Losing weight can be a challenging journey, and many individuals seek support through various programs and services. Sequence, a telehealth service from WW (formerly known as WeightWatchers), and similar weight loss apps have emerged as potential tools for individuals looking to manage their weight. This article explores the features, benefits, drawbacks, and customer reviews associated with these programs, with a particular focus on Sequence and its competitors like Eden.
Understanding the Landscape of Weight Loss Programs
The weight loss landscape has evolved to include virtual and telehealth platforms. These programs often incorporate various strategies, including personalized nutrition, exercise guidance, and prescription medications. Programs such as Found offer a multidisciplinary approach, considering factors like genetics, hormones, metabolism, gut health, and sleep.
Caroline Thomason, RD, CDCES, a dietitian, notes that virtual programs offer appealing aspects such as access to weight loss physicians and medications that may be challenging to obtain otherwise. Adrienne Youdim, MD, an obesity medicine and physician nutrition specialist, supports the use of anti-obesity medications in the right individual to treat the chronic condition of obesity.
Key Components of Weight Loss Programs
Many weight loss programs offer a combination of the following components:
- Personalized Nutrition: Tailored recommendations from health coaches. Programs like Found encourage portion control and staying in a calorie deficit without completely restricting any foods.
- Movement: Personalized exercise guidance from experts.
- Prescription Medication: FDA-approved medications, such as GLP-1 agonists, are prescribed if the individual qualifies. These medications may include oral or injectable options.
- Medical Guidance and Consultation: Access to medical providers who guide the treatment path and provide support.
- Personal Health Coaching: Support from a personal health coach.
Sequence by WeightWatchers: A Detailed Look
Sequence is a subscription-based program offered by WeightWatchers that combines clinical care with lifestyle coaching. It integrates weight loss medication with WW behavioral coaching and diet tracking tools. WW acquired Sequence in 2023, adding this service to its programs.
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How Sequence Works
- Eligibility Assessment: Individuals complete a form to determine if they are eligible for GLP-1 medication.
- Virtual Consultation: Eligible individuals meet with a licensed WW clinician for an initial virtual consultation to discuss their weight loss goals and current health.
- Prescription (If Appropriate): If the clinician deems it medically appropriate, the individual receives a prescription for medication, which may include GLP-1 drugs or alternatives like metformin or bupropion.
- WW App Integration: Individuals use the WW app for food, activity, and weight tracking, engaging with coaching and community features to complement their medication plan.
- Regular Check-Ins: Regular check-ins with WW clinicians allow for adjustments to goals, plans, and medication.
Effectiveness of Sequence
While there is no specific scientific research examining the effectiveness of the WW Clinic plan, studies suggest that following a WW plan can improve weight loss and diet quality.
For example, a 1-year randomized clinical trial found that participants in a WW program lost more weight than those in a do-it-yourself (DIY) weight loss plan. At 3 months, the WW group lost an average of 3.8 kg, compared to 1.8 kg in the DIY group. At 12 months, the WW group lost an average of 4.4 kg, compared to 1.7 kg in the DIY group. The study also noted that engaging in workshops and using the WW app was linked with greater weight loss.
However, this study was funded by WW, which introduces potential bias. Additionally, the DIY group was offered a free 1-year membership to WW after the study, which may have influenced their engagement with their DIY plan.
A 6-month 2025 study concluded that WW was significantly more effective at improving diet quality compared to standard nutritional guidance (SNG) using the USDA's MyPlate.gov resource. The WW group showed significant improvements in diet quality, with their Healthy Eating Index (HEI) score increasing by 5.3 points compared to the SNG group’s 1.1-point increase. The WW group also experienced greater weight loss.
A 2022 observational study of over 2,400 long-term WW members found that early re-engagement with weight loss efforts, consistent self-monitoring, and remaining on top of dietary intake helped limit weight regain. However, this study was also funded by WW, with some authors being employees and shareholders, increasing the risk of bias.
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Cost of Sequence
WW Clinic costs from $74 to $149 per month, excluding the cost of medication. The monthly cost depends on the length of the commitment:
- Monthly rolling membership: \$149 per month
- 3-month commitment: \$99 per month
- 6-month commitment: \$84 per month
- 12-month commitment: \$74 per month
Customers are charged monthly until the plan ends, even if they do not use the service. Early cancellations do not result in refunds. GLP-1 medication can cost between $350 to $1,300 per month out-of-pocket. Insurance may cover some of the cost. WW Clinic provides estimates for GLP-1 medication costs and offers online tools to help estimate costs and check insurance coverage.
Customer Reviews and Complaints
WW’s average review rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is 1.04 out of 5, based on 110 reviews. While some customers credit WW and WW Clinic with helping them lose weight and appreciate access to nutritionists and personalized plans, online reviews are generally negative.
Common complaints include:
- Unclear Information on Subscription Length and Cost: Customers report signing up for 12-month plans without realizing they were locked into the full term and could not cancel.
- Customer Service Problems: Generic or unhelpful responses from clinicians and delays in communication.
- GLP-1 Supply Issues: Shortages of GLP-1 drugs making it difficult to fill prescriptions.
Key Takeaways about Sequence
- WW Clinic offers access to GLP-1 medications through licensed clinicians, along with food tracking and lifestyle coaching.
- A WW membership is included in the WW Clinic plan.
- GLP-1 medications help control blood sugar, suppress appetite, and slow digestion.
- Weight gain may occur if a person stops using GLP-1 medications.
- Medication costs can be significant, but insurance may offer coverage.
Alternatives to Sequence: Eden and Found
Eden
Eden is a telehealth platform that connects individuals with licensed healthcare providers who evaluate eligibility for prescription treatments like semaglutide or tirzepatide. Eden's platform does not include weight-loss coaching or fitness programs; it offers direct access to care from licensed healthcare providers.
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Key Differences Between Eden and Sequence:
- Pricing and Services: Eden offers a monthly membership that may cost less than Sequence, depending on the services selected. Sequence includes WeightWatchers lifestyle tools, while Eden offers provider-led consultations with optional support tools.
- Healthcare Provider Access: Both platforms connect users with licensed healthcare providers for eligibility evaluation.
- Care Model: Eden emphasizes flexibility and transparency in treatment options and pricing.
Clinical Criteria and Eligibility for Eden:
Providers on the Eden platform evaluate eligibility based on:
- BMI ≥30, or ≥27 with related health conditions
- Lab values, including A1c or fasting glucose
- Medical history and current medications
- Willingness to follow up for monitoring
Insurance vs. Cash Pay Options for Eden:
Eden is transparent about separating provider access from medication cost. Insurance may be used at the pharmacy for eligible prescriptions.
Treatment Personalization with Eden:
Personalization may include:
- Adjusting medication dosages gradually
- Evaluating lab results and medical history
- Tracking symptom changes and tolerability
- Revisiting care plans if needed
Who Might Prefer Eden?
Eden may be a strong fit for those who:
- Want a streamlined care experience with clear pricing
- Prefer one-on-one clinical consultations
- Are already working with a nutritionist or fitness coach
- Value transparency in medication and care costs
Found
Found is a personalized health program focused on sustainable weight loss through an online, medically supervised program. It is designed for individuals with a BMI of 30 or a BMI of 27 with comorbidities such as diabetes or heart disease and is available in 31 states.
Key Features of Found:
- Multidisciplinary Approach: Encompasses diet, exercise, and prescription medications, while considering genetics, hormones, metabolism, gut health, and sleep.
- Team of Experts: Includes board-certified physicians in weight management, nutrition, and health coaches.
- Personalized Nutrition: Recommendations from a health coach, encouraging portion control and a calorie deficit without restricting any foods.
- Personalized Exercise Guidance: From an expert.
- Prescription Medications: FDA-approved medications prescribed if qualified, including generics like metformin, bupropion, naltrexone, topiramate, zonisamide, and GLP-1s like Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Trulicity, Rybelsus, Saxenda, and Victoza.
GLP-1 Medications: A Closer Look
GLP-1 medications, such as semaglutide (Ozempic®, Wegovy®) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro®, Zepbound®), have been studied for weight-related indications.
- Semaglutide: A NEJM study showed participants lost an average of 14.9% of their body weight over 68 weeks.
- Tirzepatide: A NEJM study demonstrated dose-dependent weight loss up to 22.5% in people with obesity.
The Role of the BBB
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) provides Business Profiles to assist consumers in exercising their best judgment. However, the BBB does not verify the accuracy of information provided by third parties and does not guarantee the accuracy of any information in Business Profiles. When considering complaint information, the company's size and volume of transactions should be taken into account. The nature of complaints and a firm's responses are often more important than the number of complaints.