GLP-1 weight loss glossary
39 terms you'll encounter while comparison-shopping the US weight loss telehealth category. Plain definitions, no jargon, links to deeper reading where it helps.
Jump to: 5 · A · B · C · D · E · F · G · H · L · M · N · O · P · S · T · W · Z
5
503A pharmacy
A compounding pharmacy regulated under section 503A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. 503A pharmacies prepare medications individually based on a prescription for a specific patient, under state board of pharmacy oversight rather than FDA new-drug approval. Most compounded GLP-1s in 2026 are prepared at 503A pharmacies.
503B outsourcing facility
A larger compounding facility regulated under section 503B. Unlike 503A, 503B facilities can compound in bulk without individual prescriptions and are subject to FDA cGMP-like inspections. Few 503Bs compound GLP-1s due to bulk-volume regulatory complexity.
A
Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA)
The FDA pathway by which generic drugs are approved. Generic semaglutide manufacturers must file ANDAs demonstrating bioequivalence with branded Wegovy. The first ANDAs for semaglutide were filed 2024-2025; first approvals expected late 2026.
Active pharmaceutical ingredient (API)
The biologically active chemical in a medication. Semaglutide and tirzepatide are APIs. Compounded GLP-1s typically source API from FDA-registered manufacturers, but the final compounded product is not FDA-approved as a drug product.
B
BMI (Body Mass Index)
Weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Most US insurance plans require BMI ≥30 for GLP-1 weight loss coverage, or BMI ≥27 with an obesity-related comorbidity. BMI is a population-level statistic and a poor individual diagnostic, but it is the gate insurance plans use.
Branded drug
A medication marketed under a manufacturer's brand name, FDA-approved as a new drug, and protected by patent. Wegovy (Novo Nordisk), Zepbound (Eli Lilly), Ozempic (Novo Nordisk), and Mounjaro (Eli Lilly) are branded drugs. Compounded versions of the same molecules are not.
C
Comorbidity
A medical condition co-occurring with another. For GLP-1 weight loss insurance coverage, common qualifying comorbidities include type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia (high cholesterol), and obstructive sleep apnea.
Compounded medication
A medication prepared at a pharmacy under prescription, customized for a patient or batch. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved as new drugs. The active ingredient may be identical to a branded product, but the regulatory pathway, manufacturing oversight, and insurance coverage are not.
CPA (Cost per acquisition)
The amount an affiliate or marketing channel pays for one converted customer. Weight loss program affiliate CPAs in 2026 range from ~$10 (Noom) to ~$300 (WeightWatchers Clinic on annual signups).
D
Direct-to-consumer (DTC)
A distribution model where the manufacturer or program sells directly to patients without an intermediary. NovoCare and LillyDirect are DTC programs from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly that sell branded GLP-1s at reduced cash prices.
E
Eli Lilly
American pharmaceutical company that manufactures Mounjaro and Zepbound (tirzepatide). LillyDirect is Lilly's direct-to-consumer cash-pay channel.
F
FDA approval
The US Food and Drug Administration's process for clearing new drugs for sale. Wegovy was approved for chronic weight management in 2021. Compounded versions of approved drugs are not separately FDA-approved as drug products; they exist under separate compounding regulations.
FDA shortage list
A list maintained by the FDA of drugs in officially-declared shortage. While a drug is on the list, 503A pharmacies have broader latitude to compound versions of it. Semaglutide was on the list 2022-2024; tirzepatide briefly in 2024. Both are now off.
Foundayo
Found's branded program for compounded orforglipron, Eli Lilly's oral GLP-1 still in pre-launch FDA review. Found prepares orforglipron through 503A pharmacies as it is not yet branded-available.
FSA (Flexible Spending Account)
A tax-advantaged employer-sponsored account for medical expenses. Same eligibility as HSA for GLP-1 weight loss, but FSA balances generally don't roll over year-to-year.
G
Generic drug
A medication chemically identical to a branded drug, manufactured by a non-originator company under FDA approval after the originator's exclusivity has expired. The first generic semaglutide approvals are expected late 2026 to early 2027.
GLP-1 (Glucagon-like peptide-1)
A hormone that slows gastric emptying, promotes satiety, and stimulates insulin release. GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide) and dual GLP-1/GIP agonists (tirzepatide) mimic this hormone for weight loss and diabetes treatment.
H
HSA (Health Savings Account)
A tax-advantaged account for medical expenses, paired with high-deductible insurance plans. GLP-1 weight loss medications and most weight-loss telehealth memberships are HSA-eligible expenses.
L
LegitScript
A private compliance certification organization that verifies legitimate online pharmacies and healthcare merchants. Google, Meta, and Microsoft require LegitScript Healthcare Certification for GLP-1 advertising. Most major US weight-loss telehealth providers carry it.
Liraglutide
An older GLP-1 receptor agonist marketed as Saxenda for weight loss and Victoza for diabetes. Less effective for weight loss than semaglutide and tirzepatide; mostly displaced by them.
Lock-in / commitment
A term in a subscription contract requiring the patient to remain enrolled for a defined period. A handful of the 20 programs in our chart use 6-month or 12-month locks; most are month-to-month.
M
Microdose protocol
An off-label approach to GLP-1 dosing that starts at a fraction of the standard maintenance dose (e.g., 0.1mg semaglutide instead of 0.25mg) and titrates slowly. Some patients experience fewer GI side effects. Noom Med is the only major program offering a formal microdose protocol.
Mounjaro
Eli Lilly's branded tirzepatide for type 2 diabetes. Often prescribed off-label for weight loss before Zepbound's 2023 approval; some programs still prescribe it off-label.
N
Novo Nordisk
Danish pharmaceutical company that manufactures Wegovy, Ozempic, and Saxenda. Has pursued legal action against compounded semaglutide pharmacies and 2026 telehealth programs distributing compounded products.
NovoCare
Novo Nordisk's direct-to-consumer cash-pay program for Wegovy. Provides discounted cash prices for branded Wegovy without requiring insurance navigation.
O
Off-label prescribing
Prescribing a medication for a condition different from its FDA-approved indication. Ozempic is FDA-approved for diabetes but commonly prescribed off-label for weight loss. Mounjaro for weight loss before Zepbound's approval was also off-label.
Orforglipron
Eli Lilly's oral GLP-1 receptor agonist still in late-stage FDA review for branded approval in 2026. Found's Foundayo program prepares orforglipron through 503A pharmacies as branded approval is pending.
Ozempic
Novo Nordisk's branded semaglutide injectable for type 2 diabetes (lower doses than Wegovy). Often prescribed off-label for weight loss when Wegovy is unavailable or uncovered by insurance.
P
Personalized advertising policy
Google Ads and Meta Ads policies restricting use of sensitive personal categories (including specific health conditions) for ad targeting. Practical effect: GLP-1 advertisers cannot target keywords containing drug names without LegitScript Healthcare Certification.
Prior authorization (PA)
An insurance plan's requirement that a prescription be reviewed before coverage is approved. For GLP-1 weight loss, PA typically requires BMI documentation, comorbidity attestation, and sometimes evidence of prior failed lifestyle interventions. Approval timeline: 3-14 business days.
S
Saxenda
Novo Nordisk's branded liraglutide for weight loss. Pre-dates and is less effective than Wegovy. Daily injection rather than weekly. Largely displaced by semaglutide and tirzepatide products.
Semaglutide
The active GLP-1 receptor agonist molecule in Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus. Most-prescribed GLP-1 in the world. Subject of compounded prescribing 2022-2026; FDA shortage status resolved October 2024.
Sequence
Original brand name of WeightWatchers Clinic. Acquired by WeightWatchers in 2023 and rebranded.
T
Telehealth
Healthcare delivery via telecommunications technology, typically video or asynchronous messaging. All weight loss programs in our chart are primarily telehealth-delivered, with no in-person visits required for most patients.
Tirzepatide
Eli Lilly's dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist molecule, in branded Mounjaro (diabetes) and Zepbound (weight loss). Generally produces greater weight loss than semaglutide in head-to-head trials.
Trustpilot
An open online review platform. We use Trustpilot scores as one input to our member-reported outcomes dimension, weighted alongside Reddit sentiment and program-specific community feedback.
W
Wegovy
Novo Nordisk's branded semaglutide injection FDA-approved for chronic weight management. The first GLP-1 approved specifically for obesity. Sold at $1,300/mo retail or $149-$299/mo via NovoCare cash.
WHO-GMP
World Health Organization Good Manufacturing Practice certification — a manufacturing quality standard recognized by regulators globally. The standard most non-FDA international generic manufacturers operate under.
Z
Zepbound
Eli Lilly's branded tirzepatide injection FDA-approved for chronic weight management. Sold at ~$1,100/mo retail or $299-$449/mo via LillyDirect cash, depending on dose and presentation (vials vs pens).