Vega. Has been trying to lose weight now for close to eight months and I haven't been able to take very much off .
She expects that new Alli can change that.
Drumming stores on Friday, Alli is an FDA approved over the counter version of the prescription Xenical. Northern Westchester Hospital's Geri Brewster says people like Carmela 'can' lose a reserved amount of weight on the drug but they have to also follow a low fat diet.
"If you think you can have your burger and French fries and then take this medication the gastrointestinal side effects would just be shocking," said Brewster.
That's because Alli works by keeping the body from absorbing fat. Eating too much fatty food can lead stomach problems and frequent trips to the bathroom.
But Alli is the only OTC selection right now. Side effects will likely maintain another diet drug from ever reaching the U.S. market. In testing people on the investigational Rimonabant lost an average of 13 pounds more than people not taking it.
