Helping with Your Weight Loss

In this month’s first blog, we discussed the Quarantine 15 phenomenon, where, thanks to this ongoing virus, we’ve all put on a few unwanted pounds over the full year of quarantines, lockdowns, closed gyms, cancelled recreational sports leagues, and the rest. While working from home is probably a good trend in many ways — less wasted time, less office gossip, less pollution, more family time, etc. — it can be a daunting place for those who struggle with their weight. After all, on the way to the bathroom at the office you don’t usually go past the refrigerator and last night’s leftover casserole and pie. Or the nearby cookie jar.

At Affirm Health Center, we can help. One of our areas of focus is helping our patients lose weight and manage their weight. One of the tools we may use are prescription appetite suppressants, so let’s get into these a bit in this blog.

What are appetite suppressants?

Appetite suppressants are nothing new. In the past, you may have heard them called “diet pills” by your neighbor. The goal is to make the body feel full without the calories. That way you take in fewer calories and lose weight. While there are over-the-counter supplements available, we don’t trust many of those and believe the best option is prescription appetite suppressants.

What are the appetite suppressants you use at Affirm?

We use the appetite suppressants that have been approved by the FDA. These are:

• Diethylpropion (Tenuate dospan)
• Liraglutide (Saxenda)
• Naltrexone-bupropion (Contrave)
• Phendimetrazine (Prelu-2)
• Phentermine (Pro-Fast)
• Phentermine/topiramate (Qsymia)

How effective are appetite suppressants?

When people combine these prescription medications with exercise and nutrition programs, studies have shown that, on average, they lose between 3 and 9 percent of their body weight within 12 months.

How do appetite suppressants benefit people trying to lose weight?

At Affirm, our patients find that these prescription weight-loss tools help jumpstart the process. They’ve found themselves stuck at a weight that goes up and down marginally, but they’ve needed something to truly get them started losing weight. These pills do that. For our patients, prescription appetite suppressants help them change the way they eat, and they help them learn to recognize and listen to the cues telling them they are full.

If you’ve added a few pounds during COVID 19, you’re not alone. We can help. Call us at Affirm Health Center, (417) 823-3901, and ask about out weight-loss programs.