Orilstat – does it help with weight loss?

Orilstat is a medication that is indicated to help you lose weight and it can be obtained without a prescription in Australia.

How does it work?

You might be surprised if I tell you that it doesn’t actually help you lose weight. It doesn’t suppress your appetite nor does it have any effect on fat burn. Orilstat works by inhibiting the absorption of approximately 1/3 of dietary fat which means the most it does is to reduce fat you are getting from your diet.

Who might benefit from it?

In Australia, orilstat is indicated for obese patients with a body mass index (BMI) of greater than or equal to 30 or overweight patients with a BMI of greater than or equal to 27 and the presence of one or more comorbidities. As I have mentioned above, orilstat alone can only help so much. Lifestyle modification is essential for better results. Here are some tips:

• Exercise regularly. It doesn’t have to be vigorous. The key is to be consistent.
• Maintain a healthy and balanced diet. Reducing salt and fat intake will not only help you lose weight, it will also be beneficial to your cardiovascular system.
• Use a diary to keep track of your caloric intake. Plan your meals ahead of time and have a good estimate of the calories of each meal. You are bound to lose weight if you are caloric deficient.
  If you are curious about finding out your BMI, here is a link: https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/your-heart/know-your-risks/healthy-weight/bmi-calculator

Realistic expectations

In conjunction with lifestyle changes, treatment with orilstat can achieve a weight loss of 4-5 kg. Results can be observed within 2 weeks and continue for 6-12 months.
Set a specific and achievable goal for yourself. A 5% reduction in initial body weight is achievable for most overweight and obese adults. Weight loss of this magnitude results in health benefits such as reduced cardiovascular risk and prevention or improved control of type 2 diabetes.

Adverse effects

Oily stool is a common side effect for orilstat. All of that dietary fat that didn’t get absorbed by your body will be excreted along with your faeces. In more severe cases, some patients who took orilstat leaked oil.
Because orilstat blocks dietary fat absorption, some fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K in particular) are also lost along with it. If you intend to use orilstat for long-term therapy (more than 1 year), consider taking supplements.

In conclusion, I wouldn’t recommend orilstat unless you can actually benefit from it. And did I mention that it is quite costly too? Plus, you need to fork out extra money for the vitamins that didn’t get absorbed. I am fine with doing more exercise for now.

Please consult your healthcare professionals before taking any new medications or health supplements.

References:

Australian Medicine Handbook 2017
Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary and Handbook 23