Alli

How does Alli work for weight loss?

Alli is a weight loss treatment that helps your body get rid of fat you consume in food. The active ingredient in Alli, orlistat, interacts with enzymes in your digestive system, and stops them from absorbing fats as they normally would. Rather than being digested, these fats are removed from your body in your stool. It’s estimated that Alli gets rid of an extra 33% of fat when compared to what the body processes naturally.

It’s important to note that Alli will only be effective when used alongside dietary changes and exercise. This is the same for most weight loss treatments. You can get support from our clinicians about where to start in terms of an exercise plan, and they can give you some tips about healthy foods you should try to include in your diet.

How safe is Alli?

If you take the medication as instructed, Alli should be a very safe treatment. ^[1]
Our clinician will make sure it’s suitable for you during your consultation, which will include measuring your BMI (body mass index).

If you have any concerns about using Alli, get in touch with us. Our experts can offer advice or suggest a different treatment if Alli isn’t working well for you.

Who could benefit from using Alli?

Alli is only suitable for you if you have a BMI (body mass index) of 28 or above and you’re over the age of 18.

BMI compares your weight in relation to your height. For example, if you’re 1m 70cm (5ft 6”), you will need to weigh more than 81kgs in order to be suitable for Alli. You can use the NHS weight loss calculator to check your BMI. ^[2]

Before taking Alli tablets for weight loss

You’ll need to start a calorie controlled diet a few days before taking Alli so the body can get used to the new regime. You should then keep a food diary, which is a record of what you eat and when, so you can track what your diet is more accurately. Our clinician can talk you through putting together a food diary. Just login to your account and drop them a message. It’s also important to set yourself a weight loss goal before taking Alli, which should be realistic and sustainable. Usually, aiming to lose around 1lb a week and a total of 5-10% of your starting weight is considered a reasonable target.

If you’re new to healthy eating and want to learn more about what a balanced diet should include, a good place to start might be the ‘eatwell guide’.^[1] It’s a diet model recommended by the government. Designed to look like a plate, it represents the different foods you should aim to eat often. Once you’ve got a better idea of what you need from your diet, it can help you be more mindful when making food choices.

How to take Alli weight loss tablets

One tablet should be taken three times a day during or within one hour of your meal. It should be swallowed whole with water. Your meals should be well-balanced, but if they contain no fat at all, you don’t need to take Alli. Our clinician will be able to advise you on dietary changes and foods that contain fat so you’re able to use Alli as effectively as possible.

How long will I need to take Alli for?

Alli shouldn’t be taken for longer than six months at a time, so if you’ve not noticed any changes in your weight within four months you should speak to our clinician about other options. You should continue your diet and exercise routines after you’ve stopped using Alli to maintain any weight loss beyond the treatment.