A quick green-flag / yellow-flag / red-flag checklist (plus questions to ask) for choosing a provider who treats GLP-1s as long-term, whole-person medicine - not a refill mill.
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How to Vet a GLP-1 Physician or Provider (PDF, 2 pages)
A Wholist-Informed Checklist. Use this as an education guide, not a guarantee.
Green Flags
- Licensed physician, NP, or PA with obesity-medicine or metabolic-health training
- Willing to review full medical history and labs
- Discusses insulin resistance, not just weight
- Talks about muscle protection and strength training
- Frames GLP-1s as long-term tools
- Adjusts dosing slowly and thoughtfully
- Discusses side effects and how to manage them
- Encourages lifestyle medicine alongside medication
- Provides ongoing follow-up, not just refills
Yellow Flags
- Focuses only on pounds lost
- Minimal discussion of long-term use
- Little attention to nutrition or muscle
- One-size-fits-all dosing
Red Flags
- Prescription after a short questionnaire only
- No discussion of risks or side effects
- No mention of muscle loss or strength training
- Promises rapid or effortless weight loss
- No follow-up beyond refills
- Messaging that sounds like marketing, not medicine
Helpful Questions to Ask a Provider
- "How do you monitor muscle mass during weight loss?"
- "How do you think about long-term use?"
- "How do lifestyle changes fit into this plan?"
- "What happens if I stop the medication?"
- "How do you individualize dosing?"