The Short Answer
- Check whether you fit the approved use. The weight-loss GLP-1s are approved for adults with obesity, or with overweight plus a weight-related health problem.
- Pick a prescriber. Your regular doctor, a weight loss clinic or a telehealth service can all prescribe them.
- Plan how you will pay. Many plans require prior approval first. If that fails, you can appeal, and the drug makers also sell direct at cash prices.
- Start low and go slow. Every one of these drugs starts at a low dose that goes up step by step.
Step 1: Check Whether You Qualify
Wegovy, Zepbound, Saxenda and Foundayo are the GLP-1 drugs approved for weight loss. Their FDA labels approve them for adults with obesity, or adults with overweight who also have at least one weight-related health problem. They are meant to be used with a lower-calorie diet and more physical activity.
The labels describe obesity, or overweight with a weight-related condition. The AGA's 2022 guideline recommends weight-management medication for adults with a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with a weight-related condition. If your BMI is below 27, ask your prescriber whether treatment is appropriate, what evidence supports it, and whether the proposed use fits the specific drug's approved labeling. Not sure of your number? Try our BMI calculator.
A few more things to know:
- Teens. Wegovy shots and Saxenda are also approved for some children 12 and older. Zepbound, Foundayo and the Wegovy pill are for adults only.
- Ozempic and Mounjaro are approved for type 2 diabetes. Their weight-loss versions, made of the same medicines, are Wegovy and Zepbound.
- Off-label use. Doctors are generally allowed to prescribe a drug for a use the FDA has not approved, such as Ozempic for weight loss alone. That is called "off-label" use. The FDA says doctors may do this "when they judge that it is medically appropriate for their patient." It also says the FDA "has not determined that the drug is safe and effective" for that use. If a prescriber suggests a GLP-1 for a use outside its label, ask why it fits your case, and check whether your insurance will cover it.
Step 2: Choose Who Will Prescribe It
You have three main options. Any of them can work.
- Your primary care doctor. They already know your health history. Ask whether they prescribe GLP-1s for weight loss and how often they will see you.
- A weight loss clinic. These clinics focus on weight care and often handle insurance paperwork. Search clinics near you to compare services.
- A telehealth service. Visits happen online, which can help if there is no clinic near you. Find clinics that offer telehealth, or read telehealth vs. in-person care.
Not sure how to bring it up? Our guide on how to talk to your doctor about GLP-1 medications can help.
Step 3: Get Ready for Your First Visit
Bring these with you, or have them ready for an online visit:
- Your height and weight, or a recent weight from a doctor's office
- A list of your health conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, prediabetes or sleep apnea
- Every medicine and supplement you take
- What you have already tried to lose weight, and for how long. Insurers often ask for this.
- Your insurance card
Questions worth asking:
- Which medicine fits me best: a weekly shot or a daily pill?
- Will my insurance likely cover it, and will you send the prior approval request?
- What will it cost me if insurance says no?
- How often will I see you while my dose goes up?
- What side effects should I call you about?
At the visit, expect questions about your health history and past weight loss efforts, a weight and blood pressure check, and possibly blood tests. See what to expect at your first appointment for more.
Step 4: Work Out How to Pay
With insurance: prior approval
Many plans want your prescriber to ask for approval before they will pay. This is called prior authorization. The insurer usually wants proof of your BMI, any weight-related conditions, and often what you have tried before.
Insurers have legal deadlines to answer, and urgent requests must be handled faster. For many job-based plans, a non-urgent request should be answered within 15 days, though the plan can take up to 15 more days if it tells you why. Ask your prescriber's office to tell you when the request goes in. Coverage for weight loss still depends on your plan. Our insurance guide covers the main insurers, and there are separate pages on Medicaid and Medicare.
Without insurance: buying direct
The drug makers sell direct to people paying cash. Novo Nordisk sells Wegovy through NovoCare Pharmacy, and Lilly sells Zepbound through LillyDirect. Prices depend on the drug and the dose, and they change. Our Wegovy and Zepbound pages list the current offers with their sources.
What about compounded versions?
Compounded drugs are mixed by a pharmacy. They are not FDA-approved, and the FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality before they are marketed. The shortages that let pharmacies widely copy these drugs ended for tirzepatide in December 2024 and for semaglutide in February 2025. After transition periods that ran into 2025, pharmacies generally may not make copies of the approved drugs. The exception is narrow: a prescriber must document that the compounded version contains a change that makes a significant difference for an identified patient. The FDA says adding an extra ingredient, such as vitamin B12, can still count as a copy. The FDA has also warned about illegal online sellers. Read more in compounded vs. brand-name GLP-1s.
Step 5: If Your Insurance Says No
A denial is not the end. Here is what to do:
- Read the denial notice. It should say why you were denied, how to appeal and by when. The reason tells you what to fix.
- Ask your prescriber to appeal. They can send more records, such as your weight history and health conditions.
- Watch the deadline. Use the date in your notice. Many job-based plans must give you at least 180 days to appeal.
- Ask for a faster review if waiting could seriously harm your health. Urgent appeals must be decided much sooner.
- Ask whether an outside review applies. For some denials, such as those based on medical judgment, you can ask an independent reviewer to look at your case. Your notice or your insurer can tell you if this applies.
We could not verify a GLP-1-specific appeal success rate, so be wary of anyone who promises a result. Our step-by-step guide covers what to do when your insurance denies a GLP-1.
Step 6: Start Your Medicine
Every GLP-1 starts at a low dose that goes up in steps. This helps your body get used to it and can make stomach side effects easier to handle. The starting dose, and how fast it goes up, depend on the medicine and on your prescriber's instructions.
Wegovy and Zepbound shots are taken once a week. The Wegovy pill and Foundayo are taken once a day. See Wegovy pill vs. the shot.
Follow your prescriber's plan, and ask before changing a dose. Learn what is normal in our guide to GLP-1 side effects.
Step 7: Keep Up With Follow-Ups
Expect regular check-ins while your dose is going up, then less often once you are on a steady dose. These visits cover your weight, side effects, any dose changes and, sometimes, blood tests. Before you start, tell your prescriber about any planned surgery or procedure. See GLP-1s and surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I qualify for a GLP-1 for weight loss?
The weight-loss GLP-1s are approved for adults with obesity, or with overweight plus at least one weight-related health problem. The AGA's 2022 guideline recommends weight-management medication for adults with a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with a weight-related condition. Your prescriber makes the final call, and your insurance plan may set its own rules.
Can my regular doctor prescribe a GLP-1?
Yes. Your primary care doctor can prescribe these drugs. Some doctors may refer you to a weight loss specialist instead.
Is it hard to get a GLP-1 prescription?
Many plans need prior authorization first, and some plans do not cover weight loss drugs at all. Our insurance guide explains what to check.
How long does prior authorization take?
Insurers have legal deadlines, and urgent requests must be answered faster. For many job-based plans, a non-urgent request should be answered within 15 days, though the plan can take up to 15 more days if it tells you why. Your prescriber's office can tell you where the request stands.
Can I get a GLP-1 prescription online?
Yes. Licensed telehealth prescribers can prescribe these drugs after an online visit. Fill the prescription at a licensed pharmacy, and be careful with sites that sell compounded or unapproved versions.
How much does a GLP-1 cost per month?
It depends on your insurance, the drug and the dose. Our GLP-1 cost report shows the prices clinics advertise, and the Wegovy and Zepbound pages list the makers' cash offers.
Ready to Start?
If you would like a prescriber to talk it through with you, search GLP-1 clinics or browse clinics by state, and send a clinic a question through its listing.
Sources
- FDA labels (DailyMed): Wegovy, Zepbound, Saxenda, Foundayo, Ozempic, Mounjaro
- Clinical guideline: Grunvald E et al., AGA Clinical Practice Guideline on Pharmacological Interventions for Adults With Obesity, Gastroenterology, 2022. DOI
- Regulator: FDA, Understanding unapproved use of approved drugs "off label"
- Regulator: FDA, policies for compounders as GLP-1 supply stabilizes and concerns about unapproved GLP-1 drugs
- Regulator: U.S. Department of Labor, filing a claim for your health benefits
- Regulator: HealthCare.gov, internal appeals and external review
This guide explains the process and the published rules. It is not medical advice. Your prescriber decides what is right for you.
Updated October 2026: Rewrote this guide against the current FDA labels, FDA guidance and federal appeal rules. Removed an unsourced line saying "plenty of clinics" consider patients at a BMI of 25 or more. Added what the labels say, the AGA's 2022 guideline levels, and what to ask if your BMI is below 27. Replaced a line promoting compounded medications as a cheaper option with the FDA's current limits on compounding. Removed an unsourced claim that "many succeed on the second try" on appeal; we could not verify a GLP-1-specific appeal success rate. Added the pill options, what to bring and ask, how insurance decisions and appeals work, and an FAQ.