Did you know that according to the CDC, obesity prevalence in the U.S. increased from 30.5% to 41.9% from 2017-2020? In that same time, the prevalence of severe obesity jumped from just over 4% to over 9%. It only takes a quick glance at these numbers to understand that we have an obesity issue in the United States. That's true for people of all ages, many of whom have tried fad diets and every weight loss regimen under the sun, only to get mediocre results. For older men and women, obesity can be concerning, too, especially when their bodies are going through hormonal changes associated with female and male menopause.
Being overweight has many negative effects on the body. From an aesthetic standpoint, many people hate being overweight because clothes don't fit well, being mobile and active is often hard, and people just seem to stare. From a health and wellness standpoint, however, the consequences of obesity are much worse. Some overweight people must face life-changing problems such as:
For people who have been struggling with their weight for years, it can seem like no help is available. Fortunately, nothing could be further from the truth, with innovative weight loss solutions like peptide therapy for weight loss in Hopkins, MN.
LX Medical's weight loss program has helped numerous patients achieve their weight loss goals, live a healthy life, and enjoy total well-being for years. At LX Medical, we believe that weight loss shouldn't be centered around a one-size-fits-all mentality. Our doctors and practitioners create custom weight loss programs that are tailored to your unique body, rather than creating plans based off of someone matching your age or weight. With our team's support, you can achieve real results and start living life without the extra pounds.
That's important in the modern world, where maintaining good health and fitness has become more important than ever. Research has shown that viruses and diseases are more likely to affect people who are overweight and unhealthy. Unfortunately, there are many "miracle" supplements and unhealthy diet plans that mislead people into thinking that weight loss is not beneficial. Furthermore, weight loss "experts" often offer unstructured and unsupervised programs that do more harm than good.
At LX Medical, we prioritize the well-being of our patients when it comes to weight loss. Our approach is patient-centric, focusing on personalized treatments. Our doctors first evaluate your lifestyle habits, and we work with you to replace negative patterns with positive, personalized lifestyle changes. This is crucial for achieving optimal wellness and weight loss. Benefits of losing weight include:
However, losing weight is only the beginning. To keep weight off permanently, adopting a healthy, active lifestyle is essential. At LX Medical, we help you achieve this by implementing manageable, positive lifestyle changes that jumpstart your weight loss journey. By making healthy behaviors a part of your daily routine, you can achieve your weight loss goals and become the best version of yourself.
One of the most successful treatments we offer to help patients shed pounds safely is peptide therapy for weight loss in Hopkins, MN. In fact, peptides for weight loss, such as semaglutide (also known as Ozempic and Wegovy, MOTS-C,) and AOD-9604, have been proven to be effective and have helped countless men and women live life at a healthy weight.
Consisting of amino acids, peptides help regulate the biological processes and functions in your body. As the building blocks of protein, they are crucial for your overall health. Unfortunately, however, many men and women suffer from peptide deficiency. Peptide therapy gives your body the peptides it needs, improving your ability to:
Peptide therapy is often used alongside other treatment plans from LX Medical, such as our custom weight loss plans. That's where peptides like semaglutide and AOD-9604 come into play.
Peptide therapy is often used to boost hormones and support our total well-being. Different types of peptides can target different areas of our health. For example, some collagen peptide supplements can help make our skin, hair, and gut healthier. Other peptides, like semaglutide and AOD-9604, can help facilitate healthy weight loss.
Peptide therapy works in a different way than vitamin supplements. When we take a multivitamin for our hair, skin, and nails, our body must absorb the nutrients. But sometimes, our body can't absorb all the nutrients, so they just leave our body through our urine. Peptides, on the other hand, are part of the proteins in our bodies, making them easier to benefit from and absorb.
But what about peptide therapy for weight loss? The truth is there are various peptides that have different effects, including some that facilitate weight loss. However, weight loss is a nuanced process that involves multiple factors such as diet, exercise, age, genetics, and lifestyle. While peptides can assist you in achieving your weight loss goals, they are most effective when combined with improvements like a healthier diet, more frequent exercise, and better life choices. If you've tried various weight loss plans and diets, but haven't had any success, peptides like semaglutide and ADO-9604 may be the extra boost you need to experience true weight loss.
A recent study in the Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism found that people who used peptides in conjunction with a weight loss plan experienced incredible results. More specifically, patients reported a 14% reduction in body fat on average. Two of the most popular peptides for weight loss also happen to be FDA-approved and, when appropriate, part of your weight loss journey with LX Medical.
Those peptides are semaglutide and AOD-9604 and are touted for their therapeutic benefits and long-term safety profile. If you're looking for a little extra help to lose weight and keep it off for good, peptide therapy for weight loss could be for you.
Looking to shed some pounds and keep them off for good? Diet and exercise are crucial, but for busy adults and parents, sticking to a routine is easier said than done. If you need extra help losing weight, consider semaglutide. This injection, approved by the FDA for diabetes and obesity, can stimulate GLP-1 receptors in the brain to aid in quicker weight loss and long-term health.
Semaglutide works in several ways. First, it acts as glucagon in your body, which helps tell your brain that you're full and don't need to eat anymore. Secondly, it slows down the time it takes for food to transit out of your stomach. This process reduces unnecessary eating and snacking throughout the day. Perhaps more importantly, it reduces glucose spikes after you eat, which causes a litany of issues like inflammation.
Semaglutide also helps your pancreas secrete insulin while making you insulin sensitive. This regulates glucose levels in your body and how your body metabolizes that glucose. Additionally, by reducing inflammation in your body, you benefit from powerful anti-aging and longevity properties.
When combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise, semaglutide can provide:
Unlike other weight loss clinics, at LX Medical, you can enjoy the benefits of semaglutide from the comfort of your office or home. Injections are administered once a week. Once you've met your weight loss goals, you can reduce your intake to a minimum dose for additional positive effects like ongoing weight management. You can also quit taking semaglutide entirely. If you opt to stop, our medical weight loss team can chat with you about other types of peptide therapy for weight loss in Hopkins, MN.
This peptide, which is often used in conjunction with semaglutide regimens, stimulates the breakdown of fat while inhibiting lipogenesis and supporting your tendons and cartilage. It has grown in popularity because of its ability to boost your metabolism, which helps burn fat. What's great about AOD-9604 is that it stimulates the pituitary gland but does not affect tissue growth or blood sugar. Perhaps most impressive is that this peptide can burn fat without you feeling the need to overeat as a result.
In fact, AOD-9604 activates your body's fat-burning processes using its own unique mechanism without needing an HGH receptor. It also releases obese fat cells and reduces new fat cell accumulation. One of the most notable benefits of AOD-9604 is its ability to regulate blood sugar and manage insulin levels, which can lead to reduced inflammation and weight loss. Additionally, AOD-9604 can aid in building muscle, similar to growth hormones. Its benefits extend beyond fat loss, as it contains regenerative properties that may be beneficial for individuals with various conditions, such as:
With the ability to reduce fat that is stored in your abdominal region, this weight-loss peptide is very popular for older people with stubborn belly fat. It is also often used by people who have tried other diets and weight loss plans but had little or no success.
At LX Medical, our doctors offer a range of peptide therapies for your health and well-being. Peptides like semaglutide and AOD-9604 are often used as part of a comprehensive peptide therapy plan, crafted by LX Medical specialists for your body. If you're interested in losing weight, gut health peptides like BPC-157, Thymulosin Alpha, Thymulosin Beta, and GHK-Cu can be incredibly beneficial along your weight loss journey.
This naturally occurring peptide, sometimes called the "Body Protection Compound," is secreted in your gut and helps repair its lining. It works by helping your body be in a constant state of restoration and repair, providing powerful anti-inflammatory effects. This process helps with issues like:
When it comes to losing weight, BPC-157 is often included in peptide therapy for weight loss in Hopkins, MN, because it can help reduce pain and inflammation resulting from new or increased exercise efforts. As noted previously, exercise and diet are key in long-term weight loss, and BPC-157 can make those efforts easier.
This peptide is injected once a day, with courses ranging from 30 to 60 days. After you finish the injection course, consider BPC-157 oral supplements to maintain its benefits.
Thymosin Alpha-1 is a powerful immune system modulator that helps you resist infections, illnesses, and disease. By naturally stimulating T cells to locate and eliminate viruses, bacteria, and even tumor cells, this peptide prompts your body to respond to these invasive organisms, making your immune system naturally stronger and more effective.
Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Thymosin Alpha-1 in regulating immunity and inflammation related to rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and other conditions. Recent clinical studies have also shown promising results in using this peptide to fight lung, colon, breast, and other types of cancer. By reducing inflammation in your body and enhancing your immune system, you can optimize your body as you lose weight with the help of LX Medical.
Patients inject this peptide every day for two weeks and then continue three times a week for 2.5 months.
Thymosin Beta-4 is a peptide consisting of 43 amino acids that is known to promote healing in the body and has anti-inflammatory properties. It occurs naturally in higher concentrations at injury sites and is a water-soluble protein that can regulate cell migration to a site. It is also very good at repairing tissue damage. The substance is not only beneficial for wound healing and skin repair but can also aid in the repair of the brain, spinal cord, and heart. Medical professionals consider Thymosin Beta-4 to be a safe and potent substance in both its natural and synthetic forms.
Like its Alpha counterpart, this peptide can be beneficial for individuals undergoing weight loss, and can help reduce the inflammation and pain associated with exercising and more.
Patients inject this peptide every day for two weeks and then continue three times a week for 2.5 months.
Research suggests that GHK-CU functions as a feedback signal when tissue damage occurs. This peptide is effective in shielding damaged tissue, reducing inflammation, and replacing scarred tissue with healthy tissue. Although further research is necessary to determine its effectiveness on a larger scale, GHK-CU has already been proven to play a role in wound healing and inflammation reduction. Like other peptides for weight loss in Hopkins, MN, GHK-Cu supports your gut health and weight loss efforts by lowering inflammation in your body, which often happens from changes to your diet or exercise regimens.
Patients should take this peptide for 20-30 days, especially when used for wound healing or as part of a more robust peptide therapy package.
At LX Medical, we're proud to make better care possible.
We are a physician-led team of doctors, nurses, and health experts, advised by a panel of top healthcare leaders who are revolutionizing the power of house calls. In fact, all of our peptides for weight loss in Hopkins, MN, can be applied in your home or office without having to wait in long lines or uncomfortable waiting rooms.
We offer exceptionally robust and personalized weight loss plans for patients who can't seem to lose extra weight. To do so, we use innovative weight loss medications such as semaglutide and AOD-9604. To supplement our patient's success, we bring with us advanced diagnostic technology, IV fluids, and medications, with access to outpatient imaging and lab centers. Unlike some weight loss centers, we only staff highly-trained medical professionals and advanced practice providers with experience and compassion.
Are you sick and tired of the way that you look and feel every day? Is your health getting out of control? Are you ready to break out of your cage and lose weight the right way? If you're ready to begin your journey to weight loss success, our team is here to guide you along the way. Contact LX Medical today to get started.
West Central Area claimed the Class 1A title, Providence Academy won 2A, Benilde-St. Margaret’s took 3A. Jim Paulsen, Ron Haggstrom and...
West Central Area claimed the Class 1A title, Providence Academy won 2A, Benilde-St. Margaret’s took 3A.
Jim Paulsen, Ron Haggstrom and Cassidy Hettesheimer
For the Minnesota Star Tribune
Eight teams across four classifications play Saturday for the state championship.
The Class 2A and 1A semifinals took place Friday. The Class 4A and 3A semifinals were Thursday, along with the 1A quarterfinals.
Here’s a game-by-game recap of Wednesday’s 4A and 3A quarterfinal games, which include 2A.
Here’s the schedule for Saturday’s title games. The links will direct you to live scoring for each game:
At Williams Arena
Class 1A
12 p.m.: West Central 58, MACCRAY 41
Class 3A
2 p.m.: Benilde-St. Margaret’s 73, Marshall 57
Class 2A
6 p.m.: Providence Academy 81, Crosby-Ironton 63
High Schools
Class 4A
8 p.m.: Hopkins 81, Maple Grove 67
Below are live reports from state championship games, Class 1A-4A.
For the Minnesota Star Tribune
Reporter
Jim Paulsen is a high school sports reporter for the Star Tribune.
Prep Sports ReporterSee More
Sports reporter
Cassidy Hettesheimer is a high school sports reporter at the Minnesota Star Tribune.
The Royals, with 28 points from sophomore Erma Walker, won their ninth title, breaking a tie with Rochester Lourdes.
247Sports Embed ResourceMinnesota has secured a verbal commitment from one of the best prep corners on the East Coast as Nashville (Tenn.) Ensworth cornerback Justin Hopkins just announced for the Golden Gophers.Why Minnesota: Here's some of what Hopkins told 247Sports last month after Fleck visited him at his school...
247Sports Embed Resource
Minnesota has secured a verbal commitment from one of the best prep corners on the East Coast as Nashville (Tenn.) Ensworth cornerback Justin Hopkins just announced for the Golden Gophers.
Why Minnesota: Here's some of what Hopkins told 247Sports last month after Fleck visited him at his school.
"It was a great chance for Coach Fleck and Coach Monroe to spend time with my family," Hopkins said to 247Sports. "It was pretty cool for Coach Fleck to take the time to come to Nashville just to check in with me. Aside from talking about my desire to play as a freshman and where they see me in their overall scheme, we mainly talked about when is the best time for me to visit in the spring and when I should take my official visit to Minnesota.
My family also had questions for him like, how important is it in being an early enrollee? They wanted to know more about his Life Program. They also asked how much of his recruiting classes would be from the transfer portal.
Coach Fleck likes the idea of enrolling early, but it's no pressure to do it. It would allow me to get acclimated with the defensive playbook faster and get used to the weight room and nutrition program. So that would be good. My parents really liked Coach Fleck's life program."
Why it matters: Landing a four-star prospect with legitimate committable offers from places like Tennessee, USC, Auburn, and Iowa among others is a big deal for Minnesota. Nick Monroe deserves a lot of credit for staying on Hopkins for many months and getting him to campus in late November last fall to see Minnesota for his own two eyes.
The state of Minnesota rarely produces any quality Big Ten corners, so the Gophers will seemingly always have to leave the state to bring in guys like that can blanket in coverage. Hopkins will bring versatility to Minnesota from the outside in.
How he fits: When you try to project him into where he'd fit into Danny Collins' defense, it'll be an interesting transition; as while Hopkins currently plays safety in high school, he projects more as a cornerback at the next level. His fluid movement and sharp change of direction set him apart. On top of that, Justin is also an impressive wide receiver, making plays across all three levels of the field.
Hopkins embodies the kind of versatile defensive back that will become increasingly valuable as college football evolves. He can take on multiple roles, whether inside or outside. This adaptability is especially crucial in today's game, where roster changes through the transfer portal are common. Having someone who can shift positions is incredibly valuable when a player departs or becomes injured.
Minnesota's corner room is currently wide open following the graduations of Justin Walley and Ethan Robinson, so Hopkins will have an opportunity to come in and compete Za'Quan Bryan, Jaylen Bowden, Mike Gerald, Sam Madu, and others. The Gophers have an extensive history under Fleck of playing young corners (see Justin Walley, Terell Smith, etc.), so if Hopkins can impact the game early on, he'll find a way onto the field.
My direct comp would be if Jordan Howden played corner.
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Hopkins, with 28 points from sophomore Erma Walker, won its ninth title, breaking a tie with Rochester Lourdes.Hopkins players rush the court to celebrate their victory over Maple Grove and their Class 4A championship. (Leila Navidi/The Minnesota Star Tribune)When Hopkins leading scorer Tatum Woodson got out of surgery after tearing her ACL in December, she already had multiple texts from teammates letting her know that coach Tara Starks had them working harder than before.Now, Hopkins is officially record royalty....
Hopkins, with 28 points from sophomore Erma Walker, won its ninth title, breaking a tie with Rochester Lourdes.
Hopkins players rush the court to celebrate their victory over Maple Grove and their Class 4A championship. (Leila Navidi/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
When Hopkins leading scorer Tatum Woodson got out of surgery after tearing her ACL in December, she already had multiple texts from teammates letting her know that coach Tara Starks had them working harder than before.
Now, Hopkins is officially record royalty.
With Saturday’s 81-67 Class 4A championship win over No. 1 Maple Grove, the No. 3 seed Royals set a record for most girls basketball titles in Minnesota history with nine — breaking their deadlock with Rochester Lourdes, which won its latest title in 2005.
After winning a 2022 championship, the Royals finished as runner-up the past two seasons. But thanks to graduations (of Florida standout Liv McGill) and injuries (to senior Woodson and sophomore Ava Cupito), only two of last year’s top seven Hopkins scorers featured in this year’s postseason.
That mean little to Starks.
“You got to show them that you believe in them, and then they’ll start to believe that,” she said.
“I’m not the team,” Woodson said. “They work their butts off. They don’t need me.”
Instead, patient returners and core underclassmen stepped up.
Sophomore forward Erma Walker fought through pain and had her way in the paint, scoring a game-high 28 points on 13-for-15 shooting and grabbing eight rebounds.
“I just basically told my kids they didn’t have an answer for her,” Starks said. “Erma is strong, so you’ve to put a strong physical body on her.”
Sophomore guard Jaliyah Diggs scored 15 points and had a game-high seven assists. Seniors Lauren Hillesheim, London Harris and Maliyah White all scored in double figures. White hit back-to-back threes that helped Hopkins pull away in the second half.
That late surge was needed, too, after an early Hopkins lead. Seeking its first state title, Maple Grove tied the game 46-46 with 12:55 to play. Michigan State commit and Crimson all-time leading scorer Jordan Ode had 26 points and 12 rebounds.
Scrappy in its defense, dictating what Maple Grove head coach Mark Cook called “90 feet of chaos,” Hopkins held Maple Grove to 1-for-7 shooting on three-pointers. The Royals, meanwhile, shot 9-for-18 from beyond the arc and 57% overall.
The Royals (27-5) were one of only two teams to beat Maple Grove (28-3) this season, in addition to Class 2A champion Providence Academy.
“Everybody was saying that we’re not going to make it,” Harris said. “A lot of people were having doubts about us, but we still live by, ‘We’re still Hopkins.’ ”
Sports reporter
Cassidy Hettesheimer is a high school sports reporter at the Minnesota Star Tribune.
First look: The popular pop-up is now a popular Italian American family restaurant in the suburb, which has a growing culinary scene.The Minnesota Star TribuneEditor’s note: The restaurant opened as Bar Siena but has since changed its name to Hendrix & Siena. The story has been changed to reflect the new name.It’s hard to tell who was more excited for Hendrix & Siena, the newest addition to the Hopkins dining scene, to open.Was it owners Rhett and Emily Roberts, who held post-holiday sne...
First look: The popular pop-up is now a popular Italian American family restaurant in the suburb, which has a growing culinary scene.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
Editor’s note: The restaurant opened as Bar Siena but has since changed its name to Hendrix & Siena. The story has been changed to reflect the new name.
It’s hard to tell who was more excited for Hendrix & Siena, the newest addition to the Hopkins dining scene, to open.
Was it owners Rhett and Emily Roberts, who held post-holiday sneak peeks serving takeout and drinks while gearing up for opening day? Or was is the diners, who have been snapping up prime-time reservations weeks out? Let’s call it a draw.
The popular pop-up opened as a modern Italian American restaurant on Jan. 9, serving up fresh pasta, pizza and shareable plates, adding more culinary firepower to the western suburb. Inspired by Rhett Roberts’ travels to Italy, it’s the first solo venture for the chef, who is a veteran of fine-dining kitchens throughout the Twin Cities, including Vincent, 112 Eatery and most recently Petite León.
“We want [Hendrix & Siena] to evoke a feeling of sitting at the family dinner table and enjoying the presence of the people you’re there with,” the couple write on Hendrix & Siena’s website. And you’ll find familial touches throughout, from the approachable menu and dishes named for family members to the restaurant’s moniker and color palette.
Location: 1601 Mainstreet, Hopkins, 612-489-7211, hendrixandsiena.com
Hours: Tue.-Sat., 4-9 p.m.
The food: The menu accommodates both adventurous eaters and the risk-averse.
For the more cautious, starters like mozzarella in carrozza ($13), which translates to fried mozzarella sandwich, housemade giardiniera focaccia ($10) and a Caesar salad with an anchovy vinaigrette ($16) are all good bets. For the more adventurous, there’s eggplant ‘nduja bruschetta ($14), steak tartare ($16) and lemony beans ($16), a cold dish of marinated beans and broccolini showered with cheese — and a nod to chef Roberts' social media handle.
A menu of pizzas ($18-$21) range from cheese and housemade sausage to all-the-rage dill pickle and chicken tikka, which was our pick. Bits of chicken, apricot mostarda and garlic butter topped the crowd-pleasing New York-style crust; crunchy chickpeas added texture.
The seven housemade pastas are the main event. The runaway favorite at our table was the Lasagna Duefoglie ($25), a blend of wild mushrooms and creamy cheese nestled under two sheets of pasta (it’s not the traditional tall, layered lasagna) that was inspired by the first dish chef Rhett ate in Italy. The cavatelli ($21) was a close second, with “melted” butternut squash, housemade boursin cheese and nuts hitting all the flavor and texture notes. “It’s kind of like a grown-up version of mac and cheese,” our server said, which was underselling it.
The pillowy ricotta gnocchi with Calabrian chiles and honey butter ($16) was too spicy for us; the Pappardelle alla Lisa ($27), made with a three-day meat sauce that includes Peterson Farms' beef and ribs, was plentiful and flavorful. We chalked its barely lukewarm temp up to new restaurant kinks, and will eagerly try again (leftovers heated beautifully). Other dishes: cacio e pepe, a tortelli cremaschi and orecchiette with sausage and broccoli ($15-$23), as well as a chicken Parmesan and a hanger steak with potatoes and creamed greens ($25-$38).
If you save room for dessert, there’s a choice between fresh silk pie cannoli (two for $8) and a tapioca budino ($9), which was our favorite. Rounding out the post-dinner menu are affogato, fernets, espressos and a handful of apertivos.
The drinks: A well-curated list of sparklings, whites, reds and rosés available by the glass ($10-$17) or bottle ($40-$68), plus a couple of beers from Minnetonka’s Unmapped Brewing Co. ($7-$10). Cocktails come courtesy of Roberts’ former Petite León colleague Travis Serbus, who helped craft the menu. We enjoyed the Fiore (gin, basil, lime and herb-infused olive oil) and the Solstice Cosmo, with vodka, cranberry, pamplemousse, winter spices and lemon ($14-$15). There are a couple of spritzes and frozen drinks, too ($10-$14). NA offerings were a sparkling red wine ($6) and a sparkling fermented tea ($10). Side note: The glassware was on point.
The vibe: “It feels like we’re in someone’s basement, in the best possible way,” said one of my dining companions. The low ceilings and low lights combine to provide a cozy atmosphere in the intimate 70-seat restaurant. On a cold wintry night, it feels like a warm embrace.
Designer/architect Aaron Wittkamper was tasked with connecting the former Jasmine Garden restaurant and a three-bedroom apartment next door into one eatery.
To the left of the entrance is the bar, set aside for walk-ins, and several two-top tables. Look past the bar and you’ll find a snug nook with a small couch, a couple of chairs and a curtain for privacy — an ideal spot for catching up with friends. (It’s a drinks-only spot for now, our server told us.) Amid all the tables in the dining room, to the right of the entrance, is a butcher-block counter that’s workspace during the day and bird’s-eye seating looking into the kitchen come dinner.
Accessibility: The restaurant is all one level, with ample room in the dining room to navigate. The noise level was comfortable during our recent visit; we had no issues conversing on a Saturday evening. There’s plenty of street parking, too, with accessible sidewalks in front of the entrance.
Worth noting: The restaurant opened as Bar Siena, but thanks to a legal challenge from Bar Siena in Chicago, it’s now Hendrix & Siena, the owners’ twins.
Taste Editor
Nicole Ploumen Hvidsten is the Minnesota Star Tribune's senior Taste editor. In past journalistic lives she was a reporter, copy editor and designer — sometimes all at once — and has yet to find a cookbook she doesn't like.
To opponents, he was Ben the Baker. To pie fans, he’s Ben Neumann, a dad making flavorful pies in his White Bear Lake garage.