http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20090420/...e-dba1618.html
A diet pill which claims to flush out 25 per cent of the fat from food is being made available over the counter in Britain for the first time this week.
But slimmers hoping for a quick fix are being warned Alli (also known as orlistat) has side effects including diarrhoea.
And the pills aren't cheap either - a month's supply costs £49.95 while two weeks' supply will be sold at £32.95.
But its makers claim Alli can help dieters shed 50 per cent more fat than if they embarked on a healthy eating and exercise regime without it.
It works by absorbing about 25 per cent of the fat from food, thereby preventing it being turned into extra pounds by the body.
Tablets will be available to adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 28 or over, following a quick consultation with a pharmacist.
Makers GlaxoSmithKline said all pharmacists in the UK have been offered training to help them correctly identify a person's BMI and ask them suitable "fielding" questions regarding their motivation for taking the drug.