People Who Live With alli Users Eat Healthier
PHOENIX and PITTSBURGH, Oct. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Data presented at the 2008 Annual Scientific Meeting of The Obesity Society suggests that alli(R) users are not only shedding pounds while taking the only FDA-approved, over-the-counter (OTC) weight loss pill, they are also making healthier food decisions when grocery shopping. Moreover, the study, which examined purchases made by more than 15,000 unique households, suggests that people living in the same household as someone on the alli diet program, by extension, may be reaping the benefit of having healthier food choices available to them.
“What is so unique and exciting about the data in this abstract is the evidence that people taking alli made changes in their purchase patterns toward healthier foods. These data show that households purchasing alli more than once increased their buying of healthier products compared to the previous year,” said study co-author Rebecca S. Reeves, DrPH, RD, FADA of Baylor College of Medicine. “In the study, we observed that repeat alli buyers also increased their purchases of healthier food items like yogurt, adult cereal, diet control bars, premium frozen entrees and multi-vitamins, and ultimately, that is good news for everyone in the house sharing the same meals.”
The 26-week study examined 15,156 unique households that purchased alli and compared their food purchasing patterns against all households with frequent shopper cards at two separate intervals - during the same 26-week period one-year before, and six months after purchasing alli.
Laki Trantos, of Bronx, NY, who lost nearly 80 pounds on the alli weight loss program, said his family is benefiting from his newly found healthy eating habits. “As a professional chef I am around food during nearly all my waking hours, making it very difficult to not gain weight,” Trantos said. “The alli program helped change the way I looked at food and taught me how to make low-fat food choices. Now, I enjoy preparing healthy meals for myself and my family.”
Results showed that compared to all shoppers, households that repeatedly purchased alli (n=2,291) increased their purchases of produce (+6% in units purchased compared to 0% for all shoppers), yogurt (+3% vs. -3%), adult cereal (+6% vs. -14%), diet control bars (+4% vs. -8%), and premium frozen entrees (+17% vs. +2%). In addition to making healthier food decisions, the study also found that repeat alli buying households were more likely to purchase multi-vitamins (+2%) compared to other shoppers (+1%).
Additional data presented at the 2008 Annual Meeting of The Obesity Society
alli user data also was highlighted in two other poster presentations at this year’s annual meeting of The Obesity Society.
Results from an online survey detailed in the poster (#598-P), “Differentiators of Persistence on Over-the-Counter 60 mg Orlistat,” showed that the individuals who use the online behavioral support program and the medication carrying case (known as the Shuttle), both provided with alli, are significantly more likely to stay on alli and follow a weight loss program for a longer period of time than were those who did not use these tools. In addition, these tools may help health care providers motivate and facilitate discussion on weight loss with their patients.
Data from another online survey detailed in the poster (#597-P) “Over-the-Counter Orlistat User Profile: Comparison to Actual Trial” showed that actual alli purchasers are very similar in terms of both demographics and behavior to what was predicted during an actual use trial, which was conducted prior to FDA approval. The majority of alli users were college-educated, white women with an average age of 43. Sixty percent (60%) were considered obese with BMI scores (body mass index) of 30 or more, while about one-third (31%) were considered overweight with BMI scores in the range of 25 to less than 30. This profile of over-the-counter users is very similar to what was predicted by the actual use trial.
About alli(R)
alli (orlistat 60 mg), the only FDA-approved weight-loss product available to overweight adults without a prescription, combines a clinically-proven product with a comprehensive individualized action plan. The alli program encourages modest, gradual weight loss, known by experts as the best way to lose weight. alli is to be taken three times a day with meals containing fat, and is safe and effective when used as directed.
About Overweight and Obesity
Currently, approximately 65 percent of U.S. adults are overweight or obese, according to the National Institutes of Health. Research suggests that overweight individuals appear to be on the pathway to obesity. Overweight and obesity are associated with an increased risk of developing health problems such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Factors that can contribute to overweight include an abundance of high-
calorie foods, low levels of physical activity, behavior, environment, and genetics. Multiple studies have shown that a modest reduction in weight improves health outcomes significantly in overweight or obese patients.
About GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare is one of the world’s largest over-the-counter consumer healthcare products companies. Its more than 30 well-known brands include the leading smoking cessation products, Nicorette(R), NicoDerm(R) CQ and Commit(R) as well as many medicine cabinet staples, including Abreva(R), Aquafresh(R), Sensodyne(R), Tums(R) and Breathe Right(R).
About GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline -- one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies -- is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For company information visit: www.gsk.com.
CONTACT: Malesia Dunn, +1-412-200-3544, Cell: +1-412-287-5104,
malesia.a.dunn@gsk.com, of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare; David
Schemelia, +1-646-722-8819, Cell: +1-609-468-9325,
dschemelia@healthstarpr.com, of HealthStar Public Relations for
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare
Web site: http://www.gsk.com/