Weight loss pill moves to shelves
By: Brian Hayden
Despite side effects that may increase the use of Pepto-Bismol across the country, a diet pill will be the first of its kind to hit the over-the-counter weight loss market this summer.
Alli, a product of pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, was approved last week by the Food and Drug Administration for over-the-counter sale. Though prescriptions of the drug were first issued in 1999, according to Glaxo's Web site, the FDA felt it was time for the drug to be available for all consumers of at least 18 years of age.
But not everyone is enthused at the news of obesity being solved with a pill.
The answer for those who are overweight is not found in a pill, but rather in a lifestyle change of dietary and exercise habits, said Dr. Tania Horacek, nutrition counselor and associate professor in the College of Human Sciences and Health Professions.
"We have a weight epidemic," she said, citing that nearly 70 percent of American adults are overweight.
The product blocks the absorption of fat in the intestinal tract, according to its Web site. Therefore, those with a high-fat diet will be far more likely to experience such unpleasant side effects as loose stools and flatulence.
Horacek said that the majority of those who will purchase the pill will use it without adjusting the fat content in their diet.
"We are going to have a lot of people with intestinal problems," Horacek said.
A representative for GlaxoSmithKline was contacted but unavailable for comment.
Michelle Gallant, nutritionist and wellness educator for Syracuse University, said that a health care provider should be consulted before purchasing the pill.
"I have some concerns about it being abused," Gallant said.
Senior pre-med and nutrition major Stephen Ossei-Owusu said he believes the pill is safe, as it has been tested and released by talented researchers and a reputable company.
Nonetheless, he cited that the lack of absorption of vitamins can be detrimental to those who take it.
"Vitamin loss can be a problem if people continue to do this to themselves," said Owusu, who is aspiring to be a pediatrician. Owusu also recommended that prospective candidates consult their physicians, and be referred to a nutritionist or registered dietician that can help educate them on how to plan meals and make diet changes to maximize weight loss success.
GlaxoSmithKline's Web site also states that the drug can only be truly successful when combined with healthy lifestyle changes.
While munching on a salad in Kimmel Food Court on Sunday, Jenny Smith, a first-year advertising graduate student, said that taking such a pill does not compare to other healthier ways of living.
"There's no easy way out when it comes to losing weight," Smith said. "You must do it the proper way."
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