Orlistat is an FDA-approved weight loss drug. There are a lot of people who use it and eventually decide it doesn't work for them, and that's fair enough. But before you throw in the towel and look for something else, is there a reason it shouldn't work for you? Hello! I'm Dr. Brian Yeung, a naturopathic doctor in Toronto. Let's take a look at some reasons you might not want to take orlistat, or why orlistat might not work for you. Orlistat, also known as Xenical or Alli,
is a drug that blocks the absorption of fat in the body. Find out more about how it works and what you can expect in the description below video. As one of our oldest weight loss medications, it is a very commonly used medication around the world. So, based on my experience with many patients who have tried Orlistat, here are some common reasons why it didn’t work for them or why they stopped taking it. Underestimating the side effects. Orlistat can cause fat malabsorption, Causing fat to pass into stool. If you have never experienced orange, fatty, oily stools, or have difficulty controlling your bowel movements completely, you may feel embarrassed and unpleasant.
Sometimes patients underestimate the social consequences of having to go to the bathroom immediately – especially if they eat something they shouldn't. It’s also common for stool to leak into your underwear and may only be noticed when changing clothes, which can be shocking as some patients don’t even feel the leakage. Even if you follow the recommended low-fat diet, you may still There are some side effects experienced.
Therefore, you may not want to continue using orlistat if you are not prepared to deal with them. Not following a proper diet. Orlistat is intended for use with a low-fat, calorie-controlled diet. It only blocks about 30% of the fat you eat, which means if your diet is too high in fat,
you'll still absorb most of it. Additionally, if you consume too many calories from simple carbohydrates (such as pasta, bread, juice, or soda), Orlistat will not prevent the absorption of these foods at all and you will need to reduce your intake of these carbohydrates at the same time And replace them with some complex carbohydrates.
Orlistat, like many other weight loss drugs, is just a tool that can help you lose weight, but it cannot replace the basics of proper weight loss such as diet and exercise. Dosing it improperly. Orlistat It is taken up to 3 times a day, during or within 1 hour after each meal. The timing of taking Orlistat is important because it works locally to block fat. Take it too early and the drug will leave your body The body, does nothing. It's too late, the food has been absorbed. Remember, it can be taken up to 1 hour after a meal. So try to take it within that time frame rather than the full hour after a meal. It is generally recommended that you take Orlistat with a meal that contains fat. Some patients will skip meals that they believe have little to no fat.
While this makes sense in theory, in practice many patients underestimate the amount of fat in their meals. , and mistakenly skipped doses, thinking it would have no effect. If you eat 3 meals a day and only take orlistat with dinner because you have a small breakfast and lunch, or you often skip taking your medication during the day to avoid side effects then it's no surprise that orlistat doesn't work It's right for you. Take orlistat once with each meal, up to 3 times a day. It also comes in two forms, 120 mg of Xenical and 60 mg of Alli. In my experience, increasing the dose of Xenical does have a significant impact on weight loss. The lower dose of Alli makes it easier to tolerate, but the effect But it's much worse. You're eating too much. Because Orlistat is only taken with meals, if you're snacking throughout the day, anything you eat outside of meals won't be affected by Orlistat, and it can You won't have great results.
You'll need to limit snacking or otherwise limit food intake to 2-3 meals per day. This can also be a problem if you drink too many calorie-dense liquids outside of meals, such as juice, soda, or milk. Outside of meals, drink only water, tea, or coffee, no milk or sugar. Nutrient deficiencies. Orlistat can prevent the normal absorption of certain nutrients, especially fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin D. If you feel tired all the time and your diet is too restrictive, then nutrient deficiencies may be preventing your body from functioning properly. Ability to burn fat and negatively impact your weight loss. Nutritional supplements or vitamin injections can help you easily replenish some of these nutrients if you're not getting them from your diet. You expect miracles. Orlistat blocks fat absorption and it doesn't really control your appetite or cravings, unlike Orlistat. Saxenda or Contrave, so you won't really feel the weight loss effects of it. But that doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't work.
The weight loss effects of orlistat also tend to be less pronounced than those of other weight loss drugs , meaning weight usually does not fall off as quickly. The average weight loss with orlistat is also modest, with patients typically losing weight within a few Lose around 3-5% of your current body weight in a month. Therefore, you need to manage and set realistic expectations. Additionally, orlistat does not work well without a weight loss diet. While some other weight loss drugs may work initially for a while, even without heavy dieting, all drugs will eventually stop working regardless of which drug you use. If you lack a good weight loss diet, and therefore if your goal is long-term weight loss, the differences in effectiveness of different FDA-approved weight loss drugs are less important.
If you have a good overall weight loss plan. Please tell me in the comments below what your experiences and challenges are with Orlistat. If you find this video helpful, please give me a like! I am Yang Daen ( Dr Brian Yeung, a naturopathic doctor,
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