【沪江标准VOA】2月12日：新型减肥药面世
New Diet Drug Available to General Public in Summer
There are plenty of prescription weight loss drugs available, but a new diet pill called Alli is the first that will be sold in a non-prescription version. It is proven to block fat. It is a less potent version of the prescription drug Xenical.
People, like Pastor Chad Huebner, hope it will help in the battle with obesity. "I don't wanna have to go to the doctor to talk about my weight. You know, we often feel like our weight is something we should be able to manage ourselves."
But this non-prescription version of Xenical is hardly a magic pill. Users must also eat a low calorie, low fat diet and exercise.
Here is how it works: Alli blocks the intestines from absorbing some of the fat in food. People who take the medication but continue to eat fatty foods, suffer from painfully bloated stomachs and diarrhea. So using Alli encourages dieters to eat right.
The Drug Agencysays some people should take Alli only under a doctor's supervision. And it is not for children. But the agency says the diet drug presents a lesser risk than that of heart disease or diabetes associated with obesity.
