Continued from Alli Weight Loss Drug.

Dr. James Early, a University of Kansas professor who heads a weight clinic, and Dr. Louis Aronne, an obesity specialist at Weill Cornell Medical College (and a paid consultant to GSK during Alli’s testing) answer questions about Alli diet pill.

Who is Alli for? Aronne: It’s approved for people 18 and older. They should be overweight (body-mass index of 27 or higher) and committed to a low-fat diet. It’s not for them if they think it’s a magic pill.

What happens if a thin person or teen takes Alli? Early: If they don’t have a lot of fat in their diet, not much. If they overeat fats, they are likely to have gastrointestinal side effects.

How long should people take Alli? Aronne: The evidence is that you need to take it long-term, at least on an intermittent basis. I don’t think they will have to take the drug every day for the rest of their lives.

What’s the significance of having Alli approved for over-the-counter sales? Aronne: With other products on the market, there is no proof of effectiveness or safety. There are no medications in the near future that will be OTC.