Willow just launched the “world’s first 90-day GLP-1 program” - let’s talk about it! If you’ve been following me and my content, then you might know that I’ve done quite a bit of research into Willow. I even went through Willow’s entire intake process and got approved for medication (you can read the full breakdown of how Willow works). 

As a personal trainer and women’s weight loss coach, I’ve kept a close eye on the GLP-1 industry, but an even keener eye on Willow specifically. Why? Because they are doing things differently than any other provider I’ve seen to date. Willow prescribes compounded GLP-1 medications for “cosmetic weight loss,” which means they do not require you to be obese or overweight to qualify. To be clear, this is very controversial, and I am not 100% for it or against it - I am simply staying on top of the industry, learning all I can, and taking that information to best serve my clients and followers.

Willow just launched their 90-day GLP-1 program, which promises to combine semaglutide and behavioral science for fast, sustainable weight loss in just 90 days. They are promoting their GLP-1 tablets (not injections) along with their weekly habit structure. This is definitely a new concept in the space, so I had to dig in and see what I could learn.

The Willow GLP 90-Day Program

According to Willow’s website, the GLP-90 program includes everything you need to lose weight, establish healthy habits, and feel more in control of your weight loss journey (in just 90 days). Included with the program are: 

• Daily semaglutide tablets (although it seems like you could also choose the injections -I’ll share more on that later)
• Weekly habit structure (12 total)
• On-demand doctor support
• Post-program maintenance support

This program was engineered as a more gentle and less intimidating way to jump-start weight loss through Willow and GLP-1 medication. The idea is that you will be given the tools you need to not only benefit from the medication (reduced cravings, food noise, etc.) but also to get educated on what it takes to maintain your weight long-term so that you can discontinue taking the medication.

I’ll be honest, when I first saw the GLP-90 program, I was really skeptical (I still am a little) that Willow would willingly tell people that they only need 90 days on their medications. Prior to the launch of this program, their platform was geared towards long-term use. Willow’s doctor will prescribe the medication to anyone who qualifies (regardless of BMI), and once you’re in, the medication is delivered to your door monthly until you stop it. As far as I know, there aren’t any follow-up visits in between. If you have any questions, you can contact your doctor through your portal. Otherwise, you’re all set up for long-term use. From a business perspective, this subscription model is the best way to keep people on and paying. From a health perspective, there should probably be some mitigation in there at some point.

I am thinking that the new GLP-90 program was made to address some of the concerns people have over the way Willow prescribes compounded weight loss medications, and also as a way to appeal to more people overall. Willow’s message has been clear from the get-go: you don’t need to be overweight or obese to benefit from GLP-1 medications. I think this new GLP-90 program will appeal even more to those who are interested in cosmetic weight loss (10 lbs or less) for vanity reasons and don’t necessarily want to commit to injections.

A Shift Toward Sustainable Weight Loss?

Honestly, I like that Willow is adding this new approach to weight loss with the additional support of behavior and habit change. My main mission in sharing information about weight loss medications is to ensure that people know how to use them in the most effective way possible. By this, I mean helping to educate on how to maintain muscle mass throughout the process while also developing a better understanding of food and how it fuels the body. 

I am not sure what the habits are that are included with Willow’s GLP-90 in their 12-week healthy habit protocol or even how they deliver it (weekly videos, PDFs, etc), but I do know that they will focus on sleep, mindset, movement, and nutrition. They are taking a habit-stacking approach to sustainable weight loss, which is something that I am 100% on board with and am always preaching to my clients and audience. 

There’s truly so much more to weight loss than just eating “right” and exercising - there are nuances within those categories, and sometimes we need a little help from something like a GLP-1 (when medically appropriate). I am not at all against the use of weight loss medications. I am not a doctor, and I believe in having your own free will and choice. As grown adults, I believe we should be empowered to do what we want to do in relation to our bodies. That said, having the added education piece and the short-term plan makes these medications feel a little more doable for people. 

This program from Willow is brand new, so it will be very interesting to see how it goes as people start to sign up and work through their 90 days. I will personally be keeping a close eye on Willow’s very active Facebook community to see and hear about their results and overall thoughts on the program. 

But, Wait, Do The GLP-1 Tablets Work?

Willow is making a pretty hefty push for their Semaglutide tablets with their marketing, and they are the cornerstone of their new GLP-90 program. I went through the onboarding quiz for this program while researching and noticed that they do actually give you the option between the tablets and the injections for the 90-day program. So if you’re someone who is questioning the effectiveness of the tablets vs the injections, you can choose either. 

I would say I am seeing a 50/50 split of tablet users who are saying they are getting results/not getting results while taking them. It’s a known fact that an oral tablet will be less effective than an injection, where you’re physically placing the medication right into your bloodstream. But that doesn’t mean that the tablets are a waste of time/money, it’s all about your approach and expectations.

If you are coming into your weight loss journey using a GLP-1 with the goal of losing as much weight as possible without making any lifestyle changes, then chances are you will be disappointed in the results you get from the tablets as they are best paired with a healthy diet and exercise program and they take a much slower, more mellow approach to weight loss. With the injections, we tend to see a lot of abuse and misuse because, for a lot of people, they can completely wipe out their appetite and energy. When you’re not hungry, you don’t eat. When you don’t eat, you lose weight, including your precious muscle mass.

There’s a healthy and sustainable way to utilize both the injections and the tablets, but your goals and expectations will heavily influence your results. For those who want to take a slow, sustainable approach to weight loss and would like to minimize any symptoms, utilizing the tablets and the 90-day approach from Willow might be a great path. I think this is especially true for those who don’t have a ton of weight to lose, which is who Willow is targeting. 

Should You Try It?

Again, this is a very personal decision - one that should be made in conjunction with your doctor. One thing that I appreciate about Willow is that the doctors there are happy to give you advice and help you make adjustments to your plan. I personally think the new GLP-90 program will open up GLP-1 use to many more people who have wanted to try a GLP-1 for weight loss (or, honestly, a whole slew of other reasons) but have been hesitant to commit to injections and an aggressive protocol.

With the semaglutide tablets, users take them once per day, and it should help with cravings and food noise, which is a huge battle for many who are dieting/trying to lose weight. I am a firm believer that some people, especially those with hormonal dysregulation, really struggle with food and cravings, and this can be a great tool for mitigating cravings. Many people report a quieting of not just cravings for food but also things like alcohol, shopping, and other vices. 

By coupling the semaglutide tablets with the behavioral habit coaching (which, by the way, is slightly reminiscent of Noom’s approach to weight loss…), I think Willow is moving in the direction of education and sustainability as well as toward granting access to these medications to a larger audience of people. Here's a deeper look at Noom vs Willow.

I am very curious to see how this program goes and if users can truly transition off the medication when the 90 days are up and be able to maintain their weight and habits afterward.

If you're interested, click the button below to learn more or get started on your 90-day weight loss journey: