You can take orlistat without eating oily things, but it doesn’t do much good. Orlistat belongs to a group of anti-obesity medications that work by inhibiting the activity of lipase in the gastrointestinal tract, thus reducing the absorption of fat to achieve weight loss. The drug is not required if the patient is not eating or eating food that does not contain any fat components. The pharmacologic effect of orlistat is to reduce the absorption of ingested fat in the gastrointestinal tract, and some patients may experience adverse reactions such as oily spotting, increased gastrointestinal exhaust, and lipodystrophy. Some patients may also experience abdominal pain, gastrointestinal flatulence, soft stools, and rectal pain. It is also contraindicated for those who are allergic to orlistat components, pregnant women, and should not be used by children, nursing mothers and other people. It is recommended to use the drug under the guidance of a physician to avoid adverse reactions, and if there is any discomfort promptly go to the hospital.