Odds are, if you are reading this, you probably know what a treatment effect (TE) is and why they can happen. And yes, we have been very open about TEs in our marketing of alli. USA Today even writes about our sense of scatalogical humor.

But is there really a benefit to using a product that could result in treatment effects? Many cynics say no, but new users of alli disagree. Some people have even been rethinking treatment effects. Not because they're unpleasant, but because TEs are keeping them honest. The USA Today article makes that point too.

What do you think? Can treatment effects increase motivation for people really committed to losing weight?

alliFirst Team member Caryn Eyring (left) told People Magazine she's lost 21 pounds since she started taking alli in April, along with "cutting fat [and] doing yoga."

She's quoted in the July 9, 2007 issue of People (page 77) with a post-jail Paris Hilton on the cover. Caryn had one  "alli-oops" episode after eating a chicken with crispy noodles appetizer, according to People. alli, she says in the article, "is forcing me to eat healthier."

Yup, alli will punish cheaters if you don't stick to a low-fat diet. But isn't that the whole point... to encourage a healthier way of eating? As another alliFirst member, Paula Miguel, told People: "If I stopped taking alli today, I would still keep those new habits."

Oh and just a reminder that coverage of the alli program by People Magazine is not an endorsement. 

Here's my oops story... Consider it a cautionary tale. But also take heart. It wasn't that big a deal. And it only happened once. (I've even talked about it on CNBC.)

Treatment effects are common if you eat meals with too much fat. They aren't a safety concern - they won't hurt you. But they could be embarrassing if you aren't prepared to deal with them.

The rule of thumb is to limit your calories from fat to about 30% per meal, or about 15 grams of fat per meal. 

I learned this the hard way when I ate a fish sandwich and french fries from a fast food drive-through WITH TARTAR SAUCE, and a soda.  Really smart, huh? 

Good thing I was close to home so I could change my clothes.*  But you know what?  It hasn't happened since. 

Yes, I still see occasionally undigested fat floating in the toilet. But I'd rather have the fat flushed away when I go to the bathroom than have it wrap around my waist or clog my arteries. 

Studies show that about one out of every two alli users in a real world setting (real world, meaning you're on your own, versus being part of a "controlled clinical trial" where you get lots of instruction and advice) don't even get treatment effects.  Those that do should expect to experience a "signal" that alli is working to block excess fat- but very few people (something like 5%) stop using the program because of how the product works.

Over time (I've lost 60 pounds and kept it off for about three years) I've learned to make changes in the way I eat. I still enjoy steak and potatoes - but I pick filet or strips versus rib eyes, and pass on the butter.

* My oops experience happened surprisingly quickly. That's not typical. The delay between eating a high fat meal and experiencing treatment effects varies from person to person but is generally 12 hours.

You may have heard about the book are you losing it? and wondered what it was all about.  If you've seen it, odds are you found it in places you wouldn’t expect... like your local pharmacy counter or on the shelf in the weight loss product aisle (while supplies last).

This is not a money-maker for GSK. We've pledged all of the profits from the book to help prevent childhood  obesity through programs offered by Shaping American’s Health and NAASO, the Obesity Society.

If you want to learn more about the book, go to areyoulosingit.myalli.com.  Keep in mind that the book isn’t just about alli - only 21 of the 150+ pages talk about the alli program.  But, one of the pages does include information about the alli treatment effects (page 69), as mentioned by CNBC's Mike Huckman.