Included Health vs Optavia
A detailed head-to-head comparison of Included Health and Optavia — pricing, peptides, consultation models, and patient reviews.
At a Glance
RatingNo reviews
Starting PriceN/A
Peptides2
ConsultationHybrid
Lab TestingNo
Shipping3-5 business days
Pros
- Real video visits with licensed primary care providers
- Health navigation layer is a genuine differentiator: help navigating insurance appeals, specialist referrals, care decisions
- Widely distributed through employer benefits
- Platform covers primary care, behavioral health, and specialist navigation in one place
- Strong infrastructure and clinical oversight from a well-funded, established company
- All 50 states for telehealth
Cons
- Primarily employer-benefit access
- Not a GLP-1 specialist: patients wanting structured weight loss programs, titration coaching, or compounded options should look elsewhere
- Pricing and access vary significantly by employer
- Doctor on Demand brand (the predecessor) was known for good but standard primary care
- No labs ordered or drawn through the platform
- Less suitable for patients whose main need is low-cost GLP-1 access without employer benefits
RatingNo reviews
Starting PriceN/A
Peptides2
ConsultationAsync Telehealth
Lab TestingNo
Shipping3-5 business days
Pros
- Highly structured meal replacement system with decades of Medifast research behind the Fuelings products
- Coach community provides strong accountability, community, and daily behavioral support
- Combining a low-calorie structured diet with GLP-1 therapy may produce greater caloric reduction than either alone
- Fuelings system removes meal decision fatigue
- Large, established coach network with broad geographic coverage
Cons
- Coaches are not licensed clinicians
- The GLP-1 medical pathway runs through a separate third-party telehealth platform, creating a fragmented care experience where coach and prescribing clinician operate independently
- Total combined cost (Fuelings + GLP-1 medication) can exceed $600–$800/month, making this among the more expensive weight management options
- Fuelings program uses a multi-level distribution model; coach incentives are tied to product sales, which is a structural conflict of interest patients should understand
- Not suitable for patients who want a single integrated clinical program
Pros & Cons
Peptide Pricing Comparison
| Peptide | Included Health | Optavia |
|---|---|---|
| Semaglutide | Price unavailable | Price unavailable |
| Tirzepatide | Price unavailable | Price unavailable |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Included Health or Optavia better?
Included Health offers 2 peptides and hybrid consultations. Optavia offers 2 peptides and async telehealth consultations. The best choice depends on which peptides you need, your budget, and preferred consultation model.
Which is cheaper, Included Health or Optavia?
See the pricing table above for a detailed comparison.