GLP-1s are here to stay, and now people are looking for easier access to weight loss meds. The truth is, the BMI requirements for most GLP-1 providers exclude a population of people who have weight loss goals, have already tried everything, and want to try a GLP-1.
Just so we’re clear, I’m not promoting or condoning prescription weight loss medications for people with lower BMIs; I am simply sharing with you a couple of online GLP-1 providers that have little to no BMI requirements. Willow and Eden are two such providers that lower the barrier to entry for obtaining GLP-1 medications.
As a personal trainer, nutrition coach, and women’s weight loss coach, I speak with women nearly every day about viable weight loss options. GLP-1s inevitably come up. It’s not my job to judge, but rather to educate. I will gladly help my client connect with the right GLP-1 provider to see if it’s a good match for her goals, alongside my strength training and macro approach to nutrition.
I have tested both Willow and Eden, both of which offer medications with much less strict requirements. Let’s chat about it!
Typical GLP-1 BMI Requirements
In case you’re not familiar with the typical BMI requirements for obtaining a GLP-1 medication, I’ll go over them quickly. Typically, in order to qualify for a GLP-1 medication, you need a BMI (body mass index) of over 30, which is considered obese. Or, you need a BMI over 27 (considered overweight) and have an accompanying medical condition (i.e., type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, or hypertension).
These requirements are put in place for a reason. There is ample evidence that GLP–1s are safe and effective for people who fall within these BMI criteria. That being said, as more and more information and research is done on GLP-1s, it’s becoming increasingly evident that they may be able to help those who are not considered overweight or obese.
Although it’s a bit controversial at this time, there’s emerging evidence that GLP-1 medications can be effective for people who only have a small amount of weight to lose. This is considered “off-label” use as it was not the original target population for the large-scale trials that have been done. Most clinical trials have focused on people with higher BMIs (27+), but that doesn’t mean that these meds won’t provide benefits to those who fall below that BMI requirement.
GLP-1s aren’t just for weight loss, they’re for: reduction in appetite and food noise, improved insulin sensitivity, and more. Some considerations for lower-BMI use include: helping to break long-standing weight loss plateaus, weight maintenance after dieting, and reduction in compulsive or binge eating. Of course, there are some cautions to be aware of, too, including; risk of losing lean muscle if not prioritizing protein and strength training, overuse for aesthetic goals, and potential side effects (nausea, fatigue, and weakness) that may outweigh any of the potential benefits.
Now let’s get into Willow and Eden and how they’re serving a larger population of people.
Willow’s Approach
Willow’s approach to prescribing weight loss medications lies heavily in the term “cosmetic weight loss.” Now, I’ll be very honest, I am not sure how Willow is able to do this, but the FDA hasn’t stopped them, so they clearly have found a loophole. As of writing this, I do not know of any other GLP-1 provider that will prescribe medications for those without any kind of BMI requirement. That being said, I don’t think they prescribe to everyone - if someone came to them severely underweight, I don’t believe their doctors will prescribe.
Willow markets their medications specifically to those who want to lose as little as 5-10 lbs. There are countless Willow ads all over the internet advertising the fact that they are more than happy to prescribe medications to those who only have a small weight loss goal for looking better in their bikini or for an upcoming wedding.
Willow is a very female-focused brand, advertising mostly to women. They have a thriving community of women on Facebook where users and potential customers can come to ask questions, share feedback, etc. Honestly, some of the feedback is great while some is not so much (as is typically the case). There are lots of women in there who felt completely stuck with their weight loss goals and wanted to try a GLP-1 but had been denied by every other provider.
Willow employs real doctors who review your case and make the ultimate decision as to whether or not you’re qualified and suited for GLP-1 medications. The only difference between Willow’s process and any other provider’s process is that they have a much lower barrier to entry. Otherwise, you can expect the same process from Willow as you would from any other brand. In fact, many brands use the same doctors and pharmacies.
When I took Willow’s quiz, I used my actual stats of 5’7” and 133 lbs with a goal weight of 125, and I was approved (to my absolute shock!). I didn’t really have a weight goal of 125 lbs; it wouldn’t look great on my body type. I’m actually already sitting at the lower end of my comfortable weight range right now. But 133 lbs on a frame like mine will look and feel vastly different on a different person. We’re all unique, and so are our weight loss goals.
Eden’s Approach
Eden takes a similar approach to prescribing weight loss medications as Willow, but they have a BMI requirement of 23+. They are very clear in their messaging (within their intake quiz) that this is considered “off-label” use, and you have to consent to it before moving forward. I do think that Eden does a great job educating people on off-label use and making sure they consent to it before moving forward - that part of the intake felt very buttoned up to me. Willow didn’t really have anything like this in their intake when I took it.
To give you an example of what a BMI of 23+ would be for me, I first took the intake quiz using my actual stats (5’7”, 133 lbs) and was not qualified as my BMI was around 21. I re-entered my data, adding my weight in as 147 (which I have been plenty of times in my life), and that put my BMI at 23, which qualified me for medication from Eden.
I really like the 23 BMI requirement for Eden. Just using my personal goals and past bodyweight, if I were still sitting in the upper 140s-low 150s for my weight, and I wanted to utilize a GLP-1 as a tool, I like that I would have been qualified and felt justified in taking that approach.
I didn’t end up going through with ordering medication from Eden, but another unique thing to note is that Eden didn’t require me to pay for the medication until it was officially approved by a licensed physician. Most providers will have you pay upfront, before your information is reviewed, and then they will issue you a refund if they deem the medication is not appropriate. I really like that Eden took a different approach - you still need to enter your credit card information, but they won’t charge you. This also opens the door for you to be able to chat with one of their doctors before moving forward with the medication in case you have any questions or concerns.
Final Thoughts
Both Eden and Willow offer expanded opportunities for those who would like to try a GLP1 medication for weight loss or any other potential benefit. Willow has a very lax, “cosmetic weight loss” approach, whereas Eden takes the “off-label” approach with a small BMI requirement.
Both providers require final approval by a licensed physician in your state. Additionally, both offer similar medications (compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide) at similar prices. If you’re someone with a BMI less than 27 looking to obtain a GLP-1 medication, both of these providers are a great place to start.
As always, if you decide to start a weight loss medication, regardless of what your current weight is or what your goal weight is, it’s vital that you maintain your muscle and metabolism by strength training and eating ample amounts of protein per day. If you need help with that, please consider joining the Simply Strong App! We specialize in judgment-free support for those both on and off GLP-1 medications.