The ABCs of GLP-1 weight-loss programs

GLP-1 medications changed how people lose weight, and telehealth changed how people get them. This site explains both in plain English so you can compare programs with clear eyes before you spend anything.

What this site is: an independent explainer written for people who are considering an online GLP-1 program and want to understand the moving parts first.

What it is not: medical advice. Whether a GLP-1 medication is right for you is a decision for you and a licensed clinician who knows your history.

Read the guides in order

Each guide is one letter. Together they take you from "what is this" to "which program should I pick." Twenty minutes covers all seven.

A
How GLP-1 telehealth actually worksThe intake form, the clinician review, the pharmacy, the box on your doorstep, and where each step can go wrong.
B
Brand-name vs. compounded GLP-1The difference between FDA-approved products and compounded versions, why it matters, and what to ask.
C
What online GLP-1 programs costMembership fees, medication fees, labs, and the hidden line items that decide the real monthly number.
D
Semaglutide vs. tirzepatide programsThe two molecules behind most programs, how they differ, and why the choice is a clinical one.
E
What to expect at your first online visitWhat you will be asked, what you should ask back, and the answers that should make you pause.
F
Side effects and who should not take GLP-1sCommon effects, serious warnings, and the history that means you need an in-person doctor instead.
G
How to choose a programA checklist for comparing any program, plus the ones we currently link to and why.

Three things to know before you start

The medication is only part of the program. Every legitimate online program includes a licensed clinician who reviews your health information and decides whether to prescribe. If a site skips that step, it is not a telehealth program; it is a store, and you should leave.

Prices swing widely and change often. Any dollar figure on this site is illustrative, was accurate when written, and should be confirmed on the program's own checkout page before you decide anything.

Rules vary by state and shift with FDA policy. Which medications can be prescribed online, whether compounded versions are allowed, and what a clinician must do before prescribing all depend on where you live and on rules that have changed several times in recent years. Verify current rules for your state.

Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you sign up for a program through one of them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. That relationship never changes what we write about a program. How this works.

Start with A Skip to the checklist