As you may have heard already, a new over-the-counter diet drug has hit store shelves: Alli is a half-dose version of prescription Orlistat (Xenical), a weight-loss drug. It is sold and marketed as Alli (Orlistat 60mg Capsules) FDA-approved weight loss aid.

Alli keeps your intestines from absorbing fat from food. But watch out: Its main side effect is runny stools, especially after a high-fat meal. Alli can also keep your body from taking in fat-soluble vitamins, so the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends taking a multi while using it.

Also, keep in mind that Alli’s not a magic pill; you have to exercise and eat a low-fat, low-cal diet to get results. Obese people should still see a doctor for treatment, which could include a full dose of Orlistat.

Unfortunately, other options are on the horizon, too. Rimonabant (Acomplia) may soon be approved as a prescription weight-loss drug; approved for use in Europe last year, it blocks certain receptors in your brain to curb appetite. If approved in the U.S., Rimonabant (Acomplia) will probably be sold as Zimulti. [source: Health]