Is Xenical for me?
Xenical is a prescription only medication and can only be prescribed to patients with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 27 or greater.
What is Xenical?
Xenical (orlistat) is a lipase inhibitor which does not enter the patient's blood stream, but works in the digestive system in the small intestine as a fat absorber. It blocks out a third of the fat in food eaten in a patient's diet, leading to steady weight loss. Research involving 11,131 woman and 4,418 men, who had been over weight for an average of 14 years, showed that 87% lost at least 5% of total body weight, half lost at least 10%, around 20% lost more than 15% body weight, and some patients lost more than 25%
How does Xenical work?
If you eat an excessive amount of fat or calories, the excess is stored as fat by the body, resulting in weight gain. When you eat fat, your body breaks it down into its simplest components so that it can be digested. Unlike other weight-loss drugs you may have heard about that act in the brain or central nervous system to suppress appetite or to speed up metabolism, Xenical works in your digestive system to block about one-third of the fat in the food you eat from being digested. Enzymes in your digestive system, called lipases, help digest (or break down) fat. When taken with meals, Xenical attaches to the lipases and blocks them from breaking down some of the fat you have eaten. The undigested fat cannot be absorbed and is eliminated in your bowel movements. By working this way, Xenical helps block about one-third of the fat in the foods you eat from being absorbed by your body.
If I take Xenical, can I eat whatever I want?
The Xenical dietary guidelines do not place any particular food out of bounds. But you may not be able to eat a lot of a particular food if it is high in calories or, especially, if it is high in fat.
How soon after starting Xenical should I expect to notice weight loss?
Typically, people begin losing weight within 2 weeks of starting Xenical, and may continue to lose weight for 6 to 12 months, at which point weight loss usually begins to level off -- even if you’re still taking Xenical. This doesn't mean that Xenical is not working. People who continue to take Xenical are better able to maintain their weight loss. Keep your doctor informed about your progress so that he or she can make sure your diet and your level of physical activity remain appropriate to your weight-loss goals. Once you reach your initial goal, you may want to set a new goal and have your doctor re-evaluate your calorie and activity levels.
How much weight should I expect to lose?
The amount of weight you lose depends on how well you stick to a reduced-calorie diet with no more than 30% of calories from fat and an appropriate physical activity level, as well as on your compliance with the prescribed medication regime.