For many, the pursuit of a healthier and more confident self is a continuous journey. Weight Loss by Hers aims to simplify this process with its diverse offerings, providing a comprehensive and customizable clinical approach to help individuals achieve their weight loss goals. This article delves into the components of Hers' weight loss program, focusing on the medications and ingredients used, their benefits, and how they contribute to a holistic weight loss strategy.
Personalized Weight Loss Plans
Hers distinguishes itself by considering the underlying factors that affect weight and offering personalized plans based on individual needs. To begin, you complete a medical assessment, including your weight loss goals and health history. You'll then be connected with a healthcare provider licensed in your state to start your diagnosis and explore potential treatments. Treatment options include oral medication kits or compounded GLP-1 injections, tailored to your body, health history, and weight loss goals.
Dr. Jessica Shepherd, Hers’ Chief Medical Officer, emphasizes that Hers delivers a healthcare experience designed specifically for women and is working to ensure all women have access to personal, comprehensive care.
Key Weight Loss Medications Offered by Hers
The weight loss medications available through Hers include metformin, topiramate, naltrexone with bupropion, and vitamin B12. These medications have been proven to safely produce significant weight loss or, in the case of vitamin B12, reduce the risk of obesity.
Amidst the boom of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) injections, like semaglutide, for weight loss, Hers chooses to instead offer more affordable and accessible generic oral medications. While research indicates that semaglutide may produce more weight loss than metformin, topiramate, and naltrexone with bupropion, all of these medications work to reduce appetite.
Read also: Does Hers Weight Loss Work?
Hers stands apart from other weight loss programs for its firm stance on affordability and accessibility, opting for more affordable generic oral medications that aren’t currently subject to shortages. Hers takes a holistic approach to weight loss with sustainable nutrition, lifestyle adjustments, and more affordable medications.
Metformin
Metformin is an anti-diabetic medication that’s FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes but can be prescribed off-label for weight loss. It reduces the amount of glucose the liver produces and impacts hormones that affect appetite, which may lead to weight loss in some people.
While both Metformin and Ozempic are diabetes medications that can be prescribed off-label for weight loss, Metformin is an oral pill, while Ozempic is a once-weekly injection. Research shows that Ozempic can produce up to 20% weight loss in 3 to 6 months, compared to around 5% weight loss with metformin.
Topiramate
Topiramate is an anti-epileptic drug that’s FDA-approved to treat epilepsy and migraine. It’s thought to work for weight loss by suppressing the appetite (leading to lower caloric intake), reducing fat gain, and lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Research has found topiramate can produce up to a 9% loss of baseline body weight over 6 months. It is typically taken daily with doses ranging from 50 to 150mg.
Naltrexone & Bupropion (Contrave)
Naltrexone & Bupropion, also known as Contrave, is a combination medication of naltrexone, a medication used for alcohol use disorder and opioid dependence, and bupropion, an antidepressant. It’s FDA-approved for weight loss and may work by regulating appetite. According to clinical research, it can produce 5 to 10% weight loss within 3 months.
Read also: Weight Loss with Hers
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient naturally found in animal products, including poultry, dairy, fish, and meat. It’s crucial to fat metabolism, and individuals with vitamin B12 deficiency are at an increased risk of experiencing overweight or obesity. While vitamin B12 hasn’t been proven to directly cause weight loss, taken daily (2.4mcg) it can prevent vitamin B12 deficiencies while taking metformin.
The Holistic Approach of Hers
Hers offers a holistic approach to weight loss with in-app tools and resources, including educational content designed for sustainable weight loss. This content includes nutritional guidance, recipes, mental health information, exercise recommendations, and sleep advice. For motivation and to inform the next steps on your path to weight loss, Hers provides in-app progress tracking.
Hers is a convenient way to get a weight loss plan from a provider without ever having to leave home. Complete the online intake form, which takes just a few minutes and gathers information about your weight loss goals, medical history, and personal history with weight loss. One of Hers’ physicians will review your form to determine the best treatment for you. If appropriate, they’ll create a customized holistic weight loss plan, with or without medications. Hers doesn’t require blood testing to receive an online prescription for weight loss medications. Once you receive your prescription (if appropriate), Hers can ship medications directly to your doorstep in discreet packaging, for free.
Since 2017, Hers has been providing dependable, accessible telemedicine services. Along with these research-backed medications, Hers offers a wealth of in-app resources covering many aspects of weight loss, including nutrition, exercise, and sleep. Hers provides continuous support from clinicians for easy plan adjustments and answers to all of your questions. When prescription medications are appropriate, Hers’ clinicians provide custom medication kits to suit your unique needs, potentially blending vitamin B12 with prescription weight loss meds to prevent deficiencies and improve your overall results.
Affordability and Accessibility
In offering generic forms of accessible weight loss meds, Hers prioritizes affordability and accessibility. This means that you won’t have to worry about navigating soaring prices and frequent shortages of GLP-1 agonists. All of Hers’ weight loss medications are backed by clinical research and proven to be safe for qualifying individuals.
Read also: Comprehensive Review of Hers for Weight Loss
With a flat monthly fee that includes the cost of medication, Hers is one of the most cost-effective options available. Hers doesn’t offer GLP-1 injections for weight loss, so it’s not the right fit for individuals seeking this type of medication. Nonetheless, the plan stands apart for its affordable pricing, clinician support, and holistic approach.
Comparing Hers to Other Weight Loss Programs
Hers vs. Found offers a broader range of weight loss medications than Hers, including GLP-1 inhibitors and zonisamide. This collection includes more FDA-approved medications than Hers, which mainly provides off-label weight loss meds.
Hers vs. PlushCare offers GLP-1 inhibitors, naltrexone/bupropion, and xenical for weight loss. While this is a good option for those interested in GLP-1 inhibitors, Hers offers a broader range of affordable, off-label medications. PlushCare also lacks nutrition and health resources, which are available through the Hers app.
Hers vs. Zealthy offers GLP-1 inhibitors and metformin for weight loss, compared to Hers’ range of off-label weight loss meds. Medications aren’t included in Zealthy’s monthly membership fee, which is $49 for a limited time, then $134 for each subsequent month. This makes Hers more affordable for those paying out of pocket, although Zealthy takes insurance, unlike Hers.
Pricing and Availability
Pricing for weight loss plans at Hers starts as low as $69/month for oral medication kits, with a 10-mo plan paid in full upfront. GLP-1 injectable plans start as low as $199/mo with a 6-mo plan paid in full upfront. Hers does not require insurance, offering a straight-forward approach to pricing and billing, as well as affordable generic options.
A state-licensed provider reviews the health history, weight loss goals, and unique patient needs of every individual patient to see if they qualify before prescribing any kind of treatment. GLP-1s are not yet available in all 50 states; however, Hers is working to expand our offering as soon as possible.
Important Considerations
Medication is a long-term use weight loss treatment not meant for short-term use. When you stop taking it, the triggers that previously drove unhealthy eating behaviors may return. Always speak with a licensed medical provider before stopping treatment. Results aren’t instant, and the timeline for results may vary from person to person.
Maintaining protein intake is key to supporting muscle mass while taking weight loss medication. Meal replacement bars and shakes can serve as a valuable source of protein, vitamins, and minerals, which is important when appetite is suppressed.
It’s common to experience some side effects while your body adjusts to new medication. They're usually temporary and are easier to manage when you know what to do. Hers offers step-by-step guides made by weight loss experts in the Hers app at no additional cost, 24/7 messaging with a licensed provider at no extra cost, and personalized dosage and medication adjustments as needed by licensed providers. A fast-acting anti-nausea medication is included with treatment at no extra cost, if eligible.
Providers personalize and adjust weight loss medication dosages based on your unique medical history and weight loss needs and can change your oral medication kit prescription free of charge, anytime.
Understanding Compounded Drugs
Hers also offers access to compounded and branded GLP-1s, as well as oral medication kits that can include metformin, bupropion, topiramate, vitamin B12, and naltrexone. Compounded drug products are not approved or evaluated for safety, effectiveness, or quality by the FDA.
Individual and small-scale compounded drugs are produced with prescriptions at state-licensed 503A compounding facilities like community or hospital pharmacies. Larger quantities of compounded medications can be produced at FDA-registered 503B outsourcing facilities, which can manufacture and distribute pharmaceuticals without individual prescriptions.
Compounded drugs aren’t FDA-approved. However, when drugs, such as semaglutide, are listed on the FDA shortage list, some restrictions-like those preventing companies from compounding copies of previously approved drugs-are relaxed.