TALK TO A DOCTOR ONLINE
fa-times-orange

Speak to a Doctor Online and Find Out if CONTRAVE Is Right for You

You are now leaving CONTRAVE.COM and going to our partner site.

This online service is not available to Louisiana residents.

questionnaire-icon

Fill out a quick medical questionnaire

down-arrow
physician-icon

Speak one-on-one with a licensed healthcare professional*

*If prescribed CONTRAVE, a $45 doctor consult fee is applied.

down-arrow
group-icon

Pay no more than $99 for CONTRAVE and have it delivered to your home

If you have more questions, please visit our FAQs page.

Actor Portrayal

You are now leaving CONTRAVE.COM and going to our partner site.

This online service is not available to Louisiana residents.

Understanding Weight Loss For Men

 The face of weight loss is more often than not that of a woman's. And we’re guilty of that too—just poke around this blog and you’ll see plenty of pictures of ladies. However, wanting to live a healthier lifestyle is something men should—and do—strive for as well.

For both men and women, healthy weight loss stems from the same place: eating a healthy and balanced diet and exercising regularly. There’s no evidence men need a different weight loss plan than women. However, there are some key differences to consider when approaching weight loss for men:

Body Fat
While women tend to have high body fat percentages, men are more likely to store fat specifically in their abdomens. This type of fat is known as visceral fat or bad belly fat. Because visceral abdominal fat surrounds your organs, too much of it can put you at higher risk for conditions like type 2 diabetes or heart disease. The good news? Visceral fat can often be reduced faster than fat beneath the skin during weight loss.

People may joke that an abdomen with a lot of visceral fat is a “beer belly,” but drinking excess amounts of any alcohol can cause the weight to add up. Recommendations for men are no more than two alcoholic drinks in one sitting, but consider taking a break from the bar by switching to low-calorie, non-alcoholic beverages (or even a mocktail). 

Caloric Needs 
Men on average need to consume more calories than women due to, on average, larger builds. However, more factors go into considering your recommended caloric consumption for weight loss, including age, activity level, and body composition. You can calculate your daily caloric needs using an online calculator or by speaking to a registered dietitian. 
However, both sexes need to eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.  

Muscle Mass
Men are more likely, on average, to have higher muscle mass than women. While both sexes can benefit from weight lifting and strength training, men may start at a higher baseline. This extra muscle mass helps men potentially burn more calories at rest and they may lose weight faster (especially at the beginning of their weight loss journey).

Having a lot of muscle and fat is also not atypical for men—think about bulky NFL players who are big guys despite being athletes. However, unless you’re worried about needing the extra padding for football, the goal for men should be to prioritize lowering their body fat percentage overall while maintaining muscle mass. 

Hormones
Men and women have different levels of hormones, and those hormones fluctuate differently over time and can impact weight loss. For example, men have less estrogen and more testosterone than women, who tend to have proportionally more body fat and less muscle mass on average than men. 

Higher testosterone levels are connected with higher muscle mass and lower body fat, whereas higher estrogen levels in men are connected with the opposite. However, excess belly fat can lead to increased estrogen in men. This can potentially have negative health effects. Exercising regularly and keeping a healthy weight can help keep hormones (and fat/muscle distribution) balanced.

Long-term weight-loss success depends on healthy habits like eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep. While men and women share similar weight loss pathways, however individual needs, anatomies, and biological makeup will play a role in each person's weight loss journey. Talk to your healthcare provider for personalized guidance on reaching weight loss goals. 

Weight Loss Medication for Men (and Women)
For those for whom diet and exercise alone are not enough to reach their weight loss goals, CONTRAVE is indicated for both men and women 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. Ask a healthcare provider if CONTRAVE may be right for you.

You can also read about the experiences of Brian and Kalan, two of the guys who found success with CONTRAVE, in the Success Stories part of the blog.

 

CON-1930-001 2/24

Back to Blog
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 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
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:

    • have trouble breathing
    • become very drowsy with slowed breathing
    • have slow, shallow breathing
    • feel faint, very dizzy, confused, or have unusual symptoms
  • 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.
  • Increases in blood pressure or heart rate. Some people may get high blood pressure or have a higher heart rate when taking CONTRAVE. Your healthcare provider should check your blood pressure and heart rate before you start taking, and while you take CONTRAVE.
  • Liver damage or hepatitis. Stop taking CONTRAVE and tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following symptoms of liver problems: stomach area pain lasting more than a few days, dark urine, yellowing of the whites of your eyes, or tiredness. Your healthcare provider may need to stop treating you with CONTRAVE if you get signs or symptoms of a serious liver problem.
  • Manic episodes. Bupropion can cause some people who were manic or depressed in the past to become manic or depressed again.
  • Visual problems (angle-closure glaucoma). Signs and symptoms may include: eye pain, changes in vision, swelling or redness in or around the eye. Talk with your healthcare provider to find out if you are at risk for angle‐closure glaucoma and to get treatment to prevent it if you are at risk.
  • 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.

The most common side effects of CONTRAVE include nausea, constipation, headache, vomiting, dizziness, trouble sleeping, dry mouth, and diarrhea. These are not all of the possible side effects of CONTRAVE.

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.