Telehealth for Weight Loss: Benefits and How It Works

We’re living in the 21st century. That means everything from grocery shopping to legal consultations can be done online. And, yes, if you’re looking for help losing weight, you can get that on the internet, too.

Using telehealth for weight loss is a great way to get weight loss medication and ongoing support with lifestyle changes. You can kickstart your weight loss journey without leaving the comfort of your home.

Below, we’ll dive into how telehealth for weight loss works, how it compares to in-person care, and tips for getting started.

There are many different types of telehealth services to help people with excess weight or obesity.

Online, you can get:

• Prescription weight loss medications

• Personalized nutrition and exercise plans

• Behavioral support to build healthy lifestyle and eating habits

• Ongoing support from a medical care team

Each telehealth company will have a slightly different process, but for the most part, getting weight loss support online will look like this.

1. Complete an Initial Assessment or Consultation

If you’re looking into weight loss drugs to support your weight loss efforts, you’ll need a prescription. To get one online, a healthcare provider will look at your health history and decide if weight loss medications are appropriate for you — and, if so, which ones.

During your virtual assessment, you might answer questions about your:

• Body weight

• Body mass index (BMI)

• Medical history

• Current lifestyle

• Previous weight loss efforts

Your initial assessment could involve a call with an online healthcare provider, or you might be asked to submit a detailed form.

To get the best online weight loss prescription for you, answer all questions honestly and accurately. Remember, providers are there to help you on your journey — no judgment here.

Some telemedicine services may require an in-person visit for lab testing, but others are 100 percent online.

On the Hers platform, you fill out a weight loss assessment and a licensed healthcare provider reviews your answers to see if you qualify for treatment. In most states, you don’t even need to schedule a call with a provider; you’ll connect with your provider through a secure in-app messaging service.

2. Get a Prescription

If your provider determines that weight loss medications are right for you, they will write you a prescription. How you get your medication will depend on which telemedicine service you use.

When you’re prescribed weight loss medication through the Hers platform, it's delivered directly to your door — we’re a one-stop shop.

While some platforms offer the same all-in-one services, others require you to fill your prescription at another online pharmacy or pick it up at a local pharmacy.

When you first start a new weight loss medication, it’s important that you understand how and when to take it.

Pro tip: Look for a platform like Hers that provides detailed instructions with every medication shipment and ongoing access to a support app.

On the Hers app, we walk you through the process step-by-step. You’ll find videos and other resources explaining how to inject your medication, how to follow a dose escalation schedule, and what side effects to expect. Plus, you can text a provider in the app at any time if you have questions or concerns.

3. Get Support with Lifestyle Changes

Getting a telemedicine weight loss prescription is just one piece of the puzzle. For sustainable and healthy weight loss, you’ll also want to make healthy lifestyle changes, such as:

• Eating nutritious foods

• Drinking more water

• Upping your activity level

• Getting enough sleep

• Reducing your stress

Many telehealth services offer support with these changes, too. This might be through educational content, habit trackers, or personalized nutrition and exercise plans.

For instance, Hers offers trackers — like protein intake, sleep, and step trackers — as well as healthy recipes and guidance based on your personalized eating profile.

Hers also helps make healthy eating easier and more convenient with protein-packed meal replacement bars and shakes.

4. Get Ongoing Weight Loss Support

Everyone’s weight loss journey looks a little different. And it’s a long game, so ongoing support is key.

The best telehealth services offer ongoing access to healthcare professionals so you can ask questions, discuss any medication side effects that crop up, and get tweaks to your treatment plan.

For example, some people experience nausea each time their GLP-1 dose is increased. (GLP-1 doses are typically increased every four weeks during the first few months of treatment.) If this is happening to you, your provider might change your dose escalation plan.

They might also offer you a prescription anti-nausea medication, like ondansetron (Zofran®).

Shameless plug: Hers is the only telehealth provider that offers prescription anti-nausea medication at no additional cost (to those who qualify).

Depending on which telehealth weight loss service you use, your ongoing consultations might take place over the phone, via video call, or through online messaging.

Weight loss telehealth services are all the rage right now — and for a good reason. There are numerous benefits to getting weight loss medications and medical weight loss support online.

For one, you can get personalized expert advice, a prescription, and order weight loss meds online. There’s no need to:

• Find time in your schedule

• Organize childcare or time off work

• Travel to a doctor’s office

• Pay for transport

• Hang around in a waiting room

• Meet with a provider in person

Talk about benefits.

You can get ongoing support online, too, saving you lots of time in the long run. This might mean you’re more likely to go to follow-up appointments or check in with providers virtually, as it’s quicker and easier to do so. Ongoing provider support may even help you maintain your weight loss over the long term.

Having access to other online tools and resources — like tracking apps and meal plans — may help you reach your weight loss goals, too.

Plus, asking a doctor about weight loss drugs online may feel less intimidating than speaking to someone face to face. There’s absolutely no shame in asking about your weight loss options, but if doing so online helps you feel more comfortable, we’re all for it.

Starting a weight loss journey can be daunting, but doing it online might make it a little easier.

Here are some tips to make sure things run smoothly:

• Find out how you pay. Weight loss drugs aren’t usually covered by insurance — but check your insurance plan to be sure! This means you might have to cover the costs yourself. Some telehealth platforms work on a monthly subscription model, although you may want to pay upfront to get maximum savings. Some platforms include a free consultation, while others charge initial consultation fees.

• Check what’s included. Some telehealth services offer free ongoing provider support (shout out to Hers), while others charge for follow-ups. Some offer additional tools to help with diet and exercise changes — these might be included in your monthly subscription or come at an extra cost.

• Make sure your medication comes from a trusted source. Getting weight loss medications online is usually safe, as long as you stick with reputable companies. Look for U.S.-based, state-licensed pharmacies.

FYI, it’s even more important to make sure you’re using a credible weight loss service if you’re considering compounded drugs like compounded semaglutide.

On the Hers platform, you can get compounded semaglutide made at U.S.-based pharmacies with ingredients from FDA-regulated manufacturers.

You can get a number of different weight loss drugs online, including weight loss injections like:

• Semaglutide. This weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist injection is sold under the brand names Ozempic® and Wegovy®. You can also get compounded semaglutide, which contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic and Wegovy. Compounded semaglutide isn’t FDA-approved, but it’s more affordable and more widely available.

• Tirzepatide. This is a weekly injection sold under the brand names Mounjaro® and Zepbound®. You can also get compounded tirzepatide.

• Liraglutide. Liraglutide is a daily injection sold under the brand names Victoza® and Saxenda®. Compounded liraglutide is also an option.

You can also get weight loss pills like:

• Metformin

• Topiramate

• Naltrexone-bupropion (Contrave®)

You can probably guess the main difference between getting weight loss medication and care online versus in person — not having to interact with a healthcare provider IRL.

When you reach out to a medical provider in person, you have to schedule an in-person appointment, travel to the doctor’s office, and hang out in the waiting room until they call your name.

You’ll also have to discuss your weight with a provider face to face, which can be a little intimidating for some people — even though healthcare providers are, of course, there to help.

The overall process is similar to a virtual appointment. In person, a healthcare provider will ask you questions about your health information, lifestyle, and medical history.

They may also do some tests that can’t be done online, such as:

• Weighing you

• Measuring your height to work out your BMI

• Measuring your waist circumference

• Checking your blood pressure

• Ordering lab tests

If you’re eligible, your provider will write you a prescription for a GLP-1 medication or another weight loss drug. You’ll need to visit a pharmacy to get your prescription filled or have your medication delivered. If you’re looking for compounded GLP-1s, you’ll need to find a licensed compounding pharmacy.

So, there you have it. Now you know the ins and outs of using telehealth services for weight loss. Here’s a recap of what we covered:

• Using telehealth for weight loss can be a convenient, cost-effective way to access weight loss drugs and reach a healthy body weight.

• Of course, it’s not the only way to get weight loss support. You can talk to your primary care physician or another medical professional in person if that’s what you prefer.

• But know that connecting with a weight loss doctor online is a great option for folks who want to save time, avoid leaving home, and get ongoing access to weight loss support services.

If you’re ready to get started, take our free online weight loss assessment to find out whether you’re a good candidate for weight loss medication.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.