What is Orlistat?
Orlistat (other brand name Xenical) is a medication, in a capsule form, used to treat obesity. It's designed to be used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet.
Orlistat (other brand name Xenical) is a medication, in a capsule form, used to treat obesity. It's designed to be used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet.
Orlistat works in your digestive system by acting as a lipase inhibitor. Lipases are enzymes that break down dietary fats (triglycerides) into smaller, absorbable components. Orlistat binds to these enzymes, preventing them from doing their job. As a result, about one-third of the fat you consume is not digested or absorbed by your body and is instead passed out in your stools. This reduction in absorbed calories helps prevent weight gain and promotes weight loss.
The most common side effects of Orlistat (Xenical) are directly related to its mechanism of action (i.e., undigested fat passing through the digestive system). These are often more noticeable if you eat a high-fat meal: