So you have tried every single diet there is going - Atkins, Low GI, Low GL - even the dreaded ‘cabbage soup’ diet - and still no results? Then perhaps you are one of the many thousands predicted to try what some people are dubbing the ‘miracle cure’, as the first over the counter weight loss drug, Alli, launches in pharmacies across the country.
So how does this wonder drug work you may ask? Well, it stops the body from absorbing all that slimy fat produced from those oh so irresistible foods you just can’t avoid. The manufacturers of Alli even go so far as to claim your weight losing benefits will be bumped up by an impressive 50 per cent. Sounds great, so what’s the catch? Surprise surprise, its those dreaded side effects - if you eat too much fat it can cause wind and diarrhoea - kind of putting a damper on all that hard work if you’re out on a hot date! So, ok eat less fat to avoid the side effects, but then… why even carry with taking the drug? Bit of a catch 22.
So what are the more natural, healthier (and pleasant) alternatives to aid sensible, progressive weight loss? Well, according to Professor Nick Finer, consultant endocrinologist at University College London, there are none! He thinks non-licensed “weight loss pills” are not worth the boxes they come, “I think they’re a waste of money as there’s no high level evidence that they are effective.”
So, learnt a lot? Good, forget the pills, stick to a low-fat, high-protein diet rich in nutrient giving fruit and vegetables… oh yeah - ad exercise regularly. But you already knew that - didn’t you?
