You've probably seen the buzz on social media and all the ads on TV.

It is now easier than ever to get a prescription for powerful weight loss drugs,

thanks to a growing number of telehealth providers.

Now, on the one hand, they are making these medications and this type of health care more accessible to more people,

but are they upholding the same standards of care?

Welcome to the Nutrition Diva podcast, where we take a closer look at nutrition news,

research, and trends so that you can make more informed decisions

about your health. I'm your host, Monica Rineagle. And the month of January has always been

peak season for weight loss programs. In years past, that meant tons of ads for programs

like Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem, or Noom,

programs that promised some combination of nutrition advice, behavioral coaching,

maybe some special bars, meals, or shakes, and in-person or online support.

But this year, while many of the company names haven't changed, the ads sound a lot different.

Instead of points or habit tracking apps or prepackaged meals, we're seeing ads promising

fast, convenient access to prescription medications, specifically GLP1 drugs like Wigovi delivered right to your door.

These medications, as you probably know, have revolutionized the treatment of obesity,

as well as our understanding of this complex chronic disease.

And the expansion of telehealth companies into obesity care has the potential to get these medications into the hands of people who would benefit from them but have either struggled to get them or maybe hesitated to ask for them through regular channels.

Many people are embarrassed to ask their family physician about these medications.

Maybe they're afraid that they'll be shamed for looking for a shortcut. Or they don't want to

go through their company-sponsored health plan. Or maybe they tried to get them and they were

denied access by their insurance company. Telehealth companies, on the other hand, may feel a lot more convenient and private.

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