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How Knowing Your Type Can Guide Weight Loss Treatment

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Successfully losing and keeping off weight is not a one-size-fits-all approach. How one person responds to a diet or medication can differ greatly from the next person's response to the same diet or medication—which can make for a frustrating weight loss experience. 

If we acknowledge that weight gain and obesity can be caused by a range of reasons differing from person to person, then why do we try to address it the same way in each person? Could we have better results when people are matched to a certain treatment based on their obesity "type"? Some researchers made it their goal to find out.

Meet The 4 Types

The obesity types were developed and tested in a pair of clinical studies by Dr. Andres J. Acosta and his research team published in 2021.

The goal of the first study was to help determine ways to classify obesity (or, the underlying cause of their weight). Researchers categorized participants and refined the criteria of each obesity type based on a few factors:

  • The person’s body composition
  • How much energy the person’s body uses at rest
  • The person’s ability to feel full between meals
  • The person’s ability to eat to true fullness
  • How the person eats
  • Other personal characteristics

Through this process, the scientists identified four different types that grouped participants by the suspected underlying cause of their excess weight. In a second study, they assigned a separate set of participants a personalized weight loss plan based on their type. Then, they compared their amount of weight loss to a different group of participants that were not given a personalized weight loss plan.

What’s Your Type?

HUNGRY BRAIN

Tends to eat more with each meal to feel full: 40% of participants

HUNGRY GUT

Food tends to leave the stomach faster: 18% of participants

EMOTIONAL HUNGER

Tends to score higher on anxiety/depression questionnaires: 30% of participants

SLOW BURN

Tends to burn calories at a slower rate: 12% of participants

HUNGRY BRAIN, HUNGRY GUT, EMOTIONAL HUNGER, and SLOW BURN are registered trademarks of Phenomix Sciences. 15% of study participants could not be assigned a type.

These four obesity types are just one way in which researchers are adding more clarity to obesity, a complex chronic condition. By understanding what is behind someone’s own personal and physiological struggle to lose weight, a healthcare provider can help connect them with an individualized medical weight loss plan. This could include diet changes, suggested exercise programs, prescription medications, or other recommended therapies.

Potential Benefits of Personalized Weight Loss Treatment

One advantage of personalized weight loss treatment is that it is tailored to the individual's unique needs—taking into account any underlying health conditions, lifestyle choices, and personal preferences. The hope is that this will make the treatment plan more likely to be effective and sustainable for that individual.

How does that shake out in the real world? In the clinical studies we mentioned earlier, the people who received a weight loss medication aligned with their type were associated with greater weight loss after a year, compared to people who were assigned a weight loss medication not based on any classification. This suggests personalizing weight loss treatment using the types can provide some benefit to weight loss efforts.

There is another important benefit to a personalized weight loss plan not to be missed. Working in partnership with a healthcare provider can also provide opportunities for more regular feedback and guidance along your journey. This may help you stay motivated and committed to your healthy weight loss goals!

 

CON-1632-001 07/23
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Important Safety Information
What is CONTRAVE?
See More 

CONTRAVE can cause serious side effects including:

Suicidal thoughts or actions: One of the ingredients in CONTRAVE is bupropion. Bupropion has caused some people to have suicidal thoughts or actions or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking medicines used to treat depression. Bupropion may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment. If you already have depression or other mental illnesses, taking bupropion may cause it to get worse, especially within the first few months of treatment.

CONTRAVE is a prescription weight-loss medicine that may help some adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater (obese), or adults with a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater (overweight) with at least one weight-related medical problem such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes, lose weight and keep the weight off.

Important Safety Information
See More
CONTRAVE can cause serious side effects including:
Suicidal thoughts or actions: One of the ingredients in CONTRAVE is bupropion. Bupropion has caused some people to have suicidal thoughts or actions or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking medicines used to treat depression. Bupropion may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment. If you already have depression or other mental illnesses, taking bupropion may cause it to get worse, especially within the first few months of treatment.
What is CONTRAVE?
See More
CONTRAVE is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adults with an initial body mass index (BMI) of:
Important Safety Information
What is CONTRAVE?
See Less 

CONTRAVE can cause serious side effects including:

Suicidal thoughts or actions: One of the ingredients in CONTRAVE is bupropion. Bupropion has caused some people to have suicidal thoughts or actions or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking medicines used to treat depression. Bupropion may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment. If you already have depression or other mental illnesses, taking bupropion may cause it to get worse, especially within the first few months of treatment.

While taking CONTRAVE, you or your family members should pay close attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. This is very important when you start taking CONTRAVE or when your dose changes.

Stop taking CONTRAVE and call a healthcare provider right away if you or your family members notice any of the following symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you: thoughts about suicide or dying; attempts to commit suicide; depression; anxiety; feeling agitated or restless; panic attacks; irritability; aggression, anger, or violence; acting on dangerous impulses; an extreme increase in activity and talking; other unusual changes in behavior or mood; trouble sleeping.

CONTRAVE is not approved for use in children under the age of 18.

Do not take CONTRAVE if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure; have or have had seizures; use other medicines that contain bupropion such as WELLBUTRIN, WELLBUTRIN SR, WELLBUTRIN XL, APLENZIN and ZYBAN; have or have had an eating disorder called anorexia or bulimia; are dependent on opioid pain medicines or use medicines to help stop taking opioids, or are in opiate withdrawal; drink a lot of alcohol and abruptly stop drinking, or use medicines called sedatives (these make you sleepy), benzodiazepines, or anti‐seizure medicines and stop using them all of a sudden; are taking or have taken medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) in the past 14 days; or are allergic to any of the ingredients in CONTRAVE.

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you have: depression or other mental illnesses; attempted suicide; seizures; head injury; tumor or infection of brain or spine; low blood sugar or low sodium; liver or kidney problems; high blood pressure; heart attack, heart problems, or stroke; eating disorder; drinking a lot of alcohol; prescription medicine or street drug abuse; are 65 or older; diabetes; pregnant or planning to become pregnant; or breastfeeding.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

CONTRAVE may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Seizures. There is a risk of having a seizure when you take CONTRAVE. The risk of seizure is higher in people who take higher doses of CONTRAVE, have certain medical conditions, or take CONTRAVE with certain other medicines. Do not take any other medicines while you are taking CONTRAVE unless your healthcare provider has said it is okay to take them. If you have a seizure while taking CONTRAVE, stop taking CONTRAVE and call your healthcare provider right away.

  • Risk of opioid overdose. Do not take large amounts of opioids, including opioid-containing medicines, such as heroin or prescription pain pills, to try to overcome the opioid-blocking effects of naltrexone. This can lead to serious injury, coma, or death.

    Get emergency medical help right away if you take opioids and you:

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  • Sudden opioid withdrawal. People who take CONTRAVE must not use any type of opioid, including street drugs, prescription pain medicines, cough, cold, or diarrhea medicines that contain opioids, or opioid dependence treatments, for at least 7 to 10 days before starting CONTRAVE. Using opioids in the 7 to 10 days before you start taking CONTRAVE may cause you to suddenly have symptoms of opioid withdrawal when you take it. Sudden opioid withdrawal can be severe, and you may need to go to the hospital. Tell your healthcare provider you are taking CONTRAVE before a medical procedure or surgery.

  • Severe allergic reactions. Stop taking CONTRAVE and call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you have any of the following signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction: rash, itching, hives, fever, swollen lymph glands, painful sores in your mouth or around your eyes, swelling of your lips or tongue, chest pain, or trouble breathing.

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  • Manic episodes. Bupropion can cause some people who were manic or depressed in the past to become manic or depressed again.

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  • Increased risk of low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus who also take medicines to treat their diabetes (such as insulin or sulfonylureas). You should check your blood sugar before you start taking CONTRAVE and while you take CONTRAVE.

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You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is CONTRAVE?

CONTRAVE is a prescription weight-loss medicine that may help some adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater (obese), or adults with a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater (overweight) with at least one weight-related medical problem such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes, lose weight and keep the weight off.

CONTRAVE should be used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

It is not known if CONTRAVE changes your risk of heart problems or stroke or of death due to heart problems or stroke.

It is not known if CONTRAVE is safe and effective when taken with other prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal weight-loss products.

CONTRAVE is not approved to treat depression or other mental illnesses, or to help people quit smoking (smoking cessation).

Please see Full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide, for CONTRAVE.