Sometimes just diet and exercise aren’t enough and a quality supplement may be necessary to jump start your weight loss again. If you are looking for a safe and legal diet pill, then Alli might be right for you. Alli is the one and only FDA-approved weight loss product that may be able to help you shed those extra pounds, and it is one of the more popular diet pills sold on the market today.

Despite its popularity, we can’t help but wonder if Alii as effective as it seems. Oftentimes diet fads are just that—temporary crazes that wither with time as they prove to be either ineffective or harmful.

Let’s take a closer look at what Alli does to find out if it’s another fad or a worthy addition to tried-and-true weight loss supplements.

How Does Alli Work?

The active ingredient in Alli is Orlistat. Orlistat inhibits the enzyme Lipase, an enzyme found in the digestive tract to help break down dietary fat. Then, because the fat molecules are too large to be properly absorbed, the undigested fat continues through the digestive system and is eliminated through the bowels.

Sounds almost too good to be true, right?

Surprisingly, it isn’t. Alli is one of the select few FDA-approved diet pills on the market, and though it won’t help you lose extreme amounts of weight, Alli is clinically-proven to promote healthy weight loss when supplemented with a balanced diet and regular exercise.

Is Alli Right for Me?

Alli is a safe product for most people, but due to its digestive-altering nature, it should not be taken if you have existing digestive problems: for example, because Alli is primarily a fat blocker, if your body has difficulty absorbing food or if you simply eat a lot of fat, you could experience gastrointestinal issues.

We also do not recommend taking Alli if you are taking any blood-thinning medication, if you suffer from diabetes, or if you have any thyroid diseases.

Does Alli Have Any Side Effects?

If Alli is not taken as directed, side effects are likely to occur. Some of these side effects include flatulence, an oily anal discharge, diarrhea or loose stools, and frequent and uncontrollable bowel movements.

In order to keep these side effects to a minimum, take Alli with each meal you have and be sure that it contains only small amounts of fat—about 15g or less.

Starting on a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet three days before starting Alli is highly recommended. This way, you can more easily adjust to healthy eating.

What is the Bottom Line?

Alli is the only FDA-approved diet pill that can be obtained without a prescription. Alli, however, is not a strong diet pill and people should not expect to lose a significant amount of weight with Alli alone. There are a handful of unwanted gastrointestinal side effects as well, so be cautious when starting Alli and be sure to follow the recommended guidelines.

Overall, Alli is not going to be an effective way to lose a ton of weight in a short amount of time. You may lose some weight, but most people get frustrated with the lack of results and the time it takes to lose weight. However, if you are looking for an FDA-approved weight loss pill, then Alli may be right for you.

Just be sure you’re quite committed to your diet and exercise routine.