Costco Is Getting Into the Weight Loss Game

One of the amazing things about Costco is the sheer number of products and services it offers. Visit your local Costco store, and you may be able to do everything from get new tires on your car to buy a new phone to load up on groceries and toilet paper for the week.

But now, Costco is expanding its offerings with a new weight loss program. And if that's something you're interested in, you may want to consider a membership to gain access.

A new reason to join Costco?

Costco is teaming up with healthcare marketplace Sesame to offer access to a new weight loss program that, depending on need and medical approval, could include access to prescription drugs like Ozempic. Costco members will be allowed to sign up for the service, which costs $179 for three months and includes access to clinician consultations.

Of course, to be clear, joining the program does not guarantee eligibility for Ozempic or other weight loss drugs. But if you've been thinking about joining Costco, you may want to consider a membership if you feel you can benefit from a program like this. A basic Costco membership costs $60 a year, while an Executive membership costs $120 but gives you 2% cash back on your purchases.

Is Costco's price for a weight loss program a good one?

The cost of weight loss programs varies depending on different factors, including their length and what services the programs actually include. CareCredit found that the average cost of medical weight loss programs was around $1,000 as of late 2022. However, there can be a big difference from program to program in terms of number of consultations, supplements, food, and more.

Now when we take that average $1,000 price tag and compare it to Costco's new offering, $179 reads like a steal. However, these numbers don't tell the whole story, so it's a good idea to research different weight loss programs and their cost before committing to one.

Also, if you're thinking of joining Costco for access to its latest weight loss offering, you may first want to talk to your primary care physician and see what they recommend. They may be able to present a more optimal program based on your specific needs. They might even be able to put you on a program that is less of a budget hit than what Costco is charging.

All told, there are plenty of reasons to join Costco, and the fact that the warehouse club giant is getting on the medical weight loss bandwagon might prompt you to buy a membership. But before you join for the express purpose of getting access to this new program, do your research and talk to your trusted medical provider to get their input.

That said, one thing Costco has always been very good about is ensuring customer satisfaction. So if you buy a membership and aren't happy, you can always cancel for a refund. As such, if you join and then decide that Costco's weight loss program isn't for you, you're not necessarily stuck paying your membership fee for the year.