Telehealth for Weight Loss: Benefits and How It Works

These days, nearly everything can be done online — from grocery shopping to legal consultations. And if you’re looking for help losing weight, that support is available virtually, too.

Using telehealth for weight loss is a great way to access 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 virtual care compares to in-person care, and tips for getting started.

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

Online, you can get access to:

• 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 you’re eligible for weight loss medications — and, if so, which ones are best for you.

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.

With Hers, 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 a 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’ll 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.

Though some platforms offer 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 online weight loss programs like Hers that provide detailed instructions with every medication shipment and ongoing access to a support app.

The Hers app walks 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 message a provider in the app at any time if you have questions or concerns at no additional cost.

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 physical 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 access to protein-packed meal replacement bars and shakes designed by physicians and approved by dieticians.

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 with regular follow-ups. That way, 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^®). Hers offers access to prescription anti-nausea medication at no additional cost (to those who qualify, depending on the medication prescribed).

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.

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

• Semaglutide. Semaglutide is a weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist injection sold under the brand names Ozempic^® and Wegovy^®.

• Tirzepatide. This is a weekly injection sold under the brand names Mounjaro^® and Zepbound^®.

• Liraglutide. Liraglutide is a daily injection sold under the brand names Victoza^® and Saxenda^®.

You can also get weight loss pills online. Oral medications that may help promote weight loss include:

• Bupropion

• Metformin 

• Topiramate 

• Naltrexone

Explore oral weight loss kits available through Hers, and see if treatment is right for you.

Weight Loss by Hers 

Hers offers access to a variety of weight loss medication options designed to support different goals and fit different budgets.

GLP-1s injections available through Hers include:

• Wegovy^® (semaglutide). This is a once-weekly injection FDA-approved for weight loss in people with obesity or those who are overweight with a related health condition, like high blood pressure (hypertension) or sleep apnea. Wegovy^® clinical trials show that people can lose up to 20 percent of their body weight over 68 weeks of treatment.

• Ozempic^® (semaglutide). Also a weekly injection, Ozempic^® is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes. It can be prescribed off-label for weight management.

• Zepbound^® (tirzepatide). This functions similarly to GLP-1 drugs but also targets another receptor, gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP). It’s administered at home as a once-weekly injection and is approved for weight management.

• Mounjaro^® (tirzepatide). This once-weekly injection is FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes but can be prescribed off-label for weight loss.

• Generic liraglutide. Liraglutide is the active ingredient in Saxenda^®, which is FDA-approved to treat obesity.

Hers also offers access to oral weight loss kits tailored to your weight loss goals, needs, and budget. Hers oral weight loss kits may contain some combination of the following medications:

• Bupropion is an antidepressant that can influence the brain’s reward system and appetite.

• Metformin stabilizes blood sugar (glucose) and is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes. It’s also sometimes used off-label for PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and weight loss.

• Topiramate is an anticonvulsant that can also help you feel fuller longer.

• Naltrexone is typically used to reduce cravings for alcohol and opioids, but it can help with weight loss when combined with other prescription drugs.

Providers might start you on a lower dose to minimize side effects, and you can switch medications or adjust your plan if needed.

For those concerned about side effects like nausea, your Hers care team may also prescribe anti-nausea medication at no extra cost for those eligible. This includes ondansetron (the active ingredient in Zofran^®).

Weight loss telehealth services are growing in popularity — and for good reason. There are several benefits to accessing weight loss medications and medical support online.

You can get personalized expert advice, receive a prescription (if eligible), 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

• Have insurance coverage for medical weight loss

Talk about benefits.

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.

You can get ongoing support online, too, saving you lots of time in the long run. You may be more likely to check in with providers virtually, as it’s quick and easy to do so. Ongoing provider support may even help you maintain your weight loss over the long term.

Hers Weight Loss Review

Hers customer Alexandra B., 37, explains why she chose Weight Loss by Hers:

“I chose Hers because the process seemed approachable and supportive, which felt really important to me. I didn’t want to feel judged or overwhelmed — I just wanted something that fit into my life and gave me the tools I needed. From the start, I felt like I was in good hands that cared about me personally.

“The signup process was super easy. I filled out a quick medical questionnaire online, and within a short time, I was connected to a real provider, virtually, who really listened to my goals and concerns. We talked about what I was hoping to achieve and what kind of plan would work best for me. It felt very collaborative, which I appreciated.

“One of the things I really liked was the personalized dosing. In the past, I’ve felt boxed into one-size-fits-all approaches that didn’t always sit well with me. I had the option to start at a lower dose to see how my body responded, which helped me ease into things without feeling nervous. I also loved how easy and clear the treatment was laid out; it made the change in dosing every month easy to understand.

“The treatment has already had such a positive impact. When I first noticed the weight starting to come off, I felt this wave of motivation and reassurance — like, okay, this is working, and I can do this. It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s felt doable and encouraging every step of the way.

“I’ve been using the Hers app throughout my journey, and it’s been a great resource. It’s helped me stay accountable, track progress, and check in with my provider when I have questions (with quick responses).

“I’ve also become much more mindful of my nutrition — especially when it comes to protein intake — and I think that’s played a huge role in how I feel physically and mentally. I don’t feel the cravings I once did and am consistently fuller.

“Overall, I’m just really grateful I chose this route. The support, the flexibility, the ease — it’s made all the difference. I feel like I’m finally on a path that works for me.“

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 in a traditional brick-and-mortar setting.

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.

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 an oral weight loss medication. You’ll need to visit a pharmacy to get your prescription filled or have your medication delivered.

So, there you have it. Now you know the ins and outs of using telehealth services for medical 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 clinician 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 may be eligible for weight loss medication.