Alli vs Hydroxycut: A Comparison Of Weight Loss Pills

Alli vs Hydroxycut – A Comparison Of Weight Loss Pills:

If you are obese or overweight, your risk for dozens of conditions and diseases (such as – type 2 diabetes mellitus, stroke, heart disease, cancer) is higher.

In the present day, over 162 million people in the United States are either obese or overweight.

Healthy Ways to Lose Weight for Good

Note – obese or overweight people should try to get to and stay at a healthy weight by eating a healthy diet and getting enough exercise.

Healthy ways to lose weight are:How to Lose 15 Pounds in a Month with a Healthy Lifestyle

  • drink lots and lots of water; aim for 2 liters a day;
  • eat your favorite high-calorie foods such as desserts in smaller portions or less frequently (ideally, eliminate them altogether);
  • eat lots of colorful vegetables and fruits, such as apples, pears, pineapples, broccoli, kale, spinach, mangoes, papayas, radishes, tomatoes, cauliflower, carrots, sweet potatoes, garlic, and onions;
  • sleep 7 to 8 hours per night;
  • cut salt as excess salt makes you bloated;
  • limit screen time to 2 hours or less a day;
  • cut alcoholic beverages;
  • plan meals and prepare snacks ahead of time;
  • stop, when you feel like you have eaten enough;
  • eat regularly timed meals;
  • avoid junk foods, such as hot dogs, burritos, French fries, mayonnaise, margarine, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, onion rings, doughnuts, cookies, cakes, fried fish, fried chicken, and vegetable oils.

If you still see no progress with your weight loss efforts, you can try a weight loss pill. Below is a comparison between Alli and Hydroxycut, two weight loss pills:

Alli

It is the brand name of an over-the-counter medication that is used to help people lose weight. The main ingredient found in this medication is orlistat, a drug that belongs to a class of drugs called lipase inhibitors and is isolated from a bacterium. Alli is a half-dose version of the prescription drug Xenical.

This drug was first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1999. It is made by GlaxoSmithKline.

Uses

It is prescribed for long-term obesity management alongside a low-fat diet.

Note – according to studies, around 40% of people taking this medication lost 5% or more of their body weight within 12 months of use.

Mechanism of Action

It works by blocking the intestines from absorbing about 25 percent of the fat that you eat.

Side Effects

Common side effects may include:

  • rectal pain;
  • an increased number of bowel movements;
  • oily or fatty stools;
  • nausea;
  • inability to control bowel movements;
  • oily spotting in your undergarments;
  • stomach pain;
  • an urgent need to go to the bathroom;
  • gas and oily discharge;
  • brown or orange-colored oil in your stool.

Call your doctor at once if you have the following severe side effects:

  • jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
  • severe stomach pain;
  • clay-colored stools;
  • severe pain in your lower back;
  • dark urine;
  • painful or difficult urination;
  • loss of appetite;
  • blood in your urine;
  • short of breath;
  • tired feeling;
  • itching;
  • upper stomach pain;
  • little or no urinating;
  • nausea;
  • swelling in your ankles or feet.

Dosage

The medication is taken three times a day with each main meal which contains some fat.

Warnings & Precautions

To make sure this medication is safe for you, tell your healthcare professional if you have ever had:

  • an eating disorder;
  • kidney stones;
  • kidney disease;
  • gallbladder disease;
  • liver disease;
  • underactive thyroid;
  • pancreatitis.

The absorption of fat-soluble minerals and vitamins like vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin D, and vitamin K is partially inhibited. Therefore, it is recommended to take vitamin supplements concurrently with this medication.

This medication is not intended for individuals who have problems absorbing food, but, it is approved for obese or overweight adults over age 18.

Drug Interactions

It may interact in a negative way with the following medications:

  • HIV or AIDS medications;
  • amiodarone (an antiarrhythmic medication);
  • a blood thinner – Coumadin, warfarin, Jantoven;
  • oral diabetes medicine;
  • vitamin E supplements;
  • beta-carotene supplements;
  • seizure medicines.

Alcohol

Do not use alcohol while taking this medication, as it will increase the risk of side effects. Also, calories from alcoholic beverages are empty calories, which will make you gain weight.

Is It Safe During Pregnancy or Breastfeeding?

Do not take this medication if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Hydroxycut

It is a brand that manufactures a variety of weight loss and sports supplements.

Some of its benefits include:

  • it mainly contains natural ingredients;
  • it could improve energy levels;
  • it might reduce appetite;
  • it may increase your metabolism rate.

Note – there are no scientific studies done to prove its effectiveness.

Ingredients

Some of its ingredients are:

  • Acesulfame-Potassium (a calorie-free sugar substitute);
  • Caffeine;
  • Silica;
  • Lady’s mantle leaf extract;
  • Magnesium Stearate (a common “inactive” ingredient in many nutritional supplements);
  • Olive leaf extract;
  • Stearic Acid (also called octadecanoic acid);
  • Komijn extract;
  • Hydroxypropylcellulose;
  • Mint leaf extract;
  • Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium;
  • Acerola fruit concentrate;
  • Coating pc;
  • Goji fruit (an evergreen shrub that reaches 15 feet in height) extract;
  • Tricalcium Phosphate (calcium salt of phosphoric acid);
  • Blueberry fruit extract;
  • Dicalcium Phosphate (a calcium supplement typically found in prepared breakfast cereals);
  • Pomegranate fruit and seed extract;
  • Microcrystalline Cellulose (a term for refined wood pulp);
  • Bilberry fruit extract.

Side Effects & Precautions

Among the reported side effects are:

  • constriction of the cerebral arteries;
  • inflammatory bowel disease (IBS);
  • ulcerative colitis (a disease that affects your large intestine);
  • liver toxicity.

Do not use if pregnant or nursing. Not intended for use by people under the age of 18.

Bottom Line – Alli vs Hydroxycut

Hydroxycut is a supplement that has an effect on the body’s fat-burning capacity due to its high content of caffeine, whereas Alli works by barring the absorption of fats into the body.

In conclusion, you may be able to lose a bit more weight by taking any of these weight-loss pills, but both have plenty of side effects.

In our opinion, the possible side effects + financial costs are not worth it for the small amount of weight you can lose by taking these weight-loss pills.

For long-term weight loss and weight maintenance, a healthy diet (fresh fruits and veggies and no junk foods), stress reduction methods (like mindfulness meditation), healthy sleeping habits, no alcohol, and regular physical exercise, should be your focus.

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References

https://today.oregonstate.edu/archives/2012/mar/study
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/
https://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/welcome/features/

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