyone – the seriously overweight or obese are ideal candidates but even those at the higher end of the BMI (Body Mass Index) scale are not certainties.

Alli is sometimes classed as Xenicals little brother – it shares the same methodology as Xenical but using half the dosage.

Buy Alli UK

Alli Side Effects

When Alli first was released onto the weight loss market, many consumer reports picked up on a side effects that seemed to be experienced by just about everyone who took it.

An orangey gooey liquid, or anal leakage to put it crudely could happen frequently and without apparent warning.

Although unpleasant this is a sure sign that fat is being blocked and not being absorbed back into the body. You can’t have everything.

Does Alli Work

A half strength version of something good sound appealing – but in reality Alli has not really lived up to its promise even with its easy passage into the weight loss arena riding on the back of Xenical’s success and efficacy.

Should I Buy Alli

USA dieters that are prepared for the occasional change of clothing at varying degrees or regularity are recommended to trial. As Alli has its roots very much in America, shipping and customer service may prove problematic.

Alli Summary

It works – but the much vaunted side effect is off putting to many. There are several other weight loss pills that offer the same weight loss results without the side effects.

Where To Buy Alli

Alli can purchased in the UK from Slimming.com they seem to be the cheapest at present

Alli 60mg capsules 42 pack £24.46

Alli 60mg capsules 84 pack – £38.13

Alternatives to Alli

Proactol – a fat binder that works in a similar way but without the gooey side effect. Voted Fat Binder of the Year 2008 and 2009 by readers of the Telegraph newspaper.

Proactol is clinically proven to reduce fat absorption and decrease appetite. Read about Proactol

Pure Hoodia - An appetite suppressant made from raw plant extract that has centuries of history behind it.

Pure Hoodia is one the finest Hoodia products the UK has to offer. Read about Pure Hoodia

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