Head-to-head · WeighScore
1st Optimal vs MDLive
The verdict
1st Optimal takes it — 61.6/100 to 58.8/100.
1st Optimal grades higher on WeighScore, our editorial score across cost value, dose & formulation, clinical oversight, labs & monitoring, fulfillment and contract terms. 1st Optimal is a Michigan-based telehealth and functional-medicine platform offering GLP-1 weight loss medications, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, as once-weekly injections or daily oral tablets.
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Factor by factor
The same six graded dimensions, side by side. See the methodology.
The numbers
| Metric | 1st Optimal | MDLive |
|---|---|---|
| WeighScore | 61.6/100 | 58.8/100 |
| Grade | C | C |
| Scorecard rank | #288 | #358 |
| Semaglutide | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Tirzepatide | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Coverage | Coverage not published | Coverage not published |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Yes |
| Oral / sublingual | Yes | Injection only |
Graded #288 · C
Strengths
- Offers both semaglutide and tirzepatide with injectable and oral formats
- Functional-medicine approach with at-home labs and blood-work interpretation
- Unlimited coaching and ongoing support included
- No long-term contracts
- Board-certified doctors and nurse practitioners referenced
Where it loses points
- No public monthly pricing disclosed
- No published state availability list
- Compounded vs branded sourcing not clarified on site
- Pricing only revealed after quiz or consultation
Graded #358 · C
Strengths
- Prescribes FDA-approved branded GLP-1s including Wegovy and Zepbound
- Covered through insurance and employer benefits for 50M-plus people
- Board-certified physicians averaging about 15 years of experience
- Part of Evernorth/Cigna, a large established healthcare organization
- Offers full primary care, not just a single weight-loss funnel
Where it loses points
- GLP-1s only at clinician discretion in a Primary Care routine visit
- Anti-obesity meds not available in FL, LA, MS or NJ
- Distributed mainly via insurers and employers; cost varies by plan
- No transparent published monthly cash price for GLP-1 care
Also worth a look
Neither is our top-graded pick — CoreAge Rx leads the scorecard
Across all 499 providers, CoreAge Rx grades highest at 91.8/100 (A−). Top of the scorecard: flat transparent pricing, both molecules, nationwide — no teaser-rate games.
Pricing/verification reflect each provider's public disclosures at last grading; the WeighScore is our editorial judgment per the methodology. Prices change — confirm on each provider's site. Not medical advice; see our disclosure.