I’ve seen IVIM Health around for some time now and finally decided to take a peek at what they are offering. I started seeing ads for IVIM that showcased their “GLP-1 ID” program, which is supposed to be fully individualized care that includes weekly check-ins with your provider. I haven’t really seen this in the industry, so I decided to peel back the layers and see if IVIM is actually offering a more personalized experience for its members. 

GLP-1s are here to stay, and as a fitness trainer and nutrition coach, it’s my job to educate myself not only on how to best support my clients taking GLP-1s but also on which of the many programs out there are legitimate and worth investing in. I am a big supporter of GLP-1 medications for those who need them, but I am also a big believer in using them as the tool that they are meant to be used as. I like to see responsible dosing, hands-on care, and patient education on how to make the most of the journey, i.e., setting them up for long-term success, lasting lifestyle changes, and muscle maintenance support (this is where I can help with the Simply Strong App!). 

With this in mind, let me walk you through my experience with IVIM Health and share my honest thoughts and opinions on this telehealth company.

IVIM Health Intake Experience

When I first got on IVIM’s website, it was clear that weight loss medication was its main offer, although they do also offer hormone support for women. I came specifically looking for more information on the personalized GLP-1 medications they offer, so that’s what I focused on. 

The first thing that caught my attention was a “see your potential weight loss” slider on the screen that allows you to slide to your current weight and reveal your potential weight while using IVIM. I slid to my current weight (129 lbs), and the potential weight loss came back as 26.75 lbs, which is obviously ridiculous. That said, I realize I don’t need to lose weight, but why even allow the scale to go that low? That said, for those who have a current body weight that’s higher, it will definitely give you a good indication of how much weight loss is possible within a year’s timeframe.

My next step was to click on the “get started” button so I could see what IVIM’s intake process looked like and get a feel for the scope of patients they serve. There has been a major industry shift over the last year or so to companies that sell compounded GLP-1 medications, allowing patients with all BMIs to qualify for treatment. Previously, only those with a BMI of >27 with a qualified medical condition or those with a BMI >30 would be eligible, leaving many people without an option. This, however, has shifted as these companies have lowered or gotten rid of their BMI requirements, taking other factors into account when prescribing medications. 

This is a really important factor to consider when exploring beginning a GLP-1 medication, especially if you do not fall within the typical BMI parameters. If you have a BMI of <27, but are still struggling with excess weight, cravings, etc., you’ll want to connect with a provider like Join Josie or Willow, who will look at other factors outside of your BMI to determine eligibility. 

I began IVIM’s quiz by giving them my name, email address, and my current height and weight. This is pretty standard stuff that pretty much every provider will ask for in the beginning. IVIM does a really nice job of outlining the steps required to advance through the intake process, beginning with medication eligibility. 

I entered my actual height and weight and was then brought to a screen that let me know that I don’t qualify for medication. However, I did notice that they had a little note at the bottom that said maybe I would be interested in their microdosing program and that I could add my name to the waitlist for that. If you’re not familiar with microdosing, this is the newest craze in the GLP-1 world, especially for women over 40 who are looking for some of the benefits of adding a compounded GLP-1 to their lifestyle but don’t necessarily have a lot of weight to lose. Obviously, at this time, microdosing was not available through IVIM, but it sounds like it’s coming soon, which is great. If you’re looking for microdosing right now, Join Josie or Ellie MD both offer nice options for that.

Because the point of my post is to share the intake process and my overall feedback on IVIM’s plans, I went back and edited my weight to see at what point IVIM would approve me and advance me to the next step in the process. After playing around with it, I discovered that I was able to move ahead when my BMI reached 25. Based on that, I can assume that IVIM uses a BMI requirement of at least 25 to be eligible for treatment. I find this to be a pretty good place to be; they don’t take on just anyone, but they do open the doors for more patients that might not necessarily be at the overweight or obese BMI point yet (and, honestly, we shouldn’t be encouraging people to get to that point just to qualify for treatment). 

Once I was able to advance to the next steps in the process, I was asked several standard questions about my health history and preferences. I answered all of the questions and was brought to a screen that laid out my options for me. IVIM has compounded GLP-1 medications (semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide), but they also offer the name-brand medications (Ozempic, Wegovy, Monjouro, and Zepbound). If you aren’t sure which medication is right for you, you can indicate that you would like the doctor to help you. 

I selected compounded tirzepatide as that’s what I would choose if I were legitimately going to start a GLP-1 medication. Even though I selected compounded tirzepatide, I was still brought to a screen that showed me pricing options for all of the compounded medications. 

IVIM Weight Loss Pricing

This is a really important part of the IVIM experience because IVIM does things a bit differently than many of the other providers I have explored. IVIM advertises medication costs starting at the following (for the compounded medications):

The important thing to note here is that IVIM charges a $74.99/month fee to be in the program, and then the medication cost is added to that. At first glance, this appears to be a great deal because even with the monthly platform fee, you’d be looking at $174/month for compounded semaglutide and $224/month for compounded tirzepatide, however, I am assuming that the “starting at” price indicates either the price for the first month only or the price for the absolute smallest dose, which in all likelihood will need to be increased over the course of your treatment. 

I am not a huge fan of the monthly fee + the medication cost, but I think it’s important to discuss what’s included in the monthly fee for context. 

IVIM GLP-1 ID Program

Going back to my experience with signing up for IVIM, once I selected that I wanted to get started with compounded Tirzepatide, I was then moved forward to the step where I would schedule a virtual consultation with my provider. The consultation was mandatory, unlike many other platforms that only require an actual telehealth consultation for those who live in states that require it (I live in FL, and it is not required). That being said, I actually think this is a really positive feature of IVIM’s program. 

There are so many people who are interested in exploring GLP-1 medications but don’t have any idea what they really are and what treatment would look like for them. Getting on a quick phone call with a real provider can be helpful from an education standpoint, as well as clarity and peace of mind. I was really impressed by the fact that there were same-day appointments available for me on the interactive calendar that I could book with. Plus, looking ahead at the upcoming days, they had a ton of options available, including early mornings and weekends! This is huge, as once you decide you’re ready to explore GLP-1s, you want to get the ball rolling pretty quickly.

Here’s a rundown of what’s included in the GLP-1 ID program from IVIM:

The thing that stands out to me the most is the weekly check-ins, as most companies do monthly check-ins before you get your next month’s prescription. Since compounded GLP-1s come in monthly dosages, the weekly check-ins are interesting to me. I am curious how they would be able to increase your dose weekly if you received a set amount of medication from the pharmacy. Typically, medication increases happen monthly when your next shipment arrives (if needed). I’m not entirely sure how the weekly dosage adjustments would work, but it’s a nice idea. It appears that the weekly check-ins are done in the app, and it’s a simple form you complete and submit back to the medical team for review. You aren’t getting on a call and speaking with your doctor every week. 

I like that IVIM has an app for easy messaging with the care team and for tracking progress and injections. This is very helpful for patients. I looked up the IVIM app on the App Store, and it has thousands of positive reviews and appears to do everything from track your shipment to connect with your health devices to track your exercise and movement (as a personal trainer, I love this!). 

Overall Thoughts and Opinions

After spending time going through IVIM’s intake process and reading all of their FAQs and reviews, it’s clear that IVIM is offering a good experience for those seeking GLP-1 medications, specifically, those looking for compounded medications. While I don’t love the monthly fee, IVIM really does offer a more hands-on and individualized approach to prescribing compounded GLP-1 medications than most of the other programs I’ve reviewed. 

Between the weekly check-ins and the app, patients feel connected and supported when using IVIM, and the cost is probably similar to most other companies, even with pricing increases with dosage increases. I wish IVIM were more transparent about their pricing so customer would know what to expect when they need to bump up their dosage. I also noticed that IVIM does accept insurance, so if your insurance will approve you, you might not even need to worry about pricing.

Overall, I think the experience was solid and that IVIM is a good choice for those who have a BMI of at least 25. IVIM provides more in-depth support than many of its competitors, which usually leads to better adherence from the patient as they feel supported and accountable.

If you decide to give IVIM a try, be sure you’re following a strength training program and eating a diet that’s high in protein and fiber to support your body and overall health throughout your GLP-1 journey. If you need help, I’d love for you to join the Simply Strong App, where you’ll join a community of people who are getting stronger, leaner, and more confident in conjunction with their GLP-1 medication journey.