If you’re looking for extra support on your weight loss journey, you may not have thought to turn to a doctor for help. But Dr. Suzanne Benz, DO, decided to change that when she founded Red Mountain, a medical practice dedicated to helping you achieve your weight loss goals in a healthy and supportive environment. Her practice expanded into a chain of medical weight loss centers in Texas and Arizona and became increasingly popular in the Southwest.
Want to learn more about Red Mountain? Here’s what you need to know.
What is Red Mountain Weight Loss?
Red Mountain has two main weight loss programs.
The first is RM3, a 3-step program that includes guidance with a diet plan, medications, supplements, recipe ideas, and workout videos. 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 align with the macronutrient diet.
The cost of the programs ranges from $199 to $599.
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How much weight can you lose with Red Mountain Slimming?
“The amount of weight a patient will lose on the Red Mountain program will depend on their starting weight,” he says DJ Mazzoni RD, MS, CDN, CSCS, registered dietitian/nutritionist and medical reviewer at Illuminate Health. “Individuals who start out at a higher weight will lose more weight on average following a diet program because their daily energy needs are higher than those 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, sustainable weight loss typically doesn’t exceed two pounds per week, according to Mazzoni, 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 a “Weight Loss Window,” followed by the transition to “Lifetime Support.”
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 proteins, fruits, and vegetables. It also allows for healthy starches.
“It’s a diet similar to the Mediterranean diet, and I believe it’s a much healthier pattern of diet than what most Americans consume,” Mazzoni says.
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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 lasting weight loss.
With that in mind, the Red Mountain Diet Model appears to be a healthy and sustainable option for overweight and obese patients looking to lose weight, Mazzoni explains. “I wouldn’t recommend their weight loss supplements because there is very little research to suggest that weight loss supplements are effective for long-term weight loss,” Mazzoni says. “Increasing your dietary fiber intake is a less expensive alternative to weight loss supplements that has been shown in medical studies to be effective and is the approach I would recommend over Red Mountain’s weight loss supplements.”
Here are some advantages and disadvantages of Red Mountain according to Holly Klammer, MS, RDN:
Pros of the Red Mountain
Klamer lists the following points as pluses for participating in the Red Mountain Weight Loss Program:
- A bariatric doctor monitors weight loss and takes into account blood tests
- There is a focus on an individual 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 feel they have tried everything without success
- The program includes weekly inspections
Cons of Red Mountain
Here are some of the potential downsides of Red Mountain, according to Klammer:
- This center uses human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) as part of a medically supervised weight loss program, which may cause some hesitation because the FDA suggests that HCG is not effective for weight loss and most studies do not show 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 unclear what’s in these products that would help boost weight loss and whether they’re backed by 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 approach for you!
Next: Hit a Weight Loss Plateau? Here’s what you need to know and how to overcome it
Sources
- DJ Mazzoni, RD, MS, CDN, CSCS, registered dietitian/nutritionist and medical reviewer at Illuminate Health
- Holly Klammer, MS, RDN