Costco launches weight-loss program for members

Costco Wholesale Corp. is expanding into a new area of health care.

Under an expansion of its partnership with healthcare marketplace Sesame, the membership warehouse club will offer a weight-loss program for members, with an initial three-month subscription of $179.

As part of the program, members will receive three months of clinical consultation, have a live video consultation with a clinician of their choice, receive a nutritional guide and recommendations and be guided to an individualized treatment program. 

“When clinically appropriate, the clinician may pair these interventions with medications, subject to their availability,” Sesame said in a statement. (The subscription does not cover the costs of medication or lab work.)

No details what given as  to what medication might be offered, but various reports speculated it would include the new class of popular weight-loss drugs known as GLP-1s, which includes Ozempic and Wegovy.

“We are witnessing important innovations in medically-supervised weight loss," stated David Goldhill, Sesame's co-founder and CEO. "Sesame's unique model allows us not only to make high-quality specialty care like weight loss much more accessible and affordable, but also to empower clinicians to create care plans that are specific to — and appropriate for — each individual patient."

The weight-loss program comes about six months after Costco entered into a partnership with Sesame to offer exclusive, low pricing from Sesame’s marketplace to Costco members for services that include virtual primary care, health checkups (including lab work) and virtual mental health therapy.

Sesame’s marketplace includes primary care doctors and nurse practitioners, more than 40 health specialties, labs and imaging centers, and offers both virtual and in-person care.