A couple of days ago, my neighborhood drugstore mass-mailed an informational flyer and a coupon for something called Alli.

That was the first time I'd heard about the fat-blocking diet drug, but given the extensive marketing campaign, it certainly won't be the last.

Alli -- for those who haven't already been informed by their drugstore -- is the first over-the-counter diet drug to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Also known as Orlistat, Alli makes its debut all over the country in June, and is being preceded by a somewhat astonishing $150 million marketing campaign.

But even more astonishing is this: Instead of tons of hype, GlaxoSmithKline, the pharmaceutical company behind Alli, is introducing the drug with a somewhat somber marketing campaign. Call it "reality advertising," but the purpose is to let the average consumer know that this drug won't work miracles. For every five pounds lost via diet and exercise, Alli users will probably drop an extra two or three pounds -- but only in tandem with a low-fat diet.

In fact, the thrust of the marketing -- which consists of TV commercials, articles, ads, direct mail, a book, an exhibit, and more -- focuses on educating people about Alli's downsides.

For instance, their comprehensive website details the drug's limitations. It only works when combined with a strict diet, and if users eat more than 15 grams of fat per meal, they're likely to suffer from unpleasant gastrointestinal side effects. The side effects aren't pretty and the company wants the consumer to be perfectly clear about what to expect. (Let's just say that they recommend carrying a extra pair of pants for the first few days on the drug.)

Apparently, this marketing strategy is based on fact the prescription version of the fat-blocker -- Xenical -- never really caught fire with the public, largely because people expected miracles and didn't expect the side effects.

I'm pretty curious to see if Alli will become a hit with the public, or if it'll suffer the same tepid fate as Xenical. The best case scenario is that people will use it wisely, and it'll will help them shed some extra weight.

Still, I can't imagine that I'd try it myself, even before swimsuit season or after a decadent vacation. I can't figure out if my unwillingness stems from my wariness towards taking over-the- counter medications -- or towards dieting in general. Either way, it just seems easier -- and healthier -- to eat more veggies and skip dessert.