Start with the clinic model
Short answer: a medical weight loss clinic is a medical practice. You need a structure your state allows, licensed prescribers, lab and monitoring protocols, compliant sourcing of any medication, and marketing that avoids banned weight loss claims. Since 2025 the FDA no longer tolerates compounded copies of approved GLP-1 drugs, so plan your medication model carefully.
Decide what you offer around the prescription: medical evaluation, labs, nutrition and coaching, follow-up visits and maintenance. That support is what a local clinic can do better than a telehealth app, and it is what keeps patients in the program.
GLP-1s and compounding in 2026
- The FDA resolved the tirzepatide shortage in October 2024, confirmed in December 2024, and the semaglutide shortage on February 21, 2025. The periods when compounders could make copies ended between March and May 2025. FDA
- The FDA treats a compounded drug as “essentially a copy” when it matches an approved drug’s active ingredient, strength and route, unless a prescriber documents a significant difference for a specific patient. This can include combinations such as semaglutide with vitamin B12. FDA
- Compounded drugs are not FDA approved. As of May 31, 2026 the FDA had received 990 adverse event reports for compounded semaglutide and more than 730 for compounded tirzepatide. It also says salt forms such as semaglutide sodium are different active ingredients with no lawful basis for compounding. FDA
- On March 3, 2026 the FDA announced warning letters to 30 telehealth companies over marketing that implied compounded GLP-1s were the same as approved products. FDA
Weight loss claims you cannot make
The FTC’s Gut Check guide lists claims that cannot be true, such as losing two pounds or more a week for a month without diet or exercise, losing weight no matter what you eat, or keeping it off permanently after stopping. It also says testimonials must reflect typical results, and “results not typical” disclaimers are not enough. FTC In 2025 a telehealth weight loss company settled FTC allegations including hidden costs behind a low first-month price, an unsupported average weight loss claim and fake before and after photos. Foley & Lardner
Advertising rules on Google and Meta
- Meta allows weight loss ads only to people 18 and over and bans ads that create negative self-perception or show close-ups of pinched fat. Meta
- Promoting prescription drugs on Meta needs Meta authorization, and telehealth providers need LegitScript certification. Meta
- Google requires certification to advertise prescription drug services, including bidding on prescription drug keywords. Google
- TikTok restricts weight loss claims to adults 18 and over and bans claims that weight loss is easy or guaranteed. TikTok
How to start a weight loss clinic, step by step
- Confirm ownership and prescriber rules in your state guide, including NP and PA authority.
- Design the medical program: eligibility, labs, contraindication screening, follow-up schedule and maintenance.
- Decide your medication model with your attorney and pharmacist, in line with the FDA’s current position on compounding.
- Form the entity and complete licensing, DEA registration if you will prescribe controlled substances, and CLIA if you run labs in house.
- Price the program clearly, with what is included each month and what is extra.
- Build intake and booking that qualifies patients before the consult.
- Launch with compliant creative and a plan for certifications before running prescription-related ads.
Keeping patients in the program
Retention is the business. Plan check-ins, education and community from the first week, track months retained by campaign and build maintenance options for patients who reach their goal. See how we market these clinics on our weight loss clinic marketing page.
