There are diverse weight loss programs that are used by those who want to reduce their body weight. The programs range from using appetite suppressants and other weight loss pills to getting actively involved in physical exercise activities and following a diet program.
One of the most common methods for weight loss is the use of diet pills called fat-blockers, which block the absorption of dietary fats. These diet pills prevent the body from absorbing some of the fat consumed with food and instead the fat is eliminated from the body. Some diet pills that block fat absorption require a doctor’s prescription while others do not.
Even though diet pills that can block fat absorption might sound great, there are a few things to consider before giving them a try. As with any other supplement, there are pros and cons to think about, as well as side effects that might occur while using these products. Keep reading to learn more and to see what we mean.
Alli: One of the Diet Pills That Block Fat Absorption
One of the most popular fat absorption diet pills available is Alli, which is an over-the-counter version of the weight loss drug Xenical (Orlistat).
The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) approved this diet pill back in 1999. The pill works mainly by blocking the body from absorbing excess fat.
Alli blocks fat absorption function by preventing the working of an enzyme required for fat digestion. Instead of the fat being digested, it is accumulated in the intestines then flushed out during excretion.
The Problem with Diet Pills That Can Block Fat Absorption
Alli sounds great, right? However, the diet pill robs the body of essential vitamins, which are fat-soluble. Therefore, it is advisable for users of Alli and Xenical to take multi-vitamin supplements, to replace the lost vitamins.
The amount of fat calories that can be blocked by a diet pill depends on the amount of fats in the food you eat. When taking diet pills that stop fats from being absorbed, eating meals high in fat can cause diarrhea, thus it is recommended to people taking these drugs to eat foods that are low-fat.
What About Natural Diet Pills?
One of the most common natural fat-blocker diet pills is Chitosan.
Chitosan is a fiber extracted from the shells of crustaceans that absorbs water and attracts dietary fats, which are then eliminated from the body. Chitosan is a common diet pill ingredient because of its ability to block fat absorption. To learn more about Chitosan, check out the post “Weight Loss Benefits of Chitosan”.
Also, according to Forbes, there are foods that you can incorporate into your diet in order to burn more fat naturally. They include:
- Oats
- Apples
- Pine nuts
- Cinnamon
A Final Look at the Pros and Cons of These Diet Pills
The pros of diet pills that restrict the absorption of dietary fat are that they can help eliminate calories in your diet from fats. However, unless your diet is high in dietary fats, fat blockers will do very little in helping you lose weight.
The cons for taking diet pills that block fat absorption are that they remove even healthy fats from your body. Healthy fats contain many important fat-soluble vitamins and are essential for good health. Another drawback of taking fat-blockers is that they often result in oily and loose stool.
There are many types of diet pills that claim to block fat absorption. Although some of them use a sensible approach to weight loss, many do not. Advertising slogans such as “Eat what you like and still lose body fat” are completely untrue and any product that tries to sell you on this point should be avoided. In fact, diet pills that use misleading advertising such as this often result in weight gain, not weight loss.
Bottom line: diet pills that block fat, just like all other diet pills, are only effective in aiding weight loss when combined with a calorie-reduced diet and regular exercise. Also, don’t forget to talk to your doctor about these products if you are thinking about taking them, as he or she can point you in the right direction based on your health and weight loss needs.
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