Looking to lose weight using a medicine instead of weighing your portions and sweating it off at the gym every day? Saxenda is the number one selling obesity drug on the market. Is it the right thing for you? Is it the magic key that will unlock the puzzle of your weight?
The Saxenda website says, “Adding Saxenda to a reduced-calorie meal plan and increased physical activity may help you lose weight and keep it off.”
Sounds great. But before jumping over to your primary care physician and begging for a prescription, there are some facts you should know.
How much weight will I lose?
The average weight loss after a year of treatment is 7%. That means if you weigh 150 pounds, you’ll lose about 10 pounds in a year. I don’t have to tell you that’s not going to move the needle enough for most of us. If you stop the medication after a year, no one knows if you’ll keep the weight off. And only 56% of study patients lost a measly 5% of their body weight in a year.
Is it meant for anybody who is overweight?
Saxenda is for people who are obese, not just overweight. That means a body mass index (BMI) of at least 30. BMI is a measurement that uses your weight and height to calculate how overweight you are. You can calculate your BMI on the NIH page HERE.
Is it easy to take?
It depends on what you consider easy. It’s not a magic pill. It’s an injection that you give yourself once a day. And it’s certainly no quick fix. You need to take it for at least a year.
Is it expensive? Will insurance pay for it?
Saxenda costs about $1,000 a month. That’s $12,000 for a course of treatment!! What makes the expense so horrifying is that your insurance won’t pay for it. Insurance companies don’t recognize obesity as a disease. They’re not going to pay for treatment of something that they say isn’t a disease.
Are there side effects?
In clinical trials, nearly a third of patients on Saxenda stopped treatment early, with around 10% of all participants suffering side effects, mainly nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. It’s also associated with acute gallbladder disease and acute pancreatitis, a life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas. There’s a hefty chance that even if you can afford it, you won’t be able to stay on it due to side effects.
How does it work?
Saxenda is 97% similar to a natural hormone called GLP-1. It works in your brain, where it interacts with specific neurons involved in appetite and food intake. Saxenda increases feelings of fullness. As a result – if it works for you – you’ll feel satisfied, eat less, and lose weight.
So, is it worth it?
It costs a bundle. It’s not covered by insurance. You have to inject yourself daily for a year. You won’t lose that much weight even if it works for you. There’s a one in three chance that you’ll have to stop the drug due to side effects before the year is over.
It’s clear that Saxenda is not the magic bullet that you’re looking for. Speaking of magic bullets, we offer the HCG diet. You’ll lose up to a pound a day, and you’ll only be on the treatment for six weeks. To find out more, call us at 860-761-6666 and arrange a free appointment with one of our HCG specialists.
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