Rankings / Weight Loss — Other
Orlistat
Weight loss · Lipase inhibitor
Tier B
What this is
XENDOS trial: modest weight loss (~3% above placebo at 4 years) and ~37% reduction in progression to T2D. Steatorrhea and "anal leakage" are common and notorious. Now largely displaced by GLP-1 era drugs.
Mechanism
Inhibits pancreatic/gastric lipases — prevents absorption of ~30% of dietary fat; unabsorbed fat excreted in stool
Dose & route
60 mg (OTC) or 120 mg TID with meals
Citations
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14693982/
- https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004094/full
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18779402/
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This is an independent synthesis of published research by a non-clinician. Scores are opinions supported by citations, not prescriptions. See the full disclaimer and methodology for how this score was produced and what it does and doesn't mean.