I was still hoping that given Alli’s rather unsettling side effects, the FDA would do the right thing, i.e., pull Alli off the market. But thanks to one of my spies – who snapped this picture yesterday – we now know that at least for now, Alli is here to stay.

Yep, it is official; Alli will be available OTC on June 14, 2007. Alli is the first FDA approved diet pill which can be sold without a prescription, so many people will probably assume that it can shed pounds and burn fat faster and better than anything else under the sun.

Al contrario! Alli ain’t no miracle weight loss drug, far from it. Sure, studies show that Alli is more effective than exercise and dieting alone, but according to the FDA, Alli only works with a reduced-calorie diet and an exercise program.

And even then, we are not talking Erik Chopin’s number here. So why even bother with it?