Question:
Has anyone tried a "Fat Blocker" before choosing surgery?

I have tried Phen-Fen, with success but now illegal. Meridia, with no success and Adipex, with no success. Now one of my doctors wants me to try Xenical when it comes out, a fat blocker. I have been researching surgery and have made up my mind to go for it. My doctor has suggested surgery also, but he wants to give Xenical a chance first. My question is three-fold: I'm tired of wasting money on drug therapies that don't work. Am I wasting my time contemplating on another weight loss drug? And does anyone have any info on Xenical/fat blockers? Can anyone let me know their luck with drug therapies before the chose surgery? Thank-you!    — Kevin B. (posted on April 5, 1999)

April 5, 1999
Kevin, You have to take the lead here...you've risked your life on these drug therapies...they haven't helped or you wouldn't still be fat. Find another doctor if this one still wants to play games... Carole
   — Ben R.

April 5, 1999
Like many people who have had weight loss surgery, I first tried drug therapy. I was on Pondamin for several months and I did manage to lose some weight. However, as typically occurs with this type of treatment once the drugs are withdrawn the weight returns. I would be skeptical of the long term effectiveness of a fat blocker. This reasoning presumes that your weight problem is result of too much dietary fat. While this might be a contributing factor, excess carbohydrates (simple and complex) are probably more to blame as well as your current life style (habits, exercise, etc.). I would push for the weight loss surgery as it is, to my mind, the most successful long term solution to morbid obesity.
   — Bill H.

April 5, 1999
OK, I am VERY biased. According to the National Institues of Health (1991, I think), diets don't work. Obesity is an INCURABLE disease. Changing "behavior" isn't going to change it any more than avoiding sugar will stop your diabetes. WE have something that is not working. You can spend more money to MASK the symptoms, but what side effects? And in the long run, NO it is not going to work. Your metabolism will slow even further. So, 2 years down the road, if there are no side-effects or the diet industry takes that long to get the new drug off the market, and you will STIL be gaining. And what does that do to your HEAD? Not to mention, organs, bones, etc. If we are broken, drugs that treat the outward manifestation don't help. If we are not broken, surgery would kill us, as we'd burn right on out. If we burned any calories, it might be OK just to cut them back. But we don't. We store 'em. Every blessed one. The only long term solution is surgery. Hey, I said I was biased. She: 262 to 112, 10/94 He: 285 to 175, 10/95 distal gastric bypass, Tacoma, WA
   — vitalady