Our methodology is designed to answer one question honestly: what would you actually get, and at what cost? Every comparison, review and tool on this site follows the steps below, from choosing a topic to correcting a page after publication.
How we choose topics
We cover weight loss only: telehealth programs that include a prescription, prescription weight-loss medications, costs and insurance, side effects and safety, and the nutrition and fitness products that support treatment. We pick topics from real search questions and from new FDA decisions, and we update an existing page rather than writing a second one on the same question. Every article must add something original, such as a dated price table or a calculation.
Our sources, in order of trust
- Official health sources: FDA labels and safety communications, NIH/NIDDK, CDC, USPSTF and professional medical societies.
- Peer-reviewed research: meta-analyses and randomized trials, read in the original paper.
- Programs’ own pages: pricing, FAQ and terms, for what a program offers and charges.
- Reputable health journalism, for context only.
We never use competitor affiliate sites, influencers or press releases as evidence. A company’s self-reported customer results are not clinical evidence.
Evidence grades
For every medication, supplement or product we state the level of evidence:
- A, strong: FDA-approved for weight management or supported by several randomized trials.
- B, moderate: some randomized trials, consistent but small or short.
- C, weak: observational, animal or small single studies.
- D, none: marketing claims only.
How we compare telehealth programs
| Criterion | What we check |
|---|---|
| Real monthly cost | Public pricing, what is included (visits, medication, labs, shipping), price changes after the first month |
| Medication type | FDA-approved brand-name drug (e.g. Wegovy®, Zepbound®) or compounded version (not FDA-approved) |
| Clinical care | Licensed clinicians, how often you can reach them, lab work and follow-up |
| Transparency | Clear terms, cancellation policy, refunds, disclosed pharmacy partners |
| Safety | Screening questions, contraindications, side-effect support |
| Evidence | Whether claims are backed by clinical trials rather than self-reported customer data |
We do not test medications or sign up for programs as patients. Reviews rely on public pricing and terms, published evidence and documented customer experience sources, and say so.
How we collect prices
- Only from each program’s official pricing page, FAQ or terms, never from third-party sites, and with a short quote kept for every price.
- If a price is only visible behind a quiz, a checkout or a login, we mark it “not public” instead of guessing.
- We never bypass bot protections, create accounts or enter personal data to see a price.
- Every price carries the date it was checked. Our price tracker is rechecked monthly.
Fact-check and health review
Before publication, every article goes through two separate checks. First, a fact-check compares each claim, number and price with its source. Then a health and safety review checks FDA status, warnings, at-risk groups and wording: no dosing advice, no promise of results, no advice to start, stop or switch a medication. Either step can send an article back or block it. We are an editorial team, not clinicians, so this content does not replace your healthcare provider.
Updates and corrections
Prices and regulatory status are written “as of” a date and rechecked when they change. If you spot an error, tell us through our contact page: we check it against the source and correct the page.
Money and independence
We may earn a commission when you sign up through some links. Commissions never change a ranking, a grade or a verdict, and no company reviews our articles before publication. Read our affiliate disclosure.