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Pills That
Zap Fat:
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Last Spring, the
FDA approved the use of Orlistat, a lipase inhibitor, for
weight-loss management. The 120-mg. capsule works by blocking the
body's absorption of dietary fats. For example, if you down a bag
of greasy potato chips followed by an Orlistat pill, the body will
absorb only some of the fat that it normally would, therefore
saving calories and fat. If you take the pill within an hour after
eating a fatty meal, you are going to prevent the body from
packing on the pounds.
At first, this sounded like the magic pill for which we'd all been
waiting. Wow! Eat what you want but gulp down three pills a day
and don't gain a pound. What a way to lose those unwanted 10 or 20
pounds, especially now in the New Millennium.
Then we discovered the real truth. While this pill is definitely a
breakthrough in the weight-loss field, it is recommended for
morbidly obese people. It can be obtained only by prescription.
Doctors prescribe it primarily for people who have health problems
related to their obesity and cannot function normally. For
instance, a 300-pound man who can't walk up a set of steps without
getting winded; a 250-pound woman who cannot reach down to tie her
shoes or hug her child; a person whose high-blood pressure cannot
be controlled by other medication and those with family histories
of heart disease and stroke who cannot otherwise lose weight.
Maybe you could talk your doctor into it for losing those 20 or 30
pounds if your health-related reasons are justified. You still
must exercise and follow a low-fat, low calorie diet while taking
the medication. The possible side effects are: diarrhea, oily
bowel movements, gas, discharge, urgency and increased number of
bowel movements. Orlistat is not recommended for people with
food-absorption problems, diabetes or for pregnant or lactating
women and for use with certain other medications.
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