Inside the human body, orlistat diminishes the
production of pancreatic lipase, which is an enzyme
that decomposestriglycerideswithin the intestines.
When pancreatic lipase is not present, triglycerides,
which are ingested within foods, are stopped from
being hydrolyzed into free fatty acids. They are,
instead, excreted through bowel movements within
feces without being digested. Orlistat, itself, is only
slightly absorbed into the body. Most of it is taken
into the gastrointestinal tract and eventually removed
through the feces.
Orlistat was introduced into the marketplace pri-
marily because of the increasing number of overweight
or obese people in the United States and other coun-
tries around the world. According to the National
Institutes of Health (NIH), as of 2007, about 65% of
all U.S. adults are overweight or obese. NIH scientists
have shown that being overweight or obese can lead to
increased risk of developing health issues such as high
blood pressure, heart disease, arterial disease, and
type-2 diabetes. According to the World Health
Organization (WHO), over one billion adults are over-
weight in the world, and at least 300 million of them
are considered obese.Description
Orlistat is usually prescribed by medical profes-
sionals in a dosage of 120 milligrams three times per
day, specifically after or during main meals. Accord-
ing to The Obesity Society, taking more than threedosages in one day has been shown ineffective at elim-
inating additional weight and, thus, is not recom-
mended by medical doctors. Orlistat is available in a
capsule that is taken orally (by mouth) during or up to
one hour after the eating of main meals. It should be
taken with a full glass ofwater.
According to the Mayo Clinic, these primary
meals should contain no more than about 30% of fat
by total calories. When used within these guidelines,
about 30% of dietary fat is stopped from being
absorbed into the body and, instead, is expelled
through the feces.
The effectiveness of orlistat and, thus, the amount
of weight loss achieved varies among humans. Orli-
stat, as of 2006, has been the most studied weight-loss
medication on the international market. It has been
used since 1999 in the United States and since 1998 in
145 other countries. Over 125 million people have used
orlistat and more than 100 clinical studies with over
30,000 subjects have been performed. In all, it has been
proved safe and efficient when used as prescribed.
A landmark one-year study, which concluded in
2007, was conducted by Xenical Pharmacology. The
study shows that the drug reduces body mass by 5% or
more in about one-third to one-half of the subjects and
decreases body mass by at least 10% in about one-
sixth to one-fourth of patients. The effectiveness and
safety of orlistat have only been proven in four years
or less of use.Precautions
Some side effects caused by the use of ortistat
include gastrointestinal problems. Most problems
reported happen within the first year of use, with the
severity and number of problems diminishing over
time. Because dietary fat is expelled with the feces,
the stool may become oily, fatty, or loose. The color
may change to an orange color. In addition, increased
gas (flatulence) with noticeable discharge is frequently
reported. Bowel movements are also more frequent
and sometimes urgently sensed. It may become diffi-
cult to control bowel movements. Upon stopping the
use of ortistat, feces return to normal fatty levels and
color between 24 and 72 hours.
Some other common symptoms may include
abdominal, rectal, or chest pain; diarrhea; chills; head-
ache; fever; nasal congestion; runny nose; sneezing;
sore throat; itching, hives, and skin rash and redness;
swelling, and difficulty breathing and wheezing. These
symptoms usually go away as the body becomes accus-
tomed to the drug. Less common symptoms include
tooth or gum problems, bloody or cloudy urine,KEY TERMS
Anorexia nervosa—An eating disorder involving
low body weight, distorted image of one’s body,
and fear of gaining weight.
Bulimia—An eating disorder that involves cycles of
overeating and undereating.
Cardiovascular disease—Diseases that have to do
with the heart and blood vessels (veins and
arteries).
Gastrointestinal—Relating to the stomach and
intestines.
Hypertension—Disease of the arteries that usually
indicate high blood pressure.
Immunosuppressant—Suppression of the immune
system.
Lipase—An enzyme produced from the pancreas
that breaks down fats.Orlistat