Methodology
The Cost-Efficiency Index, explained
Every GLP-1 provider on WeighLab is scored out of 100 on the same six weighted factors. The Index is a value-for-money model — it rewards the honest lowest cost of ownership, not the flashiest teaser rate. We apply the identical model to providers we earn a commission from and providers we don't, and we say which is which on every card. A score is our editorial judgment, built from each provider's public disclosures and our cost modeling; it is never sold.
The six factors & weights
01 Normalized Cost/Month
24%The all-in monthly price, normalized against what you actually get — both molecules, adequate dosing, real access — so a low sticker on a stripped-down offer doesn't out-score honest value. This is a value metric, not a race to the cheapest teaser.
02 Price Transparency
20%Whether the price is published up front and holds: no first-month teaser that silently triples, no undisclosed molecule, no membership, lab or consult fees stacked on after signup. A price you can't model is a price we mark down.
03 Nationwide Access
18%How many states are actually served. All-50 coverage removes a coverage gamble; an undisclosed or narrow states list is a real risk to your total cost and continuity, and scores lower.
04 Formulation Options
14%Breadth per dollar: both semaglutide and tirzepatide, brand-name (FDA-approved) availability where possible, and oral/sublingual routes for the needle-averse — more of the formulary reachable on one account.
05 Clinical Oversight
13%Whether a licensed clinician — not just a form — stands behind the prescription, with real titration and side-effect support. Oversight is value you're paying for, so it's weighed alongside price.
06 Contract Flexibility
11%How easily you can pause, switch or cancel. Auto-ship traps, coaching lock-ins and painful exits inflate the true cost of a program even when the monthly headline looks low.
Weights sum to 100%. Cost and transparency together carry 44% — because a value index that ignores whether you can actually trust the price isn't a value index. The six sub-scores are combined at these weights into the 0–100 Index rendered by our Index Meter, then translated to a letter grade for quick reading.
How we stay honest
- Same model for everyone. Partner and non-partner providers are scored on identical criteria and weights. Affiliate status is disclosed inline and never adjusts the Index.
- Cheapest ≠ best value. The lowest sticker often hides a teaser rate, a coverage gap or a lock-in. We normalize for those, so honest flat pricing can out-rank a lower headline.
- Facts are sourced, scores are judgment. Pricing, states served, and verification reflect each provider's public disclosures at last review; the weighted Index is ours.
- We re-check. Telehealth pricing changes constantly — entries are dated and re-verified, and you should confirm current pricing on the provider's own site before deciding.
This page is editorial information, not medical advice. Compounded GLP-1 medications are not FDA-approved finished drug products. Talk to a licensed clinician before starting any weight-management medication. Try the numbers yourself in our cost calculators, and see our affiliate disclosure and medical disclaimer.