If you’re looking for extra support on your weight loss journey, you may not have considered turning to a doctor for help. But Dr. Suzanne Bentz, DO, decided to change that when he founded Red Mountain, a medical practice dedicated to helping you achieve your weight loss goals in a healthy and supportive environment. Her practice expanded to a chain of medical weight loss centers in Texas and Arizona and has become increasingly popular in the Southwest area.
Want to learn more about Red Mountain? Here’s what you need to know.
What is weight loss in Red Mountain?
Red Mountain has two main weight loss programs.
The first is RM3, a 3-step program that includes instructions with a diet plan, medications, supplements, recipe ideas, and video workouts. This program is designed to help patients lose up to 20 pounds or more per month and maintain that weight.
The second is RM Lifestyle, which is designed to help patients lose 6 to 10 pounds per month and is considered a more gradual approach to weight loss. Doctors in the program suggest certain medications and supplements to pair with a macronutrient diet.
The programs range in price from $199 to $599.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About Ree Drummond’s Empowering, Really Sustainable 100-pound Weight Loss Journey
How much weight can you lose with Red Mountain Weight Loss?
“The amount of weight a patient will lose on the Red Mountain program will depend on their starting weight,” says DJ Mazzoni RD, MS, CDN, CSCS, a registered dietitian/nutritionist and medical reviewer at Illuminate Health. “Individuals who start out at a higher weight will lose more weight by sticking to a diet program on average because their daily energy requirements are higher than someone at a lower weight.”
Red Mountain’s website suggests that patients can lose up to ten pounds per month, but that sounds like a high estimate. Healthy and sustainable weight loss usually doesn’t exceed two pounds per week, according to Maazoni, which equates to eight pounds per month.
How much does it cost to lose weight in Red Mountain?
Depending on the program you choose, Red Mountain costs between $199 and $599, with a new patient consultation costing $55. Red Mountain’s program includes your first four weeks in what’s called the “Weight Loss Window,” followed by the transition to “Lifetime Maintenance.”
What does the Red Mountain weight loss diet plan look like?
The Red Mountain weight loss program includes foods in different categories, such as lean protein, fruits, and vegetables. It also allows for healthy starches.
“This is a diet similar to the Mediterranean diet, and I believe it’s a much healthier dietary pattern than what most Americans consume,” says Mazzoni.
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Related: What is the Mediterranean diet and what can you eat on it?
Overall, the program is a healthy approach, but there is little evidence to suggest the effectiveness of weight loss supplements for sustainable weight loss.
That said, the Red Mountain diet model appears to be a healthy and sustainable option for overweight and obese patients looking to lose weight, explains Mazonni. “I wouldn’t recommend their weight loss supplements, as there is very little research to suggest that weight loss supplements are effective for sustained weight loss,” says Mazzoni. “Increasing your dietary fiber intake is a cheaper alternative to weight loss supplements that has been proven in medical research to be effective and is the approach I would recommend over Red Mountain Weight Loss Supplements.”
Here are some pros and cons of Red Mountain, according to Holly Klamer, MS, RDN:
The best of Red Mountain
Klamer lists the following points as benefits of participating in the Red Mountain weight loss program:
- A bariatric physician oversees weight loss and considers blood work
- There is a focus on an individualized weight loss plan
- The focus is on long-term success and breaking the cycle of yo-yo dieting
- It can be helpful for weight loss for those who think they have tried everything without success
- The program includes weekly checks
Disadvantages of Red Mountain
Here are some of the negative potentials of Red Mountain, according to Klamer:
- This center uses human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) as part of a medically supervised weight loss program, which may cause some hesitation, as the FDA suggests that HCG is not effective for weight loss and most studies have not shown that HCG is significant for weight loss. .
- Weight loss boosters claim to reduce hunger and boost metabolism, but the full list of ingredients isn’t listed, so it’s not clear what’s in these products that would help boost weight loss and whether they support from research.
Like most weight loss programs, Red Mountain comes with pros and cons—so ultimately, you’ll have to decide what works best for you and your lifestyle. And as always, never be afraid to talk to a doctor or nutritionist about the best weight loss method for you!
Next: Have you hit a weight loss plateau? Here’s what you need to know—and how to overcome it
sources
- DJ Mazzoni, RD, MS, CDN, CSCS, a registered dietitian/nutritionist and medical reviewer at Illuminate Health
- Holly Klamer, MS, RDN