You’ve probably heard of weight loss medications like GLP-1s or phentermine. They both have helped thousands of people sustainably lose weight and maintain a calorie deficit (burning more calories than you consume).
Seeing the successful and life-changing results that other people have experienced is enough to compel you to try these medications out.
But which one is right for you?
That’s the question to ask our expert team at Regain Functional Medicine + Aesthetics.
When you join our weight loss program, we can determine if you will benefit more from semaglutide or phentermine in Kansas City.
These medications work differently to achieve the same outcome. Their benefits lie in their differences and how they target the mental and biological factors of weight loss. Let’s begin by reviewing why weight loss may be extra challenging for some individuals.
When Traditional Methods Plateau
Let’s get one thing straight: a consistent healthy diet and exercise make it easier to achieve and sustain weight loss.
But routines can be hard to keep, and sometimes the quicker meal option isn’t always the healthiest. These holistic methods for losing weight can plateau and leave you either gaining the weight back or not reaching the number on the scale that you’re hoping for.
It can be biological and environmental factors that create barriers for you, too. Let’s take a look at why you may be struggling with your weight and how we can help.
Biological Factors
Your genes influence your appetite, metabolism, cravings, and body-fat distribution. They even influence how you manage stress, which is often with comfort foods.
Your hormones also play a major role in your weight. In fact, usually before we start you on a weight loss program, we check your hormones and see if you would benefit from hormone replacement therapy in addition to medications like phentermine in Kansas City.
→ Learn more about how we use HRT in your weight loss journey in this article!
The following hormones influence your appetite, blood sugar levels, sense of fullness (satiety) and body fat distribution:
There’s a two-way street between hormones and obesity. Hormone imbalances contribute to weight gain, and excess weight affects hormone balance.
Environmental Factors
Environmental factors like sleep, a high-calorie diet, stress, and a sedentary lifestyle, can impact your weight regardless of genetics.
Sleep allows your body to recover and rebalance on a cellular level. Without getting a restful and adequate amount of sleep, your body alters leptin and ghrelin production (hormones that control hunger and appetite), promoting overeating and increased hunger.
Stress raises our cortisol levels, which causes our blood pressure to soar and blood sugar to drop. Think about when you’re stressed; you may lean on foods for emotional support, especially sugary and fatty foods that we consider “comfort foods.”
With more computer-based jobs and more time in cars, exercise time may be limited. We won’t judge or lecture you about not getting enough physical activity. But we do want to emphasize the importance of movement, and how it can help manage stress and improve your mood. Our team will provide you with guidance to help you fit physical activity like walking, running, or jogging into your schedule.
For your diet, it’s best to get a healthy balance of proteins, carbohydrates, and healthy fats. There’s a lot of information about restricting and cutting foods like carbs and fats out of your diet. We will teach you
Weight loss struggles can cause stress, leading to sleep problems and reduced motivation. Our weight loss program includes medications like GLP-1s and phentermine in Kansas City to make your weight loss journey more manageable.
GLP-1 vs. Phentermine | How They Work
Now that you’re aware of the barriers, let’s explore how we break through them. We offer medications that reduce your appetite to help you lose weight. These are not “quick fixes” or “miracle drugs,” but rather tools to help you reach a healthy weight.
GLP-1 Medications
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) medications, like semaglutide and tirzepatide, were first discovered as a medication for type 2 diabetes, to stimulate insulin production and regulate blood sugar levels.
Now, they hold FDA approval for helping individuals manage their weight. Their mechanism involves imitating the GLP-1 hormone, which is a naturally-occurring hormone that the pancreas produces to tell your brain you’re full.
By mimicking this function, GLP-1 medications “trick” your brain into thinking you’re satisfied with smaller meal portions, helping you maintain a calorie deficit. They also slow the digestion process, helping you feel fuller longer and curbing your cravings.
Note: Compounded Semaglutide and Tirzepatide are only provided pursuant to a valid prescription for each individual patient after evaluation by a trained medical professional. This medication is a compounded product; the FDA does not evaluate compounded medications for safety or efficacy. This medication is provided under the supervision of a licensed prescriber.
Phentermine
In Kansas City, we also offer Phentermine, another FDA-approved treatment for obesity. This medication works as a stimulant and targets the chemicals in your brain instead of the hormones in your gut.
Phentermine reduces appetite by blocking neurotransmitters like norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine, and may also increase leptin, leading to a feeling of fullness.
In addition to reducing hunger, phentermine increases your metabolic rate, causing you to burn more calories than you consume. This gives you more energy, which can help fuel your exercises.
Determining the Best Medication for You
Now that you understand how these medications work, we determine which medication is right for you based on your weight loss target.
For significant weight loss, think 50 lbs or more, we recommend GLP-1 medications. In clinical trials, these medications helped participants lose 15 to 20% of their body weight in a 68-week trial. GLP-1 medications are best for long-term use; however, the duration you’ll be on this medication depends on your unique biology and goals.
For moderate weight loss, think 15 pounds or fewer, we may determine that phentermine in Kansas City is a better option. In a 14-week study, 86% of people taking phentermine lost 5% or more of their body weight. Phentermine is best for short-term use (12 to 14 weeks). After you’ve lost weight, we may put you on a maintenance plan that involves reducing your dosage or having you take this medication every other week. This also depends on your unique biology and goals.
Contraindications for GLP-1s and Phentermine
These medications carry risks for certain individuals. Therefore, we may determine that you are not a candidate for GLP-1s or phentermine if they pose a threat to your overall health.
GLP-1 Medications
If you have a history of the following, we will have to find an alternative weight loss program for you:
- Cardiac disease
- Hypertension
- Type 1 diabetes
- Thyroid issue
Phentermine
This medication is not approved for anyone with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or lower, and for people with the following conditions:
- Heart disease
- Hyperthyroidism
- Anxiety
- History of drug misuse
Our Weight Loss Program at Regain
From start to finish, our team is with you every step of the way. Here’s what you can expect from medical weight loss at Regain.
Comprehensive Consultation
We won’t write you a prescription for phentermine in Kansas City without conducting and discussing the following:
- Body Composition Analysis – You’ll step on our InBody scanner, which allows us to evaluate your body’s core components like body fat percentage, muscle mass, bone density, and water distribution.
- Lab Work – You can either bring in lab work, or we will perform a lab panel to test your A1C, hormone levels, lipid profile, thyroid, and Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP).
- Review Medical History – We review your medical history to check for contraindications.
Patient-Driven Decisions
We don’t make decisions for you; we make them with you. This is a collaborative journey from start to finish. We’ll review the proper dosage and intake method of your ideal medication, and make sure you’re comfortable with the program.
While most people recognize GLP-1 medications as weekly injections, we understand that many patients are needle-shy. If that’s the case, we offer daily oral pills for semaglutide and tirzepatide instead.
For phentermine in Kansas City, daily pills are the only available form of administration, but we will discuss dosage and duration options with you.
Ongoing Support
These medications are adjustable, meaning we can change the dosage if you’re experiencing side effects or you’re not seeing results. Each patient visits us monthly regardless of whether they are on GLP-1 medications, phentermine, or just receiving nutritional guidance and exercise recommendations.
On each visit, you will step on the InBody scan so we can track your progress. We will also discuss side effects and offer solutions to help with nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, and vomiting. Please note: these side effects are rare when trusting a team of medical experts who understand your biology and how it will respond to these medications.
We also offer L-glycine injections each month to prevent weight loss-related muscle loss. Muscle shrinkage occurs during any form of weight loss because of decreased nutrient absorption. L-glycine is an amino acid that preserves muscle mass while also improving sleep quality and aiding in body fat reduction.
Results
Results vary depending on whether you’re taking GLP-1 medications, phentermine, or you’re on a different weight loss journey. They also depend on how dedicated you are to improving your overall health and making changes to your diet and exercise. But luckily, you have a team to support you and help you stay on track.
Reach Your Goals
We want to see you succeed and live a longer, happier, and healthier life. Losing weight can improve your overall health, and weight loss medications, like phentermine in Kansas City, can help you sustainably reach your ideal weight.
As a practice that aligns with functional medicine, we don’t just care about achieving results; we care about improving your emotional, physical, and mental health. To learn more about how our team can help you, request a consultation.
Alternatively, you can streamline the process with our treatment planning tool.
If you live far from our offices, we also offer telehealth in Lawrence, Leawood, and Kansas City.
