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What are people's thoughts on this - is it a good or a bad thing?

I guess it depends if it is by perscription or just handed out like headache tablets.

Sorry I forgot to put the link on doh!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7843061.stm

It is going to be over the counter, no prescription needed.
This drug goes under various names, including Orlistat, Xenical and the name it will be sold under at the chemists: "Alli".

When this drug was first approved for use in the UK it was by prescription only, so a Doctor would assess your need for it and your usage would be monitored. Now, anybody can go and buy it. It works by blocking the absorption of about one third of the fat you eat.

I anticipate some problems here! If a reasonably low fat diet is not followed, the side effects can be extremely unpleasant, namely oily poops, uncontrollable bowel movements and flatulence (with oily 'follow through'!!!). I wonder how many people will be rushing to the chemist to buy it thinking it will enable them to eat what they like and lose weight?

I think it is a bad idea.

I do believe its going to cost a £1 a day and it wont be as strong as what the doctors prescribe

I managed to convince my doctor to give me this many years ago and that is when I realised I had a real psychological problem with food.

I didn't take the tablets when I was at work in case of 'horrible accident' so when I had three days off, I would be at home eating all the rubbish I could get my hands on - then spending the rest of the time on the toilet!!!

Understandably I didn't loose any weight and realised that spending three days on the toilet in order to eat chocolate eclairs was not a good way to be.

I guess for sensible people it will be fine, but I would worry about those who may use laxatives in order to loose weight will hook onto this causing unknown health risks.

It has only been the last year that I have looked at why I ate unhealthily and addressed those problems that I am sucessfully loosing weight and able to look at myself in the mirror and not see Shrek!

Hi, have heard that that laxatives work well when losing weight does anyone have any thoughts on this?

lisa Wrote:
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> Hi, have heard that that laxatives work well when
> losing weight does anyone have any thoughts on
> this?


My thoughts on laxatives are this....they are useful for if and when you occasionally have a bout of constipation for whatever reason.

Prolonged and continued use is not advisable in my opinion for losing weight, as there is always the concern that the bowels can get used to being over stimulated in that way and then when stopping the laxatives, the bowels could become sluggish and then you end up with the real problem of chronic constipation.

Thanks for advice will stay well clear of them!