Home » Join Fridays GLP-1 Program: Does It Live Up to Expectations?

Join Fridays GLP-1 Program: Does It Live Up to Expectations?

Fridays

Fridays is an online health service that claims to offer a personalized approach to support weight management goals. Based on your health profile and needs, Fridays may provide you with access to online consultations, medications, and insurance support.

The Fridays program may provide you with access to compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide medications, which may help decrease appetite and suppress food cravings. It could also offer customized plans and guidance on lifestyle changes to support your health goals.

In this exclusive review, we cover everything you need to know about Fridays, including its services, the compounded GLP-1 medications it offers, benefits, downsides, and more. The review also discusses two potential substitutes for Fridays.

Background Of Fridays

Founded by Dr. Weiss Surkhabi (MD) and Sina Arham, Fridays claims to provide a customized and science-backed approach to support fitness goals. It provides plans that include telehealth and virtual consultations, which may provide you with guided medical support.

Beyond medical support, Fridays also offers one-on-one nutrition coaching, ongoing chat support, and detailed health guides to give you appropriate guidance. The program may also help you navigate insurance coverage for medications, making treatment more accessible.

As part of its approach, Fridays provides medications like compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide based on your needs. However, not everyone may qualify for a prescription through Fridays. Fridays determine eligibility based on specific medical criteria.

You must be at least 18 years old and have a BMI of over 27 to qualify for the Fridays program. Those with a BMI over 22 may also qualify for maintenance therapy if they have a history of obesity/overweight within the past 12 months and have previously used GLP-1 medications.

However, relying on Fridays services and compounded medications alone will not target weight management goals. The results experienced from Fridays may depend on factors like metabolism, diet, genetics, lifestyle habits, and compliance with the program.

What Services Are Offered At Fridays?

  1. Prescription Medications

    • Compounded Semaglutide

      Fridays may provide compounded semaglutide as part of its weight loss program. Compounded semaglutide is a custom-made version of semaglutide that lacks FDA approval, meaning its safety, effectiveness, and quality are doubtful. The FDA has also warned that some compounded versions contain semaglutide sodium or semaglutide acetate, which are unapproved salts of semaglutide that could trigger adverse side effects.

      Compounded semaglutide may also contain impurities, incorrect dosages, or even lack the active ingredient entirely. The FDA has also received reports of dosing errors involving compounded semaglutide injectable products, which led to adverse interactions, such as vomiting, abdominal pain, fainting, migraine, and acute pancreatitis.

      If you are considering using compounded semaglutide, it is essential to consult a doctor, ensure it comes from a reputable pharmacy, and understand that it may not be as reliable as FDA-approved alternatives.

    • Compounded Tirzepatide

      The team at Fridays platform offers personalized weight loss plans that include compounded tirzepatide. Compounded tirzepatide may work by enhancing insulin release, lowering glucagon levels, and slowing digestion.

      Due to the absence of FDA approval, compounded tirzepatide may have a higher risk of contamination and an unknown concentration of tirzepatide. It may contribute to an increased risk of experiencing side effects like nausea, vomiting, low blood sugar, etc.

      There was a shortage of tirzepatide injections due to increased demand, which enabled pharmacies to make compounded tirzepatide. However, as of December 19, 2024, the FDA declared the shortage resolved, making tirzepatide commercially available again.

      Such a declaration by the FDA means that state-licensed pharmacies and outsourcing facilities cannot legally distribute or produce compounded tirzepatide. The FDA stresses that compounded tirzepatide lacks safety and effectiveness standards. Therefore, you should only use FDA-approved tirzepatide versions (like Mounjaro) instead of compounded ones.

  2. Insurance and Pricing

    Fridays offer Compounded Semaglutide for $249 per month on a month-to-month plan. If you choose the three-month plan, the cost is reduced to $233 per month, requiring a total upfront payment of $699.

    Compounded Tirzepatide from Fridays is priced at $359 per month for a month-to-month subscription. Opting for the three-month plan lowers the monthly cost to $333, with a total upfront payment of $999.

    Both Compounded Semaglutide and Compounded Tirzepatide medications come with a comprehensive package of services. This includes:

    • Unlimited provider visits
    • Lab work through Quest Diagnostics
    • Insurance prior authorizations and appeals
    • Coaching in diet, mental health, and movement, along with access to support groups
    • 1:1 dietitian coaching and chat support
    • A SESH™ Fitness Program, which provides home and gym workouts, a macro tracker, and a weight tracker.

    However, Fridays does not accept insurance for virtual visits, but some of their plans may cover lab tests or medications.

How Does Fridays Work?

Steps Description
Step 1: Take a Quiz Start with a simple quiz on the Fridays website to determine a suitable and customized weight loss program for you.
Step 2: Meet a Provider Consult with a Fridays healthcare provider who will review your medical history and set personalized weight management goals.
Step 3: Enroll in Program Join the Fridays program to access expert support, telehealth consultations, and compounded medications (Tirzepatide or Semaglutide).
Step 4: Receive Ongoing Support Gain continuous medical guidance, helpful resources, and motivation from a community of professionals and members on Fridays.

Pros

  • Provides customized weight management support plans.
  • Comes with a fixed monthly fee with no hidden charges.
  • Offers seamless scheduling and weight tracking support.
  • It provides 1:1 lifestyle coaching and expert guidance.
  • Insurance coverage may lower the costs of medications.
  • Fridays come with FSA/HSA approval.

Cons

  • Fridays online-only model limits in-person support.
  • No insurance coverage for virtual visits.
  • Its compounded semaglutide/tirzepatide medications currently lack FDA approval.

Benefits Of Fridays Services

  1. Could Offer Long-Term Weight Maintenance

    Fridays could help with long-term weight management by focusing on more than just medication. Their program includes lifestyle coaching, personalized meal guidance, and ongoing support, which might help you build healthier habits over time.

    Access to long-term resources like education, tracking tools, and professional guidance might also help contribute to long-term weight maintenance. These resources might also help lower the risks of weight regain even after you complete the duration of the Fridays program.

  2. May Offer Personalized Coaching And Support

    Through Fridays programs, you may receive one-on-one coaching with expert lifestyle coaches. It could help you develop healthy eating and lifestyle habits, which claim to contribute to long-term weight maintenance success.

    Fridays programs might also offer weight tracking tools and access to weekly coaching sessions to support your progress. Through Fridays Coaching Hub, you may connect with others on the same journey, share experiences, celebrate wins, and overcome challenges together.

    The expert coaches at Fridays may work with you to identify patterns, set realistic goals, and build long-term habits that may support slimming goals. Such an approach might help you overcome challenges such as emotional eating, food cravings, and motivation slumps.

  3. Free Medication Delivery And FSA/HSA Eligibility

    Fridays could make weight loss plans more convenient by offering free medication delivery. Instead of having to pick up prescriptions at a pharmacy, you may get their medications shipped straight to your door at no extra cost. It could save time and effort, especially if you have a busy schedule. Having medications delivered may also help with consistency, making it easier to stay on track with a weight loss plan without interruptions. Fridays' services might be more affordable as they accept FSA (Flexible Spending Account) and HSA (Health Savings Account) payments.

Downsides Of Fridays Services

  1. Limited In-Person Support

    Fridays may not give you the same level of personal interaction as you would with an in-person doctor or clinic. Most of your interactions happen through video calls, messages, or digital coaching. It could feel impersonal, especially if you prefer a hands-on approach to target weight management or need physical check-ups to track progress. Because there are no in-person visits, you might also miss out on aspects of medical care, such as screening for factors like body composition, metabolism, or other health conditions.

  2. Accessibility and Insurance Coverage

    While Fridays aims to make its services accessible, the cost of its compounded medications and services might be a limitation. They provide weight management plans that may have significantly higher costs without insurance coverage. Even if you do have coverage, insurance approval is not guaranteed, and there is a chance that you may still face out-of-pocket expenses. The financial burden may limit the Fridays program's accessibility, especially for people without adequate insurance or financial resources.

  3. Potential Communication Delays

    Customer support and telehealth responses through Fridays' platform may not always be immediate. If you need urgent assistance or a quick prescription update, slow communication from Fridays support team might cause frustration and disrupt your progress. Relying on online messaging rather than in-person consultations might also be ineffective and inconvenient.

Alternatives To Fridays

  1. Skinny RX

    Fridays and SkinnyRx are both telehealth platforms that offer weight management solutions with prescription medications and professional support, but they take different approaches. Fridays provides a comprehensive, science-backed program designed to support long-term weight management. It also gives lifestyle coaching, access to dietitians and mental health professionals, and community support groups. The subscription costs $99 per month, covering unlimited provider visits, lab tests, and insurance assistance.

    SkinnyRx takes a streamlined, medication-focused approach. The process begins with a quick health intake quiz, followed by a clinician review to determine eligibility. If approved, prescriptions are sent within 24 hours. SkinnyRx provides both injectable medications, taken weekly, and sublingual medications, taken daily under the tongue. People have ongoing access to a care team to answer questions, monitor progress, and manage refills. Unlike Fridays, SkinnyRx does not emphasize lifestyle coaching, fitness tools, or community engagement. Fridays offer transparent pricing details, while SkinnyRx does not publicly disclose its medication costs.

    Both platforms provide weight loss support through prescription medications, but Fridays delivers a more well-rounded program with expert guidance and digital tools, while SkinnyRx focuses on quick and convenient access to treatments with clinician support.

  2. Strut Health

    Strut Health focuses on a medication-first approach, offering treatments for weight management, hair loss, sexual health, skincare, and nail health. For weight loss, Strut provides compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide in injectable and sublingual (oral lozenge) forms.

    In contrast, Fridays follow a more clinically driven telehealth model. They mainly offer

    compounded tirzepatide and compounded semaglutide, which may work by managing appetite and stabilizing blood sugar levels. Fridays also pairs them with lifestyle coaching and monitoring from health professionals.

    The level of personal involvement is another differentiator. Strut Health could enable you to select and use products for sexual health, hair care, and skincare on your own, with minimal professional interaction. Although they provide some guidance and tools for their treatments, the process is largely independent.

    On the other hand, Fridays may give you a more professional approach where licensed experts are actively involved in monitoring progress, adjusting treatments as necessary, and providing personalized advice.

How Did We Evaluate Fridays?

  1. Customer Feedback

    User feedback on Fridays' services is varied, with both positive and negative experiences shared. Many users appreciated Fridays for its personalized lifestyle coaching, nutrition guidance, and ongoing support. Some users have also praised the accessibility and convenience of using the Fridays online platform.

    However, some Fridays users have raised concerns about slow customer service responses and high pricing. Some consumers have also noted delays in receiving compounded GLP-1 medications or difficulty assessing Fridays online services.

    Fridays also received a 4.6 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot, based on 2165 reviews. However, some users have encountered issues with billing and order fulfillment on Fridays. The reviews also included complaints about being charged incorrectly for Fridays programs and not receiving clear instructions after payment.

  2. Personalized Experience

    Fridays provides a customized experience aimed at supporting users in their health and weight management goals. It could also be easy to schedule consultations with health professionals, ensuring users stay committed to their weight management goals. They also provided reminders to help avoid missed appointments and encourage regular check-ins to monitor progress. Weight tracking tools are integrated, allowing users to see their changes over time and helping them stay motivated. As per the official site, Fridays weekly coaching sessions are tailored to meet specific health needs. These sessions could enhance accountability, providing users with one-on-one guidance and personalized strategies to tackle challenges, such as emotional eating or cravings.

  3. Community Support

    Fridays focuses on providing community support features, specifically the Coaching Hub. The platform may connect multiple Fridays members, allowing them to exchange experiences and offer mutual encouragement throughout their weight management journeys. The Coaching Hub may promote goal-setting, accountability, and regular check-ins, providing a sense of connection among members. The community may also provide valuable motivation during challenging moments, potentially raising the chances of long-term weight maintenance.

    Participating in the Fridays community might help members feel more confident in their progress, knowing they have support behind them. Encouragement and success stories shared by others may inspire persistence.

  4. Transparent Pricing

    As per the official site, Fridays provides a transparent pricing model that comes with a fixed monthly fee, which covers services like lifestyle coaching, online consultations, and community support. This pricing structure ensures there are no hidden costs, allowing consumers to understand exactly what they are paying for each month. Fridays provide disclosure about its pricing and any upfront costs for purchasing subscriptions of compounded GLP-1 medications. For example, opting for a three-month subscription to Fridays Compounded Semaglutide will cost $699 upfront, with no hidden fees. Its all-inclusive pricing could provide clear value for people seeking a weight loss program with predictable expenses. However, some reviews of Fridays indicated that a few users felt frustrated with the lack of clarity in pricing and product availability.

Lifestyle And Diet Tips to Support Fitness Goals

  1. Prioritize Protein in Your Diet

    To support your fitness journey, increasing your protein intake may help you feel full longer, which might help lower your daily calorie intake. Your body may also burn more calories digesting protein than other macronutrients like carbohydrates or fats. You should consider adding protein sources, such as lean meats, eggs, beans, cottage cheese, fatty fish, or milk to your diet.

  2. Ensure Adequate Sleep

    Lack of sleep may disrupt metabolic processes and increase cravings for high-calorie foods. Such constraints can hinder your weight loss efforts. You should aim to get at least 7–9 hours of daily sleep each night to support fitness goals and muscle recovery. Maintaining consistency in sleep schedule and ensuring a dark, quiet sleep environment may help support more restful sleep.

  3. Take Part In Regular Physical Activity

    Adding strength training and cardiovascular exercises to your daily routine may help support your fitness goals. Strength training exercises like weightlifting or body-weight workouts may promote muscle growth, which could increase resting metabolic rate, helping your body expend more calories even at rest.

    You should pair strength training with cardiovascular activities, such as walking, running, or cycling, for at least 150 minutes per week. Doing so might help increase your endurance, enhance calorie burning, and support fitness goals.

  4. Increase Water Intake

    While staying active supports weight management, drinking adequate water may help manage your appetite. Sometimes, your body confuses thirst with hunger, making you snack when you just need water. Having a glass before meals might help you feel full, so you may naturally consume smaller portions. Such effects might lower your daily calorie intake and suppress cravings.

    When you don't drink enough water, you might feel tired and sluggish, which could make it harder to stay active and support your fitness goals. The CDC states that daily water intake recommendations might depend on factors like age, sex, activity levels, pregnancy status, or health conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I Track My Progress on Fridays?
    Yes, Fridays provides a customized platform and tools that may help you track your weight, schedule visits, and access weekly coaching sessions. These features may help you stay on track with your weight loss journey.
  • Is Medical Consultation Required to Start With Fridays?
    Yes, a medical consultation is necessary to ensure safety and effectiveness before availing of any Fridays plans. Fridays offer virtual consultations with qualified healthcare providers to assess specific needs before recommending any prescription weight loss options.
  • Are There Any Age Restrictions for Using Fridays Programs?
    Fridays programs are generally intended for people over 18 years of age, who have a BMI of over 27. If you don't fall under such categories, it's best to consult Fridays during your initial consultation to determine eligibility.
  • Is Fridays Accessible to People With Limited Mobility?
    People with restricted mobility, such as those with disabilities or movement issues, may still get access to Fridays services as they are provided virtually. These people may consult with medical professionals and health coaches from their homes, eliminating the need for travel.

Final Word

The Fridays may provide you with a comprehensive approach to attaining your weight loss goals. Based on your needs, Fridays may provide you with access to virtual online consultations, compounded GLP-1 medications, lifestyle coaching, and regular monitoring.

You may avail of compounded GLP-1 medications from Fridays. These could help suppress cravings, improve blood glucose levels, and support fat metabolism, all of which may contribute to your fitness and health goals.

However, Fridays compounded medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide lack FDA approval, which may raise concerns about their safety and effectiveness. There is also a possibility that you may not see the same level of weight loss success with Fridays program as other users.

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This project was supported in part by NSF Grant IIS-03-25867 (ITR: An Electronic Field Guide: Plant Exploration and Discovery in the 21st Century) and by the Washington Biologists' Field Club.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views, opinions, or policy of the National Science Foundation (NSF).