Orlistat has been on the market for many years and has a relatively clear mechanism of action and safety profile. Clinical studies have shown that it can effectively reduce the absorption of dietary fat by about 30%. For patients who have difficulty controlling their diet and have a high intake of fatty foods, orlistat can be a good choice to help them control their weight.

One of the advantages of orlistat is that it acts mainly in the intestine and has little systemic absorption, so the side effects are relatively mild. The common side effects are mainly related to the digestive system, such as oily stools, flatulence, and abdominal pain. But these side effects are usually tolerable and will gradually decrease as the body adapts.

In addition to its weight loss effect, orlistat also has a certain impact on improving lipid metabolism. By reducing the absorption of fat, it can help lower blood lipid levels, especially triglyceride levels, which is beneficial for preventing cardiovascular diseases associated with obesity.

However, orlistat also has some limitations. It needs to be taken with meals, and its efficacy is related to the fat content in the diet. If the diet contains too little fat, its effect will be reduced. Moreover, long-term use may lead to the deficiency of some fat-soluble vitamins, so it is necessary to pay attention to supplementing vitamins when using orlistat.