September 2023, Taisho Pharmaceutical Holdings Building in Toshima Ward, Tokyo
March 5, 2024 15:22 (Japan time)
Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced that it plans to release a drug on April 8th that is expected to be effective in reducing abdominal circumference and visceral fat, commonly known as belly fat.
Alli, known by its generic name orlistat, will be available at pharmacies without a doctor's prescription.
Consumers who wish to purchase pharmaceuticals must make efforts to improve their lifestyle habits, such as exercise and diet. Alli is positioned as a type of restricted OTC medicine, and purchasers must seek advice and guidance directly from a pharmacist before purchasing the product.
Ali is an oral drug that suppresses fat absorption and excretes it from the body through bowel movements.
In a clinical trial conducted on Japanese people, when they took this drug three times a day for about a year while making lifestyle changes, their visceral fat area decreased by about 21.5% and their waist circumference decreased by about 4.7 centimeters.
On the other hand, this drug can cause bloating during defecation along with oily stools.
The Japan Obesity Society defines obesity as a BMI of 25 or higher.
Obesity is defined as the need to lose weight due to obesity-related diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.
Alli targets people in the early stages of obesity. Participation conditions are 18 years or older and waist circumference of 85 cm or more for men and 90 cm or more for women.
Those wishing to purchase the device must record their waist circumference, weight, and progress in their diet and exercise habits one month in advance.
The retail price is 8,800 yen for a 30-day supply of 90 tablets.
Pharmacists must review the purchaser's records and pre-existing medical conditions before instructing the purchaser how to take the medication.
Wataru Ogawa, a professor at Kobe University who also serves as the association's executive director, says, “It is important for pharmacists to encourage people who have been diagnosed with obesity or who are suspected of being obese to see a doctor.''
