Lifestyle changes should be the first treatment option when you wish to lose weight, however in some cases it may be necessary to use a combination of healthily eating and exercise with prescription treatments.
Xenical is a prescription medication that can help overweight people lose weight and keep it off. To find out more about this treatment read our information page below.
How does Xenical work?
Xenical orlistat capsules aid weightloss in people who are overweight or obese by blocking the absorbtion of fats ingested through our diet.
Eating excessive fats causes the body to store up reserves resulting in weight gain. Xenical attaches itself to the enzymes in the digestive system that break fats down. This action prevents the body from absorbing and storing around 30% of fats, forcing the body to eliminate them.
How much weight will I lose with Xenical?
Xenical orlistat is a prescription medication, but is by no means a magic pill. You should set realistic goals for weight-loss so weight comes off gradually and healthily. Typically a 5-10% weightloss target over a 6-8 month period can bring significant health benefits.
Tests have shown that for every pound lost through diet and excercise, Xenical can help shed a further 3 pounds.
Weightloss should begin within the first 2 weeks of starting treatment. If this is not the case after a 12 week period then go back to your doctor to discuss your weightloss options.
What should I eat while taking Xenical?
The good news is that taking Xenical does not mean a radical overhaul of your diet. However, you will need to make a few small changes as invariably bad habits of one kind or another will have caused weight related problems in the first place.
You should eat three regular meals a day, and try not to exceed 12g of fat in each of these. Meals should otherwise be balanced and include plenty of fruit and vegatables. Portion sizes should be sensible and if you are not sure about how much to eat try to follow a calorie controlled diet of about 1600 calories a day
For Xenical to work, you will need to take one 120mg capsule with each meal.
Xenical vs alli
Xenical and Alli both contain the same active ingredient: Orlistat. However, differing strengths in the treatments mean that Xenical must be prescribed by your GP or weightloss specialist, whereas Alli can be safely dispensed by a pharmacist following a short consultation.
Alli is typically used to treat people who are overweight and who want to medically manage their weight. Its 60mg capsules are half the dose of Xenical which means that this treatment helps to shed 2 pounds extra for every pound lost through good diet and excercise.
Xenical on the other hand contains 120mg of active ingredient and so helps you to lose weight quicker: typically 3 pounds per every pound lost through diet and excercise. This medication is prescribed to people who are overweight and suffering from associated medical problems such as diabetes, high cholesterol, or hypertension , or people who are obese and at risk of medical complications.