Orlistat Reviews: How Orlistat Works For Real Users

Losing weight can be a difficult process. For many people, a healthy diet and regular exercise may not be enough to help lose the pounds. Luckily, there are many weight loss treatments available to make the process a little easier.

One such medication is Orlistat. Orlistat is the generic version of Xenical. It is designed to help you lose weight by preventing some of the fat you eat with your meal from being absorbed by the body. Instead, the fat moves through your intestines and is removed from the body via bowel movements.

In this article, we summarise customer Orlistat reviews so you can make an informed decision about this weight loss medication. The UK Orlistat reviews we used for this article are from Trustpilot, providing you with independent opinions of this medication.

What is Orlistat?

Orlistat is the generic version of the brand name Xenical. Orlistat has the same active ingredient and works the same as Xenical; it is just cheaper. Orlistat is approved for the treatment of obesity and excess weight with weight-related health conditions.

Orlistat helps block the absorption of at least one-third of fat from food. This medication works in the digestive system by attaching to lipases (enzymes) and stopping them from breaking down fat you have eaten. The undigested fat is removed from your body in your bowel movements.

The removal of fat causes your body to take the necessary calories from your existing fat storage, gradually leading to weight loss. When using Orlistat capsules — alongside a reduced-calorie diet and regular exercise — you can lose up to 5% of your starting body weight in the first three months of treatment.

Orlistat reviews from UK based customers

Many UK customers have bought Orlistat from Cloud Pharmacy and have left extremely positive reviews about the medicine's effectiveness. Here are some key takeaways from Trustpilot Orlistat reviews:

Orlistat is very effective when incorporated with exercise and a healthy diet, allowing customers to start losing a noticeable amount of weight.

• Orlistat is slow to start but provides steady weight loss over the following weeks and months.
• Orlistat is a great medication to kickstart lifestyle changes and change eating habits.
• Orlistat is a great alternative option for injectable weight loss medications when out of stock.

Overall, Orlistat weight loss reviews show it’s an effective and reliable treatment.

Positive Orlistat reviews

Many UK Orlistat reviews are very positive, with key positive experiences including:

• Orlistat provides steady weight loss when incorporated with small lifestyle changes.
• The price of Orlistat is reasonable, especially when the product does what it says on the box.
• Many users describe Orlistat as ‘value for money.’

Many users found the beginning of their Orlistat weight loss journey was slow. However, once the medication started to take effect, they experienced steady weight loss, even when they did not manage to sustain regular exercise and a healthy diet continuously.

‘As my diet and exercise were not as good as they should have been, I still achieved a steady weight loss.’

‘Orlistat is definitely a huge help when taken alongside a calorie-controlled diet.’

‘It has worked so far, helping me to lose 2-3lb per week along with a healthy diet.’

If you would like to know more about Orlistat or other weight loss treatment options, we are here to help. You can start a free online consultation here.

Negative Orlistat reviews

Common themes in negative Orlistat reviews include:

• The medication did not help them lose weight over a period of time.
• Some users experienced side effects when taking Orlistat.

Common side effects reported by Orlistat users included:

• Bloating
• Diarrhoea
• Flatulence
• Headache
• Leaky stool
• Nausea
• Orange oily stool

A user reported they had to change to a low-fat diet to prevent getting a smelly, leaky stool or an orange, oily stool that was often uncontrollable. The most commonly reported side effects when taking Orlistat were directly related to fat in the diet being removed by bowel movements.

Another common theme amongst negative Orlistat reviews was the medication not helping the user lose weight.

When taking Orlistat, it is important to reduce the amount of fat in your diet. The medication stops your body from absorbing at least one-third of the fat from your food, which is then removed from the body by bowel movement.

It is important to remember that not every medication will work the same for everyone. If you have concerns, talk to your pharmacist about alternative treatment options that are more suitable for you.

Common themes in Orlistat reviews

Common and recurring themes in UK Orlistat reviews include:

The treatment works well with lifestyle changes, even if small.
Orlistat is slow to start; however, after 3-4 weeks, weight loss is steady and noticeable.

Users found that within the first 3-5 days of starting Orlistat treatment, they needed to reduce the amount of fat in their diet to avoid oily orange stools and smelly, leaky stools. Orlistat weight loss reviews show there is steady weight loss when implemented with an improved diet and exercise.

To achieve the best results with Orlistat, it is important to change your lifestyle and incorporate regular exercise and a healthy diet. It does not need to be drastic: little changes such as walking for 30 minutes a day and reducing the amount of takeout to an occasional treat can make a big difference.

As the medication stops fat from being absorbed by the body, it is also important to reduce the amount of dietary fat to avoid unpleasant side effects.

Tips for prospective Orlistat users

Orlistat capsules come in a 120mg dosage. Your pharmacist or healthcare provider will tell you exactly how to take Orlistat. The normal dosage is one 120mg capsule taken once a day with each of your three main meals.

You can take Orlistat before, during, or up to an hour after you eat. It is important to take your capsules with a well-balanced diet that is reduced in fat. This will reduce the chance of experiencing side effects such as wind, smelly stools, diarrhoea, and leaky stools.

When taking Orlistat, it is recommended not to eat more than 1-15 grams of fat per meal. Here are some adjustments and swaps to help you cut down on fat.

• Choose low-fat dairy products, such as 1% milk, Greek yoghurt with less than 3g fat per serving, and part-skim cheese.
• Choose leaner cuts of meats, such as skinless chicken breast.
• Opt for roasting, steaming, baking or grilling foods. Avoid cooking or frying your foods in oils or butter and fats.
• Many foods contain hidden fats. Avoid fried foods, creamy sauces, butter spreads, and oily dressings. Healthier options include salsas, pestos, and vinaigrettes.
• Add more fruit and veg to your plate. Eating more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lentils, and seeds will help you feel fuller while providing additional nutrients.
• Drink more water. Reducing sugary drinks, juice, and alcohol will help you keep track of your calories.
• Check product labels. Look for products with less than 3g of saturated fat per serving. The nutrition label will provide this information.

Following a new diet can be challenging; however, a couple of minor changes can make a big difference. If you need specific nutritional help, talk to a registered dietician about a meal plan to help you achieve your weight loss goals.

Conclusion: Does Orlistat really work?

Orlistat has many positive reviews, highlighting it as an effective alternative treatment to injectable weight loss medications and an effective weight loss medication when used in combination with a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Orlistat is proven to be effective in promoting weight loss. One study found that people who took Orlistat and adhered to a low-calorie diet lost, on average, 1.25 stone (8.1kg) a year. This is 6lb (2.8kg) more than those who did not take Orlistat during the same time period.

When looking to purchase medication from an online prescribing service, it is important to use a registered service to ensure you are getting the appropriate medication. Cloud Pharmacy is a UK-registered online prescribing service that, after a short online assessment to determine eligibility, provides free online consultations with a pharmacist.

From there, we determine if Orlistat is the most appropriate medication to support your weight loss journey. Your Orlistat is then dispensed discreetly and delivered the next day to your UK address. Cloud Pharmacy also provides patients with advice and confidential follow-ups along their weight loss journey.

Click here to start the process of booking a consultation with Cloud Pharmacy.

FAQs

How much weight can I lose in a week with Orlistat?

After taking Orlistat for a week, you can expect to lose 0.5-1kg of body weight. Some users find that it takes 3-4 weeks before you notice weight loss.

In one 12-week clinical trial, participants taking a 120mg dose of Orlistat three times per day experienced an average body weight reduction of 5-10% from their initial weight.

What foods should I avoid when taking Orlistat?

It is recommended to avoid eating foods that are high in fat. Orlistat stops some of the fat from your food from being absorbed by the body. This unabsorbed fat is then removed from the body via bowel movements.

What is the major side effect of using Orlistat?

The major side effects of Orlistat are oily or fatty faeces or an oily discharge. This is due to the way Orlistat works on the body, removing unabsorbed dietary fat through the bowels. To avoid this unpleasant side effect, try reducing the amount of fat in your diet.

What alternatives are there to Orlistat?

There is a range of prescription weight loss medications in the UK. Recently, weight loss pens such as Mounjaro, Saxenda, and Wegovy have become popular. Alternative tablets and capsule-based medications include MySimba and Xenical (a branded version of Orlistat).

Sources

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542202/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2350121/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532375/#
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12532161/