Telehealth GLP-1 Programs, Step by Step: What to Expect

Step 1: The online intake

Most programs start with a health questionnaire: height and weight, current medications, past and present conditions, and what you have tried before. Expect questions about a history of pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, kidney problems, eating disorders, pregnancy or plans for pregnancy, and any personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2 — these affect whether GLP-1 medications are considered safe for you.⁶ Some programs also ask for recent lab work or photo ID.

Answer completely and honestly. The intake is what the provider relies on to judge whether treatment is safe; leaving things out only removes a safety check.

Step 2: A licensed provider reviews your case

A physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant licensed in your state reviews your answers — sometimes asynchronously, sometimes by video. They may order labs or ask follow-up questions before deciding anything.

For reference, FDA-approved GLP-1 medications for chronic weight management are labeled for adults with a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes, used together with a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity.³⁵ Meeting those numbers does not mean you will be offered medication; the provider weighs your whole history, and “no” is a legitimate outcome.

Step 3: If medication is part of the plan

GLP-1 medications mimic a gut hormone that affects appetite, fullness, and how quickly the stomach empties.⁷ Most are once-weekly injections. Providers usually start at a low dose and step up gradually, mainly to keep stomach side effects manageable.

In the large trials behind the approved medications, people taking the drug alongside diet and activity changes lost more weight on average than people taking a placebo — but individual responses varied widely, and some people lost little.¹² Medical guidelines treat obesity as a chronic condition, so ask early what the plan is for the long term, including what happens if you stop.⁸

Ask, too, whether you would receive an FDA-approved brand-name product or a compounded version, and which pharmacy fills it. Our guide to compounded versus brand-name GLP-1s covers that difference.

Step 4: Side effects and check-ins

The most common side effects are digestive: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and stomach pain, often most noticeable after a dose increase. Less common but serious risks include pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, kidney problems related to dehydration, and low blood sugar when combined with certain diabetes medications. Semaglutide and tirzepatide carry a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rodent studies.⁶³

A good program makes it easy to report side effects: you should know who to message, how quickly they respond, and whether the provider can hold or lower your dose.

Questions to ask any program

• Who makes the treatment decision? Is the provider licensed in your state, and will you ever speak with them directly?
• What does the price include? Consult, medication, shipping, supplies, labs, and follow-ups — and does the price change as your dose goes up?
• Which medication and which pharmacy? Brand-name or compounded, and is the pharmacy state-licensed?⁹
• How often are check-ins? And how are side effects handled between them?
• Cash or insurance? Can they provide an itemized receipt for your insurer, HSA, or FSA?
• How do they work with your doctor? Will they share records with your primary care provider?

If you are weighing Aspen Health against other programs, put the same list to each one and compare the answers side by side.