If you’ve ever struggled with your weight, you know how frustrating it can be to knock off those extra pounds. For me, it’s desserts that do me in. I’m not much of a foodie, but man, how I love my desserts! My daughter has the same passion for potatoes. It’s tough when you love something so much, but it’s really not the healthiest choice out there. If only we could crave spinach and broccoli, right?
Eating a healthy diet is essential, not just so you can look good, but feel good, too. If you struggle with putting the right things on your plate, there’s an option that might help you get to your optimal weight. It’s called Plenity, and it’s an FDA-cleared option for those of us who struggle with the scale.
Plenity 101
Plenity is a weight management aid for people like me who want to get to a healthier weight. I know I’m not alone in this fight. More than 70% of U.S. adults are overweight or obese, and 17% are on a diet of some kind. Plenity is essentially a set number of pills you take each day that helps you feel full. It’s intended for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 40 kg/m and, for many people, can help you drop 10% of your body weight. Sounds good, right? Well, you have to have a prescription to get it, but they have that covered.
I’ll explain.
If you’re interested in the drug, you just go to their website and answer a slew of questions. They are based on your weight, size, and medical history. You answer questions about how active you are and what you’ve tried for diets in the past. It takes about 10 minutes or less, and nothing is too intrusive. The worst part for me was taking a photo at the end, showing your waist up. I didn’t love that, but it’s part of what they evaluate before setting you up with an online chat with a doctor.
The pills come as part of a subscription; you can opt for just one month, though they push the three-month plan hard. They say it takes most people at least two months to see results, so keep that in mind with whatever you pick. One month is $98 (technically four weeks’ worth).
There are possible side effects for those who take the pills. Some users report issues with diarrhea, bloating, infrequent bowel movements, and flatulence. That said, people who took the placebo in that clinical trial also reported similar problems.
What’s in It, and What Do Trials Show?
It is FDA-cleared and drug and stimulant-free. It’s safe for those with high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia (unhealthy levels of fat in the blood). And it works, or at least it did in clinical trials where 59% of users lost more than 5% of their body weight. On average, they lost 10% of their body weight, or 22 pounds, and around 3.5 inches from their waist. And more than a fourth of respondents (26%) lost an average of 14% of their body weight, or 30 pounds. You are supposed to combine it with a healthy diet and exercise, but the “magic” is that it’ll help you feel more full sooner.
How does It Work?
According to its makers, it’s created from naturally-derived building blocks, including modified cellulose. They form a superabsorbent hydrogel through a proprietary process. Those thousands of hydrogel particles absorb water within the body and form beads that mix with the food you eat. They increase your meal’s volume and bulk without adding fat-building calories. I think of it as a sponge of sorts. It holds its shape as it is digested, increasing in volume and size in the small intestines and then breaking down in the large intestine. There, the water content is reabsorbed in the body, and the rest of the hydrogel is eliminated with the rest of your digestive waste.
You’ll take three pills (capsules technically) with two glasses of water twice a day, once 20 minutes before lunch and again 20 minutes after dinner.
It’s not recommended for someone with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), ulcers, or heartburn.
It was designed as an option for people who don’t meet the stricter guidelines for more severe weight loss options, like surgery. In that case, they may need a BMI of 40. Plenity only aims for a BMI of 25 up to 40.
Along with the meds, you can get free, unlimited follow-up visits. You can start and stop the subscription at any time.
What Do Users Say?
When looking at online reviews, most people tend to endorse it, saying it’s made a big difference in their weight. Of course, some say it didn’t work for them, but those reviews are fewer by far.
If you’re considering this as an option, definitely talk to your primary doctor first. They can also prescribe it if you don’t want to go through the online option. But if you want the ease of the online prescription, just head to myplenity.com to start your online consultation. And come back here in a month or two and let us know how it’s going for you!
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