Glossary

A description of the medical terms used or related to the alli weight loss system.

A

Alli

The brand name of the anti-obesity drug Orlistat: this is marketed as Alli by GlaxoSmithKline and Xenical by the Swiss healthcare company Roche. Alli is a weight loss capsule which is used with a low fat diet and exercise routine to boost weight loss.

B

Binge eating

A type of eating disorder in which the sufferer experiences episodes of uncontrolled eating followed by purging or vomiting.

C

Calorie

A unit of energy.

Carbohydrate

A source of energy for the body: there are two types of carbohydrates – simple carbohydrates (sugars) and complex carbohydrates (starches). Often referred to as ‘carbs’.

One of three main food groups, the others being fats and protein.

D

Diet

This is a twofold term: it can refer to the consumption of food by a person or the choosing of certain foods (in a regime) to aid with weight management.

E

Enzyme

A protein which acts as a catalyst in a chemical reaction. In this case, it refers to gastric and pancreatic substances (lipases) which help to break down fat within food for absorption.

F

Fats

These are one of three main food groups, the other two being protein and carbohydrate. There are two types of fat – saturated and unsaturated.

Fat soluble vitamins

Vitamins such as A, D, E and K which are absorbed with fat and are essential for cell repair, normal function of organs and overall health and wellbeing.

G

Glycaemic index (The)

A list of carbohydrates which are assigned a glycaemic rating according to the level at which they raise blood sugar levels after eating. Foods are classified as either ‘low GI’, ‘medium GI’ or ‘high GI’.

H

Hyperglycaemia

A condition in which a person has high blood sugar levels. The opposite to this is hypoglycaemia.

Hypoglycaemia

The opposite of hyperglycaemia: a condition in which blood sugar levels are too low.

I

Intestinal bacteria

Small organisms which live in the digestive system that help absorb certain nutrients from food.

J

None at present.

K

None at present.

L

Lipases

A group of enzymes produced in the body which help to break down fats within food so that they are easily digested by the body.

M

Metabolism

The name given to a set of chemical reactions which occur within cells in the human body. Nutrients within food are converted into fuel which the body needs to perform a range of functions. The metabolic rate is a calculation of the number of calories burnt at rest.

N

Nutrition

This refers to the supply of the main food groups needed for existence. This includes protein, fats and carbohydrates plus water, fruit and vegetables.

O

Obesity

A medical condition in which a person has excessive amounts of body fat which can cause serious risks to their health. It is develops over a period of time and is often caused by calorie intake exceeding calorie expenditure.

P

Protein

One of the three main food groups: the other two are fats and carbohydrate. Protein is comprised of amino acids and is vital for tissue repair and cell growth.

Q

None at present.

R

Recommended Daily Allowance

Known as ‘RDA’for short: a suggested dietary intake of essential nutrients (vitamins and minerals).

S

Saturated fat

A type of fat which is solid at room temperature. Considered a ‘bad’ fat as it has the ability to raise cholesterol levels.

Subcutaneous fat

Body fat which is located underneath the skin: this is less risky to health than visceral fat.

T

Triglycerides

A type of fat present in the blood which is stored in the fat cells. Too high a level of these can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

U

None at present.

V

Visceral fat

A type of body fat which is found within the abdomen: it is stored around the internal organs and can increase the risk of certain conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Another type of body fat is subcutaneous fat.

W

Western diet The diet most commonly followed in the UK and the West which tends to be high in saturated fat, salt and sugar and low in essential nutrients. Examples of this include fast food and convenience foods.

X

None at present.

Y

None at present.

Z

None at present.