Medically reviewed by: 
Fitness and nutrition gurus like to make weight loss sound easy. But in reality, it’s often incredibly tough to incorporate the necessary changes for weight loss into modern everyday life and to actually see the results you’re looking for. So, what do you do when the strategies you try don’t seem to be working? Prescription weight loss is an option that can create real results.
In this article, we take a look at two online prescription weight loss programs. We compare Found and Calibrate to let you in on how they work and to show you which one might be the better choice for you.
Cutting to the chase:
We’ve done all the research you’ll need to compare the two prescription weight loss programs, but if you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of the biggest takeaways. Read on for more information!
Found vs Calibrate for prescription weight loss |
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| Both: Multidisciplinary approaches to weight loss, incorporating prescription weight loss with coaching and support. Both require long periods of time to shed pounds more permanently by changing your habits. | |
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BMI requirements: 30+ (or 27+ with existing metabolic conditions)
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Note: BMI 30+ meets the criteria for the medical classification of ‘Obesity’
Best prescription weight loss program: What are the differences between Found and Calibrate?
This chart directly compares these two online programs to help you choose which is best for your weight loss journey.
Best Prescription Weight Loss: Found vs Calibrate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Have a BMI of 30+ (or 27+ if specific comorbidities are present) Live in one of the 31 states that Found can work in | Age 18-64 Have a BMI of 30+, or 27+ with certain metabolic conditions Hold commercial or employer insurance to cover medication U.S. residents Not pregnant or breastfeeding No active substance abuse problem, eating disorder or certain other health situations |
| Type of medication prescribed | Customized prescriptions from one of 13 FDA-approved medication Options include Buproprion and Metformin Personalized with a doctor to address individual biological issues affecting weight, such as medications that help with cravings or blood sugar stabilization | GLP-1 medications like semaglutide, liraglutide and dulaglutide (Brand names Wegovy, Saxenda, and others) |
| Program length? | Choose your time frame By month, recommended at least 6 months | 12 months |
| Can you receive coaching without a prescription? | ✅ there is a wellness program without prescription medication | ❌ |
| Program features in addition to prescription | Health coaching Private community Care plan with a lifestyle program Lab work | Video coaching Lifestyle lessons Goals Medical check-ins Lab work |
| Doctor-based program? | ✅ | ✅ |
| App? | ✅ | ✅ |
| Guarantee | 90-day money-back guarantee | 10% weight loss guaranteed |
| Accept HSA/FSA? | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing | RX Monthly: $149/month RX 3-month: $129/month RX 6-month: $99/month Wellness monthly: $49/month Cost of medication included Cost of lab work extra, yet Found offers low cost service | $1,649 for the year Option of payment plan: $138 per month Cost of medication and lab work are extra, although Calibrate assists with getting health insurance to cover them (a copay may apply) |
| How to join |
Related reading: Found vs. Sequence: Which Is Better for Weight Loss?
How is prescription weight loss different from other weight loss programs?
Sometimes, we have processes in our bodies that are counteracting our best weight loss efforts. All the willpower and lifestyle changes may not be enough if your body is working against you. Eating healthier and exercising more works for many people, but for others, the situation is more complex.
In general, weight loss is challenging for everyone because it can be impacted by many different things. This can include your hormones, genetics, metabolism, neurobiology, and more. Outside of this, medications and certain conditions can also pose challenges. At the very least, these can make weight loss a real uphill battle, and at worst, they can make it feel near impossible.
This is where prescription weight loss comes in. It works to address certain biological components that are playing a role in your weight and can help you address these issues to get results.
Found prescription weight loss review
Found is a direct-to-consumer platform that focuses on holistically supporting your weight loss journey by using information from your genetics, personal biology, gut health, and even the environment. Eliminating the one-size-fits-all “eat less, move more” approach, Found takes an integrated strategy that focuses on the individual rather than forcing all members to follow the same path.
By focusing on treating underlying medical issues that may contribute to weight gain rather than blaming it on a person’s lack of motivation or attention to diet and/or exercise, Found
Source: Found
Found offers a few different plans for weight loss, their Wellness Path, which includes 1:1 coaching, and their most common route, the Rx Path, which includes prescription weight loss medication prescribed by a Found healthcare practitioner. Based on the patient’s history, BMI, comorbidities, and activity level Found determines an appropriate course of treatment.
With Found, you can finally move your focus away from short-term weight loss and toward long-term, sustainable weight management. To read more about their Wellness Path (sans medication), check out our Found review.
What weight loss medications does Found prescribe?
One of the ways Found personalizes your weight care journey is by prescribing off-label medication. Through their Prescription Program, Found offers 13 drug options. The medication is customized to your specific circumstances and demands, which could include taking prescription medications to regulate hormones, control blood sugar, or manage how your brain senses rewards, for example.
When a doctor prescribes medication “off-label,” this simply means that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has originally approved it to treat a condition different than your condition. Found helps specifically address your individual biological demands and lifestyle variables with this approach.
Source: Found
Bupropion, for example, prescribed by Found, is approved to treat depression and smoking cessation, but studies show that when used with other drugs, it can aid in weight loss. It activates noradrenaline, dopamine, and (to a lesser extent) serotonin receptors. This increases your energy, lowers your appetite, and improves your mood. In one trial, 12 of 18 bupropion subjects (67%) dropped more than 5% of their baseline body weight, compared to 2 of 13 placebo subjects.
Metformin, another medicine accessible at Found, is FDA-approved for treating diabetes, but it has also been shown to help people who are overweight or obese and have insulin resistance lose weight, according to one study.
This is an excellent illustration of how Found uses a broader range of dosage options to tailor-match to your individual needs.
Who is eligible for Found's Rx path?
Found’s Rx Path is appropriate for anyone with a BMI of ≥30 (or ≥27 with certain comorbidities). A board-certified medical expert will analyze your information and advise you on which medications may be appropriate for you.
Prescription medication is not appropriate for everyone; consequently, certain pre-existing conditions, medical history, health data, or conflicting drugs may prevent weight loss medication from working safely and efficiently, and you may be ineligible for Found’s Rx program.
Source: Found
If that’s the case or if you’re looking for a more cost-efficient model, Found’s wellness path is available for anyone, regardless of BMI. This is a weight loss program that’s tailored specifically to you and your needs, where you’ll work 1:1 with your coach to create better habits and long-term changes to help you reach your goals. It offers personalized nutrition plans, recipes, movement and workout plans, and more.
How much does Found prescription weight loss cost?
| Found Weight Loss Plan | Price |
| Wellness Path (no prescriptions) | $49/mo |
| Rx Path 6-month commitment | $99/mo |
| Rx Path 3-month commitment | $129/mo |
| Rx Path monthly (no commitment) | $149/mo |
Pros and cons of Found prescription weight loss
Pros
- Focus on long-term results
- FDA-approved medication prescription, personalized to find the best prescription for you
- 1:1 meetings with doctors throughout your journey (can be through video)
- Personalized nutrition plans, recipes, & movement/workout plans
- Personal health coach for 1:1 goal creation, implementation, support, & encouragement
- Access to exclusive Found Community
- Money-back guarantee after 90 days (if you meet all criteria)
Cons
- Prescriptions only available in 31 states
- No trial period, only money-back guarantee after 3 months, if you meet all criteria
- Cannot reach customer support via a phone call, only contactable through email at support@joinfound.com
Calibrate prescription weight loss review
Calibrate is a medical metabolic health company that focuses on the interconnectivity of our biology, environment, and dietary choices to provide a whole-body reset to encourage weight loss. The program approaches your weight and health in a more systematic and multidimensional manner by considering how food affects our hormone systems and metabolism, as well as how just reducing calories is frequently unsustainable.
Calibrate’s program combines doctor-prescribed, FDA-approved medication with 1:1 accountability coaching and tracking to drive sustainable weight loss, reprogram old behaviors, and “reboot” overall metabolic health.
Source: Calibrate
What weight loss medications does Calibrate prescribe?
Calibrate’s One-Year Metabolic Reset uses FDA-approved GLP-1s (glucagon-like peptide-1s), which imitate the effect of a hormone that’s already naturally in your body. Calibrate doctors prescribe a variety of GLP-1 medications, all of which are not stimulants, non-habit forming, and are clinically proven to be one of the most effective medications for long-term results.
Source: Calibrate
GLP-1s help to suppress hunger by directly influencing brain areas such as the hypothalamus, decreasing your motivation to eat while increasing your energy expenditure. These medications also impede the passage of food from the stomach to the small intestine. As a result, you may feel full faster and for a longer period of time, causing you to eat less.
GLP-1s prescribed can include:
- Semaglutide (Wegovy™, Ozempic®, Rybelsus®)
- Liraglutide (Saxenda® and Victoza®)
- Dulaglutide (Trulicity®)
Source: Calibrate
Who is eligible for Calibrate's Rx weight loss program?
Calibrate is intended for adults between the ages of 18 to 64 who have a BMI of at least 30 and above (or 27 and above, in combination with metabolic conditions, such as pre-diabetes, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obstructive sleep apnea or PCOS.).
Additionally, at present, you need to be covered by a commercial health insurance plan (except Kaiser) to join Calibrate.
Those that should not try Calibrate’s program are those that are pregnant or breastfeeding, those with an active substance abuse problem, an active eating disorder, cancer, recent bariatric surgery, active gallbladder disease, a history of pancreatitis in the past six months, or those with a history of medullary thyroid cancer (MEN syndrome).
How much does Calibrate prescription weight loss cost?
| Calibrate Weight Loss Plan | Price |
| One-time Metabolic Health Assessment | $250 |
| One-Year Metabolic Reset (monthly payments) | $138/mo ($1,656 total) |
| One-Year Metabolic Reset (one-time payment) | $1,649 |
The cost of prescriptions and lab tests are not included in the Calibrate membership cost, but they work with your insurance to get them covered. Calibrate states that medication should be capped at $25 or less each month after deductibles are met.
Pros and cons of Calibrate prescription weight loss
Pros
- Focus on long-term results
- Professional medical support throughout journey
- FDA-approved GLP-1 medication prescription
- Guaranteed medication coverage for $25/mo or less
- 1:1 biweekly video coaching
- Accompanied by a long curriculum, targeting food, sleep, exercise & emotional health (full body-reset)
- 10% weight loss guarantee after a full year or your money back
- Available in all 50 states
Cons
- Eligibility is limiting
- Time commitment to a full year can be hard for some
- Price does not include medications or lab testing
- Non-refundable after 72 hours (but can be paused for up to 90 days during)
Our experience: What are the Found and Calibrate programs like?
We signed up for both Found and Calibrate to help you understand what questions you’ll be asked and to help you decide which program might be best for you.
Signing up for Found
The Found sign-up process starts off with 25 questions. They first ask basics including your name, DOB, gender identity, sex at birth, and whether or not you are pregnant. They then move on to your history with weight loss, asking which ways you’ve tried to lose weight in the past, how long you’ve been trying to lose weight, what your weight loss motivations are, your height and weight, and your goal weight.
Their final questions are asked to determine if the prescription medication can help unblock what’s been preventing you from lasting weight loss. These include questions about genetics (if anyone in your family has struggled with weight loss), any conditions or medical conditions that you might have, certain medications you might be taking, and if you’ve had any organ transplants or issues in the past.
All of the questions are used in creating your own personalized plan through Found. If you are eligible for their prescription plan, you’ll receive a final medication chosen for you based on your answers and price/month options in which to follow through with your plan. This includes a one-month, six-month, or three-month plan.
I did notice that I was offered this medication with no ability to get the actual name of the prescription unless I followed through with the payment and waited until my initial consultation with my board-certified medical provider for additional details. After only 25 questions online, I would have preferred to have a 1:1 meeting with my Found board-certified medical provider before paying for the entire subscription.
They do offer a 90-day money-back guarantee, but you must have weighed in 9+ weeks, communicated with your coach for 11+ weeks, and submitted 1+ follow-up form, among other requirements, within those 90 days in order to qualify to receive your refund.
If I were to have continued with this sign-up, the medication would’ve been shipped to my house and I would have met with my personal coach to set the foundation for my weight loss path. We would have worked together over text in combination with my medication to set new goals, create new habits, track progress, and provide encouragement, along with sharing meal plans, guides, and more.
Signing up for Calibrate
Calibrate’s quiz to determine eligibility for their year-long program starts with what state you’re located in, your DOB, your sex at birth, any certain pre-existing conditions, your height & weight, your goals, how familiar you are with GLP-1 medications, and your insurance.
The next few steps let you know that Calibrate will navigate your insurance so that you don’t have to do it on your own. Calibrate’s medication coverage guarantee lets you sign up with confidence, knowing that you’ll get low-cost GLP-1 coverage OR be eligible for a refund.
If you’re eligible, you’ll get to the plan page (shown below), which is fully transparent about the medications offered, what you’ll be paying, and what your subscription will include.
Once you’ve subscribed, you’ll complete a comprehensive survey that a Calibrate doctor will review along with your full medical history. Then, you’ll upload results after either a) getting new lab work done, or b) uploading recent results. And finally, you’ll schedule your 45-minute video appointment with a Calibrate doctor and your first accountability coaching session.
The verdict: Which is better, Found or Calibrate?
Both Found and Calibrate offer doctor-based, from-home prescription weight loss programs. They can both guide you in losing long-term weight through personalized prescription medication, coaching, and encouragement, without the need to visit a doctor in person. For this reason, either one is a great choice if you’re struggling to lose weight and you fit the qualifications.
As far as choosing the right prescriptions for you, Found’s medications are more on the traditional side, while Calibrate offers GLP-1 medications. Found has more prescriptions to try if you’ve never experienced traditional weight loss medication, and they offer a personalized experience in finding the right match for you. We would recommend Calibrate’s prescription medication if you’ve tried traditional weight loss medications in the past and are looking for this metabolic reset direction.
Head to head, we prefer Found because of how customizable it is, the flexible pricing structure, and because you can make as much or as little of a time (and money) commitment as you choose, by allowing options ranging from month to month or up to 6 months at a time. They also offer the flexibility of a non-prescription plan (their Wellness Plan), which costs less and still offers 1:1 coaching. Overall, Found’s program offers a lot more flexibility.
Calibrate’s One-Year Metabolic Reset requires staying in the program for a full year and forking over $1,600. While sustainable results generally take that long, not everyone can afford that price tag. That said, if you’re ready to make the investment in both time and price, Calibrate does offer an amazingly supportive community and many impressive results – including an eye-catching 10% weight loss guarantee (!). They offer a very premium service, but it’s not as approachable as Found.
Have you or someone you know tried Calibrate or Found for prescription weight loss medication? Let us know in the comments below!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much does Found prescription weight loss cost?
| Found Weight Loss Plan | Price |
| Wellness Path (no prescriptions) | $49/mo |
| Rx Path 6-month commitment | $99/mo |
| Rx Path 3-month commitment | $129/mo |
| Rx Path monthly (no commitment) | $149/mo |
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