New Diet Pill

An over-the-counter diet pill approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration hits store shelves Friday, but some doctors are questioning if its benefits are worth its costs.

The over-the-counter drug orlistat, sold in the U.S. as Alli, comes in 60 milligram pills, half that of the prescription version, which has been available in Canada for a few years.

In a three-month trial, people lost an average of 2.7 kilograms when taking the drug, but many gained it back after they stopped taking it. It is not intended for long-term use.

The drug works by blocking the absorption of fat in the colon, so about 30 per cent of fat is excreted.

But the drug has unpleasant side-effects such as diarrhea, leakage, bloating and oily discharge that may help stave off abuse, said Dr. Dara Maker, a family physician in Toronto.

The drug also leads to poor absorption, so multivitamins are recommended for people who take it.

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