What are the advantages and disadvantages of using Alli pills with an Atkins style low carb diet?  Does the pill really reduce absorbing 50% or 25% of fat from food?  I have heard both percentages---which is correct? 

Okay I researched this as well I personally use alli on a low carb diet but not at every meal for example in the morning my breakfast is egg whites and they have no calories but some day I want red meat so I take one alli pill with the meal. Although research contradicts this practice you can eat more on a low carb diet by blocking fat but beware the "side effects" are more pronounced due to the fat content of meat. Now this is my opinion here is what research says :

Why Should Alli Not Be Used With a Low-Carb Diet?

The weight loss effect of Alli operates in a totally different way than that of low-carb diets. There are several reasons why those following a low-carb way of eating should not take Alli, including:

1) Low-carb diets should not be low in fat - You have to get your calories from somewhere, and if it's not from carbs, some of it is going to be from fat.

2) Low-carb diets work partly because protein and fat are more satisfying than carbohydrate. Therefore, people on low carb diets naturally eat fewer calories.

3) Low-carb diets also work because they lower blood glucose and insulin. Alli does not help with this.

If you are still interested in trying Alli after reading this article, be sure to read this patient information first. It will inform you about whether you should consult your health care provider, drug interactions, side effects, and more.

References:

• Web site for Alli by GlaxoSmithKline
• Anderson, JW, Schwartz, SM, Hauptman, J, et al. "Low-dose orlistat effects on body weight of mildly to moderately overweight individuals: a 16 week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial." Annals of Pharmacotherapy. 40.10 (2006):1717-23
• Brown, Melody, Ferruzzi, Mario Nguyen, Minhthy et al. "Carotenoid bioavailability is higher from salads ingested with full-fat than with fat-reduced salad dressings as measured with electrochemical detection." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 80.2 (2004):396-403

Gazebogirl:

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using Alli pills with an Atkins style low carb diet?  Does the pill really reduce absorbing 50% or 25% of fat from food?  I have heard both percentages---which is correct? 

 Orlistat, the active compound in the capsules, blocks 25% of the fat in the meal in which it's taken.  Overall, the alli diet is based on 30% total calories from fat, 20% protein and 50% carbohydrates.  That's the same diet as the American Heart Association, the US Dietary Guidelines and other healthcare organizations.

If you look over the sample menus you'll see the carbs come from a variety of sources: cereals, grains, fruits and vegetables.  And - with alli or not - we (health professionals) suggest that people avoid refined carbs and go more for whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables (as opposed to juice) whenever possible.

As a dietitian, let me point out when you lower carbs and increase protein that also increases fat -- that can increase the liklihood of TE's.  In addition, the claim that alli helps people lose 50% more weight than just diet alone is based on over 100 research studies using the diet mentioned above.  Once the percentages are changes there's no evidence that weight loss is enhanced.

I hope this helps.

Pat Baird, MA, RD, registered dietitian