The UK could get its first ever approved over-the-counter weight loss drug after GlaxoSmithKline said today it had applied for a licence to sell a non-prescription version of the anti-obesity drug Orlistat in Europe.

The pharmaceutical giant, which already sells the drug over-the-counter in the US, where it is known as Alli, said the application had been accepted for review by the European regulator, the EMEA.

The treatment is taken in 60mg capsules, three times a day with meals. It can help people lose 50% more weight than if they were just dieting.

But it has to be consumed in conjunction with a low-fat, reduced-calorie diet to avoid the side effect of uncontrollable diarrhoea, and comes complete with a full support programme.

In the US, Alli is sold with guides to healthy eating, a daily journal, a calorie and fat counter, quick fact cards, and free access to an individualised online action plan.

The drug works by cutting fat absorption in the body, and is a lower-dose version of Roche's Xenical, which is only available on prescription.

But GSK stressed that it did not expect a response from the EMEA until late next year, so a launch in Europe, including the UK, will not take place until at least 2009.

Obesity has become one of the leading lifestyle diseases in the developed world. It increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and gall bladder disease, and results in a decreased quality of life and an higher risk of premature death.

The latest statistics show that in 2005, 23.1% of men and 24.8% of women in the UK were obese, compared with 13.2% and 16.4% respectively in 1993.

In 2005, almost 871,000 prescription items were dispensed for the treatment of obesity compared with just over 127,000 prescriptions in 1999 - an increase of 585%.

But John Clarke, president of the consumer healthcare division of GSK, warned: "We've said all along that this is no magic pill. If people are looking for a quick fix, this is not it but it is a powerful motivator."