Aspirin for the Heart: Who the Trials Still Support
What the major aspirin trials show, with the primary versus secondary prevention split as the spine. Reporting on the evidence, not medical advice.
Read the guide →Home › Weight & GLP-1s
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Weight loss & GLP-1s, by the evidence
Everything we publish on GLP-1 weight-loss medications (Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic, and the compounded copies), in one place: provider reviews scored on a single public methodology, the real costs and coverage, the trial evidence, and free tools. We take no money from any provider we cover.
Provider reviews
GLP-1 programs we recommend
Each scored against our 31-point methodology. We take no money from any of them.
Form Health 7.4/10 Best if you're insured (including Medicare) Ro 7.0/10 Best for routing the brand drug through insurance Found 6.2/10 Best for a coverage check before you commit Hims & Hers 5.9/10 Best for fast, month-to-month brand access Noom (Noom Med) 5.6/10 Best for an all-in price with built-in coaching
Free tools
Work out your options
Compare providers Scores and real all-in prices, side by side Price tracker Advertised vs real monthly cost, tracked over time Coverage by state What each state Medicaid program covers Am I a candidate? A 2-minute eligibility check Cost calculator Estimate your real monthly cost Prior authorization letters Templates for diabetes, sleep apnea, and heart risk Insurance appeal letters For a denial or a formulary exclusion Find my best-fit provider Matched to what matters to you
Guides & analysis
Read the evidence
Brain-health supplements: what the trials found
Randomized trials of ginkgo, fish oil, B vitamins, and vitamin E for memory have mostly come up empty. Here is what the studies report.
Read the guide →Reducing Dementia Risk: The Factors the Evidence Supports
What the Lancet Commission and major randomized trials show about modifiable dementia risk factors, and where the evidence stops short.
Read the guide →Diet, exercise, and sodium: what the heart trials show
A reporter's read of the DASH trials, DASH-Sodium, PREDIMED, LOOK AHEAD, physical-activity data, and alcohol on blood pressure and heart risk.
Read the guide →Diet and memory: MIND, Mediterranean, and what the evidence supports
What research shows about diet and memory: strong observational signals for the MIND and Mediterranean patterns, but a large randomized trial found no cognitive edge.
Read the guide →Exercise and the aging brain: what the trials show
What randomized trials say about physical activity and thinking in older adults, and why the strong observational signal narrows when researchers test it directly.
Read the guide →Heart Health After 50, by the Evidence: Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, and What the Trials Show
What randomized trials and the 2019 ACC/AHA prevention guideline show about lowering cardiovascular risk after 50: blood pressure, cholesterol, diet, and aspirin.
Read the guide →High Blood Pressure After 50: What the Trials Show About Targets and Treatment
What randomized trials like SPRINT, HYVET, ACCORD-BP, and ALLHAT show about treating high blood pressure in older adults, reported plainly.
Read the guide →Memory and brain health after 50, by the evidence: what protects cognition and what does not
What randomized trials and the Lancet Commission show about protecting memory after 50, and which popular fixes fail in testing.
Read the guide →Statins and cholesterol: what the evidence shows
What large statin trials and meta-analyses show for primary and secondary prevention, plus side effects and the diabetes signal.
Read the guide →Beyond weight loss: what GLP-1 trials show for your heart, kidneys, sleep, and liver
In two years, GLP-1s picked up FDA approvals for heart disease, kidney disease, sleep apnea, and liver disease. Here is what the trials found, and the fine print on who those benefits are for.
Read the guide →What a GLP-1 really costs in 2026: every route, side by side
The 'from $39' price is not what you pay. Here is the real all-in monthly cost of every way to get a GLP-1 in 2026: insurance, Medicaid, the new Medicare Bridge, buying direct, telehealth, and compounded.
Read the guide →Ro vs Hims for weight loss: cost, coverage, and our scores (2026)
Ro and Hims both prescribe brand GLP-1s, but they score very differently. A side-by-side on real all-in cost, insurance, medications offered, and our methodology scores (Ro 7.0 vs Hims 5.9).
Read the guide →Why most people stop GLP-1s within a year (and who stays on)
The trials measure people who stay on the drug. In the real world, most people quit within a year. Here is what the data shows about how many stop, why (cost leads), who stays on, and what happens after.
Read the guide →Is using a GLP-1 'cheating'? What the evidence says about the 'easy way out'
The fear that a GLP-1 is cheating, or the easy way out, is one of the biggest reasons people hesitate and stay quiet. Here is what the research and the biology say.
Read the guide →Does Medicare cover GLP-1s for weight loss? The new $50 Bridge, explained
Starting July 1, 2026, Medicare's temporary GLP-1 Bridge covers Wegovy, Zepbound, and Foundayo for weight loss at $50 a month. Who qualifies, the catches, and what comes next.
Read the guide →Brand-name vs. compounded GLP-1: what the evidence shows
Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide cost less, but what does the evidence say about whether they work and whether they're safe? The trial data, the FDA's documented concerns, and the 2026 legal picture.
Read the guide →How much weight will you lose on a GLP-1? Every major trial, by drug and dose
What the clinical trials really show for Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide): average weight loss by dose, the head-to-head data, and why real-world results come in lower.
Read the guide →What happens when you stop taking a GLP-1? What the trials show
The clinical evidence on weight regain after stopping Wegovy, Ozempic, or Zepbound: how much comes back, how fast, and what the withdrawal trials (STEP 1, STEP 4, SURMOUNT-4) really found.
Read the guide →The first injection: a calm, step-by-step guide for needle-anxious beginners
Terrified of the first GLP-1 shot? You're not alone, and you're not being dramatic. A reassuring, step-by-step walkthrough, plus the exact tactics people who panicked over their first injection used to get through it.
Read the guide →What to expect your first month on a GLP-1, week by week
A calm, sourced walkthrough of weeks 1–4 on Wegovy or Zepbound: the starter dose, when side effects show up, what the scale will (and won't) do, and when to call your doctor.
Read the guide →We analyzed 1,000+ GLP-1 user reports: 7 patterns nobody warns you about
We read 1,049 comments across eight high-engagement GLP-1 patient threads and counted what people say, not the marketing, not the horror stories. Seven recurring patterns, each with the numbers behind it.
Read the guide →Wegovy vs. Zepbound: what clinical trials show in 2026
Efficacy data from published trials, side-effect rates, and real monthly costs with and without insurance: Wegovy (semaglutide) vs. Zepbound (tirzepatide), compared on the evidence.
Read the guide → Browse the section
All GLP-1 coverage
People also ask
Common questions
Does insurance or Medicare cover GLP-1s for weight loss?
It depends on your plan and your diagnosis. Commercial coverage varies, most state Medicaid programs do not cover GLP-1s for weight loss alone, and Medicare began a temporary $50 Bridge program in 2026. Coverage often runs through an approved condition such as diabetes or heart disease. See our coverage-by-state tool and the Medicare explainer.
What does a GLP-1 really cost per month?
The advertised "from $39" price is rarely what you pay. Real all-in cash costs across the providers we track run from roughly $199 to $850 a month. Our price tracker and cost breakdown show the real numbers by route.
Which works better, Wegovy or Zepbound?
In the first head-to-head trial, tirzepatide (Zepbound) produced more weight loss than semaglutide (Wegovy), though both are effective. We cover the trial data and how the providers that prescribe each one score.
Why do so many people stop taking GLP-1s?
Real-world data show most people are off the drug within a year, and cost is the leading reason, ahead of side effects. Planning for the real cost is the biggest factor in staying on.