Alli (pronounced Al-EYE), a half-strength version of the diet drug Xenical (orlistat). faces an uncertain future even though an FDA advisory panel in January recommended that it be approved for over-the-counter sale, according to Harvard researchers.

"Many question the drug's effectiveness in the broader population; others worry about its side effects," the April issue of Harvard Women's Health Watch reports.

Two FDA advisory committees voted on Jan. 23rd to recommend that low-dose Xenical be switched from prescription to over-the-counter status. Although the FDA generally accepts the recommendations of its advisory panels, it is not obliged to do so.

Alli's approval is uncertain "in the face of rising opposition," according to the Harvard Women's Health Watch. The group notes that Orlistat, which inhibits the body's ability to take in fats, can also reportedly interfere with the absorption of certain vitamins.

The National Institutes of Health advises that diet drugs be taken only by severely overweight people who need them for health reasons, and only in combination with lifestyle modifications. .

The bottom line: The Harvard Women's Health Watch says that weight-loss drugs can help, but they're not the ultimate solution. The key to long-term weight loss is a lot of effort and isn't easy.