
Your body weight is influenced by several factors, such as age, physical activity level, diet, and genetic makeup. Not all of these factors are within our control, which can make losing weight incredibly difficult. Sometimes lifestyle changes, like improving eating habits, aren’t enough to lose weight. A health care professional may prescribe medication as part of a weight loss plan. Research shows that some people who take weight loss medication lose more than 10% of their starting weight.
Found is a holistic weight care program that considers food, movement, stress, and — for qualifying members — prescription-drug intervention to address biological factors affecting weight. The company offers individualized programs with access to a personal health coach, a private community, and a doctor who evaluates and manages medications. Is Found the right weight loss program for you? We’ll help you decide.
Pros
- An individualized, flexible program for long-term, sustainable results
- Access to a doctor and FDA-approved prescription medication if you qualify
- Doctors are willing to meet via video
- Access to a personal coach who uses positive psychology and habit-building strategies
- Access to a community of people with similar goals
Cons
- The Rx Path, which includes prescriptions, has limited availability in 31 states
- Lack of transparency regarding the medication the company’s doctors prescribe
- No trial period or money-back policy
- Wellness Path isn’t available at this time
- No app
Bottom line
Found provides social support, access to a personal health coach, curated nutrition and movement guides, and ample information to help you achieve health-focused goals at a reasonable cost. If you qualify for the company’s prescription plan, you can receive convenient and helpful consultations with Found’s medical doctors. All of Found’s features help you learn healthy habits and sustainably lose weight. But please note: as of March 2023, Found’s Wellness Path — which provides you with personalized nutrition and fitness guidance, a personal health coach, and access to the Found community, without the prescribing of medication — is not being offered at this time but will return soon. In the meantime, the Rx Path is available for those who qualify.
Found
Found combines personal coaching and prescription medication to help you achieve sustainable weight loss.
Found's Wellness Path is currently unavailable (returning soon), but its is still offers FDA-approved medication for qualifying members. Click below to take a short quiz, and find out if that path is right for you.
Over the past two decades, Innerbody Research has helped tens of millions of readers make more informed decisions involving staying healthy and living healthier lifestyles.
We extensively test each health service we review. We try our best to give you, our readers, an unbiased exploration of at-home health services, free of marketing jargon or gimmicks. We evaluate the service based on our adherence to quality, the latest medical evidence and health standards, and a simple question: would we buy the product or service ourselves if it weren’t part of our job, and would we recommend it to family and friends?
Additionally, like all health-related content on this website, this review of Found was thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy.
Cofounders Emily Yudofsky and Jack Abraham (the co-founder of Hims & Hers) felt that weight loss models overemphasized willpower and quick, unsustainable results. They felt that there had to be a better and more comprehensive, long-term approach to weight care. So in 2020, they founded the weight loss company Found.
Found considers the whole self, including a person’s biology, food and nutrition, sleep and stress management, emotional and mental well-being, social support, and even medication — something many weight loss programs ignore.
Anyone who has been unable to lose weight through diet and exercise and has serious health problems caused by weight will greatly benefit from Found. The company provides subscribers access to doctors who can prescribe medication to address biological factors that impact weight. However, the medication subscription — known as the Rx Path — is only available in 31 states:
- Alaska
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
Found is not a quick weight loss fix. It’s for those who want to build healthier habits and lose weight in a sustainable, meaningful way. If you prefer a structured weight loss journey with meals sent to your doorstep, workout regimes, or a food-tracking app, Found won’t be a good fit.
Part of Found’s process involves regularly texting a coach. You also have access to a private Facebook community for added support. If texting someone about your weight loss experience or participating in a Facebook group doesn’t interest you, then Found might not be the right program for you.
Found ordinarily has two main weight loss approaches: the Rx Path and the Wellness Path. However, the Wellness Path isn’t available at this time. The company tells us that it will return soon. Right now, at the end of the short placement quiz — a critical first step in your Found experience — you will find out whether you qualify for the Rx Path or whether you should wait for the return of the Wellness Path.
Rx Path
Available in 31 states, the Rx Path provides you access to a medical doctor who may prescribe you medication during your weight loss journey. You can either message a provider in the Found portal or connect with a doctor via video. A doctor will regularly check in about how your medication is working.
Found providers prescribe FDA-approved medications that have been scientifically proven to help with weight loss. Because everyone is different, the medication Found providers prescribe may vary. The company does not list the medications its doctors prescribe on its website.
A doctor may also prescribe off-label medication, which means the unapproved use of an FDA-approved drug. Off-label drug use is fairly common in the medical field, but the doctor should weigh the risks and benefits of an off-label drug with you to ensure the best care.
If you experience any side effects from the medication, you can contact a medical provider in the Found portal. You can also opt to change your medication or dosage, even if you aren’t experiencing side effects. However, the company recommends waiting until the refill date so your medical provider has time to determine if the drug is working as it should be.
If a doctor determines that it is no longer necessary or safe for you to remain on medication, you can cancel the Rx Path and switch to the Wellness Path without consequences.
In addition to prescription medication and doctor consultations, the Rx Path also includes:
- Personalized nutrition and movement path
- A personal health coach who helps you achieve goals and develop healthy habits
- Access to the Found Facebook community
Wellness Path
Found’s Wellness path isn’t available right now, as described above, but ordinarily it’s available to anyone because it does not involve any prescription medication or access to a Found provider. The Wellness Path includes:
- Personalized nutrition and movement path
- A personal health coach who helps you achieve goals and develop healthy habits
- Access to the Found community
In the past, when we reviewed Found, this is what we learned about the Wellness Path:
- In order to maximize having the personal coach, you’ll need to be proactive and reach out first. The personal coach helps you set and adhere to weekly goals, build healthy habits, and gain health-related information, but they aren’t going to do the work for you. Personal coaches might also send tips, YouTube videos, or guides, depending upon how the conversation goes.
- The private Facebook community assures that you are not alone in your weight loss journey. Others are there to inspire, celebrate your victories, and offer support. Like the personal coach, you’ll only benefit from the community if you regularly engage with it.
OTC Path
As a new path for treatment, the OTC Path is akin to a flexible Rx plan. It supplies you with over-the-counter FDA-approved weight loss medication (no caffeine pills here) to get a helping hand in losing weight even if you live in a state that isn’t covered by the Rx plan. The OTC Path includes:
- Alli, an FDA-approved medication for weight loss
- A 3-in-1 fiber supplement
- Access to Found pharmacists
- A personal health coach who helps you achieve goals and develop healthy habits
- Access to the Found community
For more information on this path, we recommend reaching out to the company directly.
This path is not recommended for anyone who:
- Is nursing, pregnant, or planning to become pregnant
- Takes cyclosporine or warfarin
- Has had an organ transplant
- Has been diagnosed with problems absorbing food
- Has a history of liver disease, gallbladder problems, anorexia, or bulimia
Found is a month-to-month subscription service, but it’s up to you how long you decide to continue with it. The length of your membership varies, depending upon your starting weight, medication, medical history, and other factors. Because the company’s focus is long-term and healthy habit-building, its weight care plan can extend for several months.
The cost of Found will vary depending upon whether or not you proceed with the Wellness or Rx Path, but at this time, the Rx Path is the only one available.
Depending on the length of your commitment and ability to pay more up-front, the Rx Path costs vary between $119 and $89 a month.
- If you pay for a single month, your price is $119
- Paying quarterly costs $318 (amounting to $106 per month)
- If you’re willing to pay for a six-month period, your cost is $534 (equivalent to a monthly expense of $89)
Medications are included in this monthly cost and are shipped directly to your doorstep. However, if a medical provider requests lab work, this is an additional cost. Found partners with the lab company Grassroots to help ensure affordable lab work.
At this time, Found does not offer a trial period or a money-back guarantee if you’re dissatisfied.
The cancellation process is straightforward and involves sending a cancellation message through the online portal or emailing customer support. Found advises that you email at least 72 hours before the next charge date to avoid incurring next month’s fees. The company acknowledges that they may not respond to your email; however, Found guarantees that it will honor cancellation requests when they are sent.
HSA, FSA, and health insurance
Found does not accept any forms of health insurance or HSA/FSA as forms of payment. The company recommends consulting with a qualified accountant or tax professional to determine eligibility for reimbursement through a health savings account, health reimbursement account, or flexible spending account.
Found does not provide itemized receipts for reimbursement, but the company can send a detailed email outlining your participation in its program.
If you want to sustainably lose weight, set goals to build healthy habits, and not worry about calorie counting or food logging, then Found is absolutely a good value.
In terms of what you get for your money, Found truly delivers. For qualifying members, the company offers individualized, sustainable programs, customized meal guides, social support, and access to a doctor who may prescribe medication at a reasonable cost.
Found also makes a lot of sense for people who want one-on-one coaching during their weight loss journey. The personal coaches offer a plethora of valuable information as long as you communicate with them. Only a text away, a personal coach helps you focus each week on forming a healthy habit and maintaining accountability.
Compared to other weight loss programs, Found’s program is not as robust. Competitors like WW, Noom, Nutrisystem, and Jenny Craig include apps that can sync with fitness-tracking devices, and some will send healthy meals to your doorstep. Competitors to Found’s Rx Path, such as Calibrate and FormHealth, also provide educational lessons, and FormHealth pairs you with a registered dietician. But more bells and whistles are not always necessary or helpful, especially if you don’t end up using them. Found keeps the process simple.
Sign-up process
Signing up and getting started with Found is easy and only takes a minute. To begin, you fill out a survey that asks questions about:
- Your biological sex
- Previous weight loss programs you’ve tried
- Your motivation to lose weight
- Your current weight and height
- Whether anyone in your family has struggled to lose weight
- If you have any health conditions, like high cholesterol, cancer, or sleep apnea
- If you’ve ever been diagnosed or treated with certain medical conditions, such as kidney problems, stroke, or eating disorders (such as anorexia or bulimia)
- If you take opioids, methadone, antipsychotics, or chemotherapies
Based on your answers, Found either recommends their Rx Path or informs you that the Wellness Path isn’t currently available but will be back soon. In case you understandably find it unsettling that your need for prescription medication is determined separately from a real person, rest assured that Found does follow up with an intake form after you’ve purchased a plan.
The company offers three different subscription plans:
- One month
- Three months
- Six months
The more months you commit to, the lower the price.
After purchasing a plan, the company emails you to set up an online patient portal. This is where you will log your weight once a week and reach out to customer support if need be.
Found also sends you its intake form, which asks questions about:
- Exercise and eating habits
- What circumstances have led to overeating
- What foods you typically eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- The quality of your sleep and your energy levels
- Alcohol, smoking, and tobacco usage
- Stress levels
- Your preferred weight loss strategy (e.g., intermittent fasting, decreased portion sizes)
- Whether or not you own a scale
A Found medical provider reviews the intake form, and they’ll make a final recommendation as to whether or not you truly require medication for your weight loss journey. If you proceed down the Rx Path, you’ll have your first consultation with a Found provider within 72 hours of filling out the intake form.
After the initial sign-up, you will receive Found’s nutrition guide in your inbox. The nutrition guide tees you up to focus on what and when you eat during your weight loss journey. It includes healthy eating tips and explains how to build a well-portioned plate with vegetables, high-quality protein, complex carbs, and high-fat foods. Overall, the guide is helpful and sets you up for success.
Getting started
After the Rx Path’s initial consultation, your journey begins with a personal coach contacting you via text message. They’ll introduce themselves and explain the process.
Your coach is your cheerleader and accountability buddy. Your coach will check in a few times a week about two topics.
- #WeighinWednesday is the only time each week that you’re encouraged to track your weight in your Found portal.
- Maintaining healthy habits and setting goals is a large part of the Found program. Each week, your personal coach will reach out about setting up weekly goals, such as practicing stress reduction techniques. Your coach helps you build good habits, track progress, and make adjustments along the way.
A coach may take a few hours to respond to a text message, and in our experience, they do not respond over the weekend. Coaches are positive and empathetic in their communication. They celebrate the non-scale wins and hold you accountable. Additionally, your coach will share meal plans, grocery guides, and other helpful information.
To truly benefit from the personal coach interactions, you must actively participate – communication, even for Found, is a two-way street. If you share your feelings or ask a question, they will follow up with questions or provide helpful resources or suggestions.
Found long-term
Found’s focus is sustainable, long-term, healthy habit building and weight loss. Your personal coach guides you every step of the way, and those in the Found community also extend support. How long you choose to subscribe to Found is up to you, but the company views it as a seven-month or more commitment.
Month 1
A personal coach helps you learn about nutrition, exercise, sleep hygiene, and stress management. If you’re on the Rx Path, you begin some medication. You also see similar experiences to yours in the Found community.
Months 2 and 3
Your personal coach holds you accountable and helps you focus on specific areas of your health. If you’re on the Rx Path, a doctor may adjust your medication. Ideally, weight loss continues, and you can celebrate both scale and non-scale victories with other Found subscribers in the community.
Months 4, 5, and 6
Your personal coach finetunes certain health areas, such as gut health. Ideally, if you’re taking medication, it’s helping you maintain progress. You might be empowered to share ideas and tips in the community.
Months 7 and beyond
Check-ins with your coach may decrease because you’re hopefully thriving and holding yourself accountable, but they’re still there for extra motivation. You can continue to gain support from the community and welcome newcomers.
The Found program is flexible, and the slow and steady approach is intended to help you learn, gradually lose weight, and keep the weight off.
Found doesn’t disclose too much regarding privacy protections, but it is HIPAA compliant.
If you participate in the Rx Path, Found is required by law to verify your identity with a photo ID, like a driver’s license. But the company encourages customers to cover their ID number for privacy protection.
After canceling your subscription, Found keeps protected health information (PHI) in accordance with state laws, which can vary.
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