We all have heard the “conventional wisdom” about the importance of exercise: if you engage in moderate exercise, like walking, for 30 minutes a day three or four times per week you can lose weight. But is that true?
In the study, 201 overweight and obese women aged 21 to 45 years old were told to reduce their caloric intake to 1,200 to 1,500 calories per day, and they were split into four groups based on physical activity (from light activity up to vigorous intensity).
They discovered that individuals sustaining a weight loss of 10% or more of initial body weight at 24 months reported performing more physical activity (1835 kcal/wk or 275 min/wk) compared with those sustaining a weight loss of less than 10% of initial body weight.
The study concluded that the addition of about four and a half hours per week of vigorous physical activity, combined with a reduced calorie diet, is very important in allowing overweight women to sustain weight loss. The message is clear: if you want to lose weight, more exercise is better. Don’t just go for a leisurely walk three times a week, go for a brisk walk for 45 minutes to an hour six times a week, or add in other forms of physical activity to enhance weight loss.
People everywhere are constantly searching for the product that will help them to achieve their weight loss goals. The recently released weight loss pill, alli, with the convenience of being available without a prescription and with the safety and comfort of FDA approval, seems like the answer to everyone’s weight loss dreams. With the promise of increased weight-loss and the possibility of curing obesity-related diseases, the alli weight loss pill seems too good to be true.
Olistat, the active ingredient in alli has been available by prescription for years by the brand name Xenical. Alli is a reduced-strength version of this same drug which when taken with meals prevents the body from breaking down and absorbing 25% of the fat in food. With less fat available for energy, the body must tap into its fat reserves and use up the excesses resulting in weight loss.
Using alli along with a low-calorie, reduced-fat diet and increased exercise could help in losing up to 50% more weight than with traditional dieting alone. Maximum weight loss is usually achieved within the first six months of using the product. Unlike some other diet pills, alli acts only in the digestive tract and has no effect on the brain eliminating the addictive qualities that cause other diet pills to be susceptible to abuse.
This all sounds great, however there are some dangers to using alli to lose weight. Some of the common side effects include increased flatulence and more frequent, difficult-to-control bowel movements. The alli program suggests that meals include no more than 15 grams of fat to prevent these side effects from worsening; however some people may find it challenging to know exactly how much fat their meal contains. A multi-vitamin may need to be taken as alli can interfere with the absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K. Because alli is a relatively new drug, the long-term effects are unknown as of yet. In clinical trials, when alli stopped being taken, many people gained back the weight they had lost and so the pill may need to be taken indefinitely.
Alli should only be used as a dieting aid for people who need to lose weight for reasons of health and not for already thin people to keep their weight off. All aspects of the alli weight loss program need to be followed including the recommended dosage, the diet and the exercise.