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1st Optimal vs Rivas Medical Weight Loss

An in-depth comparison of two leading GLP-1 Providers

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By Eli Marsden · Founding Editor
Editorially reviewed & fact-checked against primary sources · How we verify contentLast reviewed
1st Optimal logo

1st Optimal

6.7
★★★☆☆3.4/5

Best for: Patients wanting GLP-1 therapy within a lab-driven functional-medicine program

Visit 1st Optimal
VS
Rivas Medical Weight Loss logo

Rivas Medical Weight Loss

6.7
★★★☆☆3.4/5

Best for: MD/VA/FL patients wanting hands-on weekly in-person or telehealth GLP-1 visits

Visit Rivas Medical Weight Loss

1st Optimal and Rivas Medical Weight Loss are both GLP-1 Providers competing for the same patients, but they make different trade-offs on price, coverage, and what's included. In our scoring, Rivas Medical Weight Loss starts at $498/mo, and both land at 6.7/10 overall. Below we break down pricing, what each plan covers, the six-dimension score, pros and cons, and exactly who should pick which.

Pricing

1st Optimal

Pricing not publicly listed.

Rivas Medical Weight Loss

Any doseCompounded
$498/mo
semaglutide

billed $115/week for any dose; all-inclusive (visit + medication); ~$498/mo equivalent

Any doseCompounded
$715/mo
tirzepatide

billed $165/week for any dose; all-inclusive (visit + medication); ~$715/mo equivalent

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What’s included

1st Optimal

Inclusions not disclosed.

Rivas Medical Weight Loss

What the monthly price covers

Medication

Included

Provider visits

Included

Shipping

Not disclosed

Lab work

Not disclosed

Coaching

Not disclosed

Score breakdown

Both providers are scored on the same six-dimension framework. The gradient bar marks the stronger side on each dimension.

1st Optimal

6.7/10

Overall

Rivas Medical Weight Loss

6.7/10

Value25%

6.5A
vs
B
5.5

Effectiveness25%

7.0A
vs
B
7.5

User Experience15%

6.5A
vs
B
7.0

Trust & Safety15%

6.5A
vs
B
7.0

Accessibility10%

6.5A
vs
B
6.0

Support10%

7.4A
vs
B
7.5

Features & Coverage

Feature1st OptimalRivas Medical Weight Loss
Starting Price$498/mo
Features8 features6 features
States AvailableNot disclosed3
Compounded✓ Yes
Brand Name
FSA/HSA Accepted
FDA WarningsNoneNone

About 1st Optimal

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. Its model pairs prescription GLP-1 therapy with at-home lab testing, blood-work interpretation, unlimited coaching, and personalized protocols framed around long-term weight loss and longevity. Care is delivered virtually by credentialed providers, and treatments ship to the home with no long-term contracts. The site does not publish monthly pricing or a state list.

Read our full 1st Optimal review →

About Rivas Medical Weight Loss

Rivas Medical Weight Loss is a physician-founded program (Paul Rivas MD LLC) combining 15 in-person clinics with telehealth across Maryland, Virginia, and Florida. It offers compounded semaglutide at $115/week and compounded tirzepatide at $165/week, flat for any dose, with each all-inclusive weekly price covering the medication plus a provider visit. The concierge weekly-visit model runs higher than mail-order competitors.

Read our full Rivas Medical Weight Loss review →

Pros & Cons

1st Optimal

What we like

  • 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

Watch-outs

  • 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

Rivas Medical Weight Loss

What we like

  • Physician-founded (Paul Rivas MD) with 15 clinics plus telehealth
  • Flat price for any dose; weekly provider visits included in every payment
  • Offers both compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide

Watch-outs

  • Expensive: about $498/mo for semaglutide and $715/mo for tirzepatide (billed weekly)
  • Only available in Maryland, Virginia, and Florida
  • Weekly-visit concierge model requires more frequent engagement than mail-order

Our Verdict

Both 1st Optimal and Rivas Medical Weight Loss score equally well overall — the right choice depends on your priorities.

Choose 1st Optimal if…

You want Patients wanting GLP-1 therapy within a lab-driven functional-medicine program.

Choose Rivas Medical Weight Loss if…

You want MD/VA/FL patients wanting hands-on weekly in-person or telehealth GLP-1 visits and a starting price around $498/mo.

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1st Optimal vs Rivas Medical Weight Loss: FAQ

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