I first started learning about medical weight loss back in 2021. As a personal trainer and nutrition coach, I take a keen interest in keeping up to date with the weight loss industry as I am a part of it.

Since the time when I was first introduced to GLP-1s, they’ve done nothing but explode. Today, there are more options for getting GLP-1 weight loss medications delivered to your door than ever before. 

While there are countless ways to get GLP-1s these days, in this article, I want to focus on one brand in particular, Willow (or Start Willow if you’re following them on Instagram). 

Willow offers compounded GLP-1s online, but they’re taking a very different approach to who they can/will treat which is changing the whole game. I went through the Willow process, connected with one of their doctors, and am honestly quite shocked at what happened.

A Bit About Willow

You may have seen my review of Winona, an HRT company that I tried last year when my hormones seemed to be going haywire. Well, Willow is Winona’s little sister. Yep, these two brands are related, and if Willow is anything like her big sister, Winona, it’s about to be one of the biggest compounded GLP-1 providers for women.

I had a great experience using Winona, and based on the thousands of reviews and testimonials from other women using Winona’s products, they have, too. Winona’s HRT products can help women lose weight due to hormonal changes (perimenopause and menopause), however, it’s not enough for some women - which is why (I assume), Winona launched Willow.

Willow is dedicated to helping people (mostly women) lose weight by using compounded GLP-1 medications. If you aren’t sure what compounded means, there are plenty of resources out there to explain it, but essentially, it’s a version of a GLP-1 that’s custom-mixed by a compounding pharmacy. This is different than the name-brand drugs, but they have a similar effect at a much lower cost.

You’ll see the same doctor (Dr. Michael Green) as the face of both Winona and Willow. Willow offers compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide in both injectable (shots) and oral (drops) forms at competitive prices. They do not take insurance. 

But are you ready for the controversy? Let’s dive in.

Who Can Use Willow For Weight Loss?

Apparently, anybody. Willow markets their medications for everyone, even those who are not overweight and only have a few pounds to lose. So why is this a big deal? Every other compounded GLP-1 provider I have ever seen or researched has a threshold set that looks something like this:

To qualify for GLP-1s, you must have:

1.) BMI ≥ 30 (This qualifies as obese)

OR

2.) BMI ≥ 27 plus at least one weight-related condition, such as:

• Type 2 diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Sleep apnea
• Insulin resistance or PCOS (depending on provider)

Willow has put forth no such guidelines. In fact, they have an abundance of ads going around stating that they will approve you regardless of how much you weigh or how much weight you have to lose. This feels controversial to me - I’m not saying I’m for or against it, however, I was very intrigued. So, obviously, I had to put it to the test.

My Experience With Willow

For context, I am 36 years old,  5’7”, weigh ~135 lbs, and have a decent amount of muscle on my frame (I do that for a living, after all). According to the BMI chart (which I’m not a fan of, by the way), my BMI is well within the normal range. My BMI is 21.1, and the “healthy” range is listed as 18.5-25.

I’m pretty happy with my body, but it’s far from perfect. Of course, there are some areas where I wouldn’t mind shredding some stubborn fat, but I know I can also work on those through tightening up my diet and being more intentional with my fitness.

For the sake of this review, I wanted to go through the Willow process from start to finish to see what would happen - would I really get approved by using my actual data? I’ve gone through the process with several other brands, which ultimately denied me because I didn’t meet the criteria. It was time to see if the ads I was seeing for Willow stating you don’t need to be overweight to qualify were true. 

I started with the Willow quiz, where I answered the questions honestly. It was interesting to note that they only asked for my current weight and my goal weight, not my height or any medical conditions.

Based on the result of my quiz, they could help me. The next step was to create my account. This was easy and required only basic information. From there, I was asked to upload a copy of my photo ID to verify my identity, which I did. I chose my plan and entered my payment information. 

My card was immediately charged the $399 for one month of compounded Tirzepatide, and my information was sent to a Willow doctor for review. With the other GLP-1 providers I have tried, this was the point where the doctor would send me a message stating that they would not be able to approve my medication because my BMI was too long (and then I’d be issued a refund), so I was kind of expecting this as the next step. 

To my surprise, I received a prompt response back from a doctor located here in the US approving the medication! 

Willow’s Legitimacy

My message from the Willow doctor who prescribed me the medication was a nice, informative message with a ton of information on how to use the medication as well as her customized dosing scheme for me. She had laid out what 7 months of using this medication would look like for me, with the dosages and price increases along with it.

I was advised that the medication would be sent directly to me every month before I would run out. I was also offered anti-nausea medication if I needed it. 

One thing that I really liked about the message from the doctor was that she mentioned in there how important it is to maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine, particularly strength training and adequate protein (two things I harp on in my business!).

I am a proponent of using GLP-1s for weight loss when done responsibly and in a way that sets the patient up for long-term success (i.e., a healthy lifestyle that allows them to maintain their weight post-medication). It seems to me like Willow is doing that, which I am a fan of.

My Thoughts On GLP-1s For Those Who Aren’t Overweight

For the record, I ended up messaging with the Willow Doctor and letting her know that I changed my mind on the medication and asked that she cancel it, which she did so promptly and willingly. I am not in a place where I would feel justified in spending that much money to lose a few pounds, but it’s nice to know that it’s an option. 

But how do I feel that I was prescribed weight loss medication even though I wasn’t overweight? Honestly, it may be controversial, and I’m not sure how they’re skirting around the typical guidelines, but I’m ok with it. Having worked with hundreds of women in my coaching business, I’ve seen so many women struggle with their weight and confidence, even when their BMI is within a healthy range. 

I am obviously very much pro-healthy lifestyle factors first and foremost, and I am totally against using a GLP-1 without medical supervision and without prioritizing your muscle through strength training and protein intake. 

That being said, I am also a proponent of people doing what they want/need to do to feel confident in their bodies. I am not a doctor, but the folks at Willow who are prescribing the medications to people are. The doctor I spoke with seemed to be pretty legit. 

If you’re approved and this is something that you want to do to improve your confidence and well-being, I say go for it. My only suggestion is that you follow a strategic strength training program and a macro-based diet (high in protein) to ensure you’re preserving your muscle while losing body weight.

Final Thoughts

As far as I can tell, Willow is completely unique in their prescribing to people who are not overweight. If you’ve been wanting to lose weight via a compounded GLP-1 and have been denied by other providers, try Willow. 

Willow’s pricing is on point with all of the other providers, they are still selling compounded Tirzepatide at the time that I am writing this (when many other companies have discontinued doing so), and they have a Facebook support group with thousands of women who are connecting daily - it’s a great place to go to do your research, connect, and get support.

Will you try Willow? Let me know in the comments!