Appetite suppressants are medications prescribed by medical weight loss doctors. They provide additional support to obese and overweight individuals having difficulty losing weight. Appetite suppressants (also known as diet pills) are drugs that make the you feel full, which suppresses the appetite. They trigger hormonal responses which interrupt the brain’s signals which tell you that you feel hungry and that it’s time to eat.
How do they work?
Appetite suppressant medications help you cut calories by reducing your appetite to a point where it is easier to control. They can also make you feel full more quickly once you begin to eat. These work by tricking your brain into believing that you are not hungry and that your stomach is full. One way that they do this is by increasing the levels of the ‘feel-good’ hormone serotonin which is responsible for regulating your mood, appetite and sleep patterns, amongst other things. If your brain thinks you are full, you won’t feel hungry, and therefore you are likely to eat less.
Some newer medications have been approved by the FDA and they are called GLP-1s. They are not stimulants, non-habit forming and clinically proven to be the most effective for long term results. They work on receptors which improve your metabolic function and regulate your digestion,so you feel full longer. Research has shown that in addition to 1:1 coaching, GLP-1s can produce an average of 10-15% weight loss.
Sometimes just willpower alone is not enough.
We, at The Institute for Weight Management , recognise the fact that medications that help your Biology and metabolic function are highly beneficial and can help you lose twice as much weight as you would without medications. We will prescribe the best and most clinically appropriate medication for you that’s covered by your insurance.
We offer FDA approved medications like Phentermine, Phentermine and Topamax combination (Qsymia), Bupropion and Naltrexone combination ( Contrave) and the newer GLP-1s like Liraglutide and Semaglutide ( Saxenda, Ozempic and Wegovy).