"What kind of marketing genius puts 'anal leakage' on their product?"

(from a movie none of you have ever probably seen--"the Sweetest Thing.")

So I was reading this story about the new over-the-counter version of Xenical, called Alli. It's supposed to improve weight loss by 50% when taken in conjunction with a low-fat diet and regular exercise, which sounds good if a bit ambitious for your average American seeking a quick fix. But what happens if you take it without modifying your diet? Well...

People will take Alli three times a day, with meals that contain about 15 grams of fat. (That's the amount of fat in two tablespoons of peanut butter.) Alli works by blocking fat absorption. Eat too much fat, however, and the drug's dreadful side effects can kick in: oily gas and such sudden, uncontrolled bowel movements. Glaxo suggests that new Alli users wear dark apparel and have a change of clothes ready.

Seriously, the manufacturer of this product recommends that users get ready to uncontrollably shit themselves. Um, NO THANK YOU. Anyone who's ever experienced the joy of a sudden attack of gastrointestinal distress that has required running--not walking--to the nearest restroom can tell you exactly how unpleasant that experience is. And, quite simply, you could tell me that I would effortlessly lose 30 pounds in the next 3 months and this would be the only side effect, and I'd still decline the offer without even thinking about it.

I'm gonna go way out on a limb here and guess that Alli isn't going to be a runaway hit with dieting consumers.