“Effective” Weight-Loss
Telegraph, 26th April
A new drug, Alli, has just hit the market with a promise of quick and effective weight-loss.
As the spring is blossoming and the summer with be here soon, everyone would like to look slim and trim. People don’t dress up in warm jumpers and baggy coats any more. Tops and T-shirts are not that forgiving for the figure. Even those who’ve got only a little bit of extensive fat, feel the pressure of losing it and get the flat tummy back.
That’s why Alli can become very popular. How effective and safe it is, though?
The first thing worth mentioning it that it’s not that easy to buy. Even though no prescription is needed, the pharmacist will ask for the BMI (the weighting scales are available for those who don’t know it). Only patients with BMI over 28 are eligible.
Another weight-loss medicine launched this week is Appesat. It is not a drug but an extract of seaweed. It works by expanding the stomach and works by suppressing the appetite. A tablet should be taken 30 minutes before the meal. It should work by sending a message to the brain that the stomach is full.
Is it possible at all losing weight without trying? And how safe it is?
The two week-dose of Alli costs £32.95. It prevents the absorption of fat in the stomach. The fat is excreted to the body causing unpleasant side effects: soft stools, flatulence, stomach ache, but also anxiety, headaches, tooth and gum disorders, chest infections and even rectal bleeding. The aim of the drug, apart from losing weight, is to encourage healthy eating habits.
“If you suffer from chronic malabsorption or are breastfeeding, then you mustn’t take it at all,” says Dr. Anna Hemming, a GP at private London clinic.
Appesat, on the other hand, is said to be a “natural” ewight-los aid that isn’t absorbed to the bloodstream. Dr Hemming says: “This is a bulk-forming agent and eating porridge would have the same effect. It won’t work for people who gain weight through snacking.”
There are some diet pills trials:
Fiona Macdonald-Smith had a BMI of 23.7. Her goal was to lose ¾ of a stone within six weeks. She tried Appesat.
She was taking the pills for three days an hour before the meal. The feeling of fullness was there for about an hour after taking the pill. Unfortunately some people, like Fiona, don’t need to feel hungry in order to eat. She was still eating because she was bored, had a deadline or was waiting for a kettle to boil.
Dr. Jason Halford says the key to the success is a healthy diet and exercise.
After a few days of taking Appesat, Mrs. Macdonald-Smith experienced the eructation.
Kara Gammel’s BMI is 28.5. She wanted to lose 10lbs. She was taking Alli for a few days. Unfortunately the side effects were very embarrassing: winds, sudden bowel movements, stomach pain and faecal incontinence.
