The government has approved for otc use a "fat blocking" pill that will block up to 25% of ingested dietary fat, supposedly to reduce calorie intake and help a person lose weight. Downside, gastrointestinal distress. Remember Olestra? Sounds like the same kind of pseudo-science. Anyway, the url for the story is:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060124/...e_me/diet_pill

It doesn't sound like someone I would even remotely consider. Now, if they could come up with something that truly blocked carbs, now, that might be worth considering.

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Nita

LOL! Yes I do. The fat that doesn't get digested .... so it passes through unchanged ... and in very short order.

I'm with you, Nita. I'd not be all that tempted.

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Oh man...wish I had some stock in Fruit of the Loom!!

I've used Xenical many years ago. It has to be used very carefully. Oh yes Franny. It surely does affect the drawers. And you have nearly no control of the situation. :( Putting that stuff over the counter is stupid. I can't believe they are putting that stuff OTC and took stuff like Ephedra off the market. It will be fun to see the lawyers have a field day with it, after all the problems that will surely arise.

BTW it does indead work at passing fats through. It is yet another incentive to eat salads and such. You must reduce to very low levels of fat intake. In tht way it does cause you you to reduce you food intake. But since your eating so many carbs, your always hungry and craving food.

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To think is to create!
So What? Now What?
Tom
Restart LC 7/05/08

People who buy this pill had better read the label very, very carefully. I predict some very stinky lawsuits on the horizon. "I'm suing for the embarrassment I suffered when my butt exploded during a major corporate meeting."

Sorry to be rude. I actually think the outcome (you should pardon the expression) of this "approved" OTC will be extremely unpleasant for everyone, including GlaxoSmithKline.

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Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

Yeah, I read about this - apparently it IS Xenical, but at half the prescription dosage. They say it's safe, but I tend to disagree. Just the side effects alone are enough to scare the bejeezus out of any normal person. I was on it for a while and hated it. Oily discharge? Leakage? Is it really THAT worth it?

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Eddie
President and Founder of the Intergalactic Order of Brussels Sprouts Haters

I'm a bit concerned with this being available over the counter. Especially with all the items that are currently on the market and easy access to teenage girls theses days, just something else available to them to worry about!

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Anik

Stats
198/183/115
"My metabolism isn't low, it's just hibernating!"

I didn't think about that aspect, Anik. It's scary, isn't it?

It doesn't appear that this "magic" pill is going to discriminate between the different kinds of fat, either. Whether you eat Twinkies, or a salad with olive oil dressing, or an avocado, margarine on your pancakes, or butter on your veggies, it's going to block a percentage of that fat, and force it out of your body in a {shudder} fast and efficient way. So what good will it do to eat beneficial fats, if you take this pill? Is it just for people who don't care what kind of fat they eat, if they decide to fill up on trans fats, (instead of changing the kinds of fat they eat) then they take this pill, and, whoooosh, part of it goes immediately through them?

No thanks. I'd rather have the joy of eating good fats, and watching my body fat melt off. ("I'm melting, melting! What a world!")

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Nita

There were recommended eating habits for while taking Xenical, back when I tried it. What scares me most is that fact that people almost never follow the directions and will surely see if some is good more is better. That will surely cause some painful effects. On the salad dressing with oil point... Something that DW taught me about. We use mineral oil to make italian dressing. Our bodies do not absorb the mineral oil, so it is free oil for your salad dressing and it "lubes" up the digestive tract. Don't do too much. The "end" results are similar to the Xenical.

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To think is to create!
So What? Now What?
Tom
Restart LC 7/05/08

If I remember correctly, the recommended eating habits while taking Xenical were exactly the same as those recommended for ANYONE. The difference was that the body wouldn't absorb most of the fat that you ate, even on a low fat diet as they recommended. So, really, all it turned out to be was a way to try to get you to eat a "healthy" diet (non LC, of course) and the Xenical would give you a "boost." Really no different than any other "diet" pill out there, except it's approved by the FDA. And dad2bike, I agree with you that most people never followed the directions - I know I didn't! Basically my doctor said, "here's a pill" and didn't even recommend any dietary changes. And Anik, I hadn't thought about that aspect as well. Very scary. I think putting this as an OTC is a VERY bad idea, and personally, I think it's very existence is questionable.

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Eddie
President and Founder of the Intergalactic Order of Brussels Sprouts Haters