Nutritionists, pharmacists, dieters discuss new diet drug

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Ken Alltucker

The Arizona Republic

The first over-the-counter diet pill blessed by federal regulators will appear today on shelves at pharmacies, grocery stores and other retail outlets.

Arizona retailers including Bashas', Walgreens and CVS are anticipating an initial rush to buy Alli (pronounced AL-eye).

But the fat-busting pill comes with a major caveat.

Overweight adults must combine it with a low-fat diet and exercise if they expect to achieve meaningful weight loss, according to Alli's manufacturer, drug giant GlaxoSmithKline.

Some Valley nutritionists, pharmacists and those who've battled the bulge still remain skeptical of any over-the-counter diet aid.

"This isn't a magic pill," said Richard Herrier, associate professor at the University of Arizona's College of Pharmacy. "People are going to try this, and they are going to find out what everybody else did. There is very minimal weight loss."

Arizona-based health-food chain Hi-Health will not sell the drug at its 53 Arizona stores because the chain believes it doesn't work very well, said Jay Chopra, vice president of merchandising.

"We absolutely don't want to carry something that is not going to be one of the most effective tools in weight loss," Chopra said.

GlaxoSmithKline's $150 million promotional campaign does not tout Alli as a miracle drug.The company's brochures maintain that the drug, which costs about $1.80 per day, helps committed dieters who also exercise lose up to 50 percent more weight than just dieting alone.

Patients must remain committed to overall lifestyle change, and Glaxo hopes consumers stick with the drug as the cornerstone of a long-term, weight-loss plan.

Alli works by restricting the amount of fat a body absorbs.

Dieters who take the pill and eat a lot of fatty foods could experience such side effects as urgent and frequent bowel movements, gas and diarrhea.

Some predict that the strict requirements, exercise and a low-fat diet, and the prospect of unwanted side effects will be enough to turn some away from the pill.

http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles...etpill0616.html

[Sinergy 3]

Well then ill just wait until they come out with a magic pill