Side effects

Like all medicines, alli can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The most common side effects associated with alli are wind with or without oily spotting, sudden or more frequent bowel movements, fatty or oily stools and loose stools. These side effects are also known as diet-related treatment effects, as they are often caused by what you eat and by the way alli works.

It is important to remember that if you stick to your recommended fat target, it is unlikely you will experience any problems. However, if you eat too much fat you increase your chances of experiencing diet-related treatment effects.

Q: Margarine contains less fat than butter. True or False?

Submit

Correct!

False. Butter and margarine contain different types of fat, but both contain a similar amount. When you follow the alli programme, your main focus is to stick to your fat and calorie targets.

Wrong!

Wrong. The correct answer is False. Butter and margarine contain different types of fat, but both contain a similar amount. When you follow the alli programme, your main focus is to stick to your fat and calorie targets.

In a ‘real-world’ 3 month study of alli use, less than 9% of people on alli stopped following the programme due to these effects. In fact, many users have told us that these effects were a signal that alli was working and helped them maintain healthier eating patterns.

Tips to avoid diet-related treatment effects

  • Find out more about how much fat a portion of your favourite food typically contains. By getting used to the recommended portions, you’ll be less likely to accidentally go over your fat target.
  • Distribute your fat allowance evenly across your meals for the day. Don’t "save" fat grams from lunch and "spend" them at dinner - each meal and snack must be within your fat target – check your fat and calorie targets for more details.
  • Be patient. It may take a little time to familiarise yourself with your fat and calorie targets. Most users who experience diet-related treatment effects at the start, learn how to reduce them.

Make the most of the alli programme – find out more

  • Use the meal planner, it’s an invaluable tool to help you recognise which foods can lead to diet-related treatment effects or any foods that might contain hidden calories or fat.
  • Use the alli recipe tool, the meals are quick and easy to prepare and clearly state the fat and calorie content.
  • Visit the alli forum to learn from other alli users - swap tips, recipes and other advice.

 

Use the meal planner in the alli programme to help you stay on track and stick to your daily calorie and fat targets.

You can find out more about the potential side effects of taking alli in the FAQ section.