Orlistat is used to help overweight individuals with weight loss. It can also help reduce the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease.

Obesity is a disorder that involves excessive body fat. The body mass index (BMI) is frequently used to calculate whether or not you are of normal weight, overweight, or obese. If you have a BMI of 25–29, you are overweight. A BMI of 30 or higher indicates obesity.

Obesity doesn’t just affect the way you look. Holding excess fat in the internal organs can cause serious medical problems and adversely impact your quality of life.

Complications that may be caused by obesity include:

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Type 2 diabetes
• Cancer (especially cancers of the internal organs)
• Sleep apnea (potentially life-threatening breathing problems when sleeping)
• Gallbladder disease
• Liver problems
• Osteoarthritis (damage to the joints)
• Gout

A wide variety of risk factors can cause weight gain and obesity. The most basic is an intake of more calories than your body burns. If you take in more calories than you burn during the day, your body begins to store these excess calories as fat.

In addition, orlistat may be used after weight loss to help individuals maintain a healthy weight.

It is important to note that orlistat is used as a part of a comprehensive treatment plan for weight loss. It alone is not enough to help you lose weight or manage obesity. Orlistat should be used in conjunction with a low-calorie and low-fat diet, along with an exercise program.

Orlistat belongs to a class of medications known as lipase inhibitors. Lipase inhibitors help individuals lose weight by preventing the intestines from absorbing fats from their food. Unabsorbed fats are removed from the body via bowel movements.

Orlistat is meant to be used in conjunction with lifestyle changes and dietary adjustments. Individuals who require orlistat are often recommended a low-fat and reduced-calorie diet along with an exercise program to help lose weight. Orlistat works with these healthy habits to prevent excess fat from being absorbed by the body. It alone will not cause weight loss.

Orlistat typically causes GI-related side effects. These side effects usually resolve in a few weeks as your body adjusts to the medication.

Side effects include:

• Gas
• Abdominal pain or distress
• Urgent need to have a bowel movement
• Stool leakage
• Oily or fatty stools

Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat-soluble vitamins. They need fat to be absorbed. Orlistat can affect their absorption, resulting in deficiencies. While taking orlistat, it is recommended to take a multivitamin to ensure your body gets enough nutrients.

Weight loss depends on individual factors, including the amount of weight to lose, other health conditions, cost, and side effects. Combining medication with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise can produce favorable results.

Weight loss tablets include:

• Contrave (bupropion and naltrexone)
• Orlistat
• Phentermine
• Qsymia (phentermine and topiramate)
• Wegovy pill (semaglutide)

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications were originally approved to help manage type 2 diabetes. They help to regulate blood sugar, slow gastric emptying, increase the feeling of fullness, and reduce appetite. Injectable GLP-1 medications are very effective for weight loss and can improve heart, kidney, and liver health.

Some GLP-1 medications are approved for weight loss, while others are approved for type 2 diabetes but can also be used off-label for weight loss. These medications include:

• Mounjaro
• Ozempic
• Saxenda
• Wegovy
• Zepbound

Orlistat can interact with many other medications. Your provider may recommend more routine monitoring or separating medications from orlistat. This list does not include all interactions. Orlistat may interact with the following medications:

• Antiarrhythmic medications
• Blood thinners
• Cyclosporine
• Fat-soluble vitamins
• HIV medications
• Seizure medications
• Thyroid medications

Orlistat is available over the counter as Alli. It is a lower dose, 60 mg, compared to the prescription version, which is 120 mg.

Looking for an orlistat prescription? Schedule an appointment today, and start losing weight.