Why I built this
I was going through my own weight loss journey and kept hitting the same wall: either vague wellness content, pharmaceutical marketing, or clinical papers I couldn't understand. I wanted plain facts — what do the trials actually show, what are the real tradeoffs, what should I ask my doctor.
Plain Decisions is that resource, built with agentic AI tools to research and organize the evidence, and map every claim back to a published clinical trial. I'm not a doctor. I'm not a medical authority. This is not medical advice. It's the clearest picture of the evidence I could build — so other people on the same journey have somewhere to start.
Independently funded. Every claim backed by published trials. No rankings or recommendations. Just the data, in plain English.
How this site is built
Every page on Plain Decisions is researched and organized using agentic AI tools. AI reads the clinical trials, extracts the key numbers, cross-checks against FDA labelling, and drafts the content in plain English. I do not manually review every page before it goes live — that's the honest truth.
If you find an error, send me feedback and I will review and correct it. The goal is accuracy, and corrections are always welcome.
Editorial standards
Evidence-based only
Every treatment claim is supported by published clinical trial data. I cite the specific trial name, sample size, duration, and results. When data is limited or conflicting, I say so explicitly.
No recommendations or rankings
This site presents trial data and lets you decide with your healthcare provider. I never say one drug is "better" than another, never rank treatments, and never suggest what you should take. Treatment decisions depend on your individual health profile, and that requires a doctor.
Plain language first
The audience is everyday people, not medical professionals. I use clear, conversational language. When medical terminology is necessary, I explain it. Content is written at a reading level accessible to most adults.
Trial language standards
I always say "In studies, people lost..." or "Trial data suggests..." rather than "You will lose..." I frame weight loss data as averages from study populations, not individual predictions.
Regular review cycle
Pages are reviewed and updated as new trial data is published or drug approvals change. Each page shows its last review date. Pricing data is verified quarterly. Pipeline drug timelines are updated when FDA milestones occur.
How information is sourced
Primary sources are peer-reviewed clinical trials published in journals including The New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, JAMA, and Obesity. I also reference FDA approval documents, prescribing information, and manufacturer-published pricing.
For pricing information, I use publicly available list prices from manufacturer websites, pharmacy benefit managers, and CMS data. Actual out-of-pocket costs vary by insurance, location, and savings programs.
I do not cite news articles, social media, or anecdotal reports as primary sources for treatment efficacy claims. When I reference these sources for context (like drug approval timelines), I label them clearly.
Pipeline drug policy
For drugs not yet approved by the FDA, I always include clear caveats about their status. Phase II and Phase III trial results are presented with explicit notes that these drugs are not yet available, timelines are estimates, and final approved formulations may differ from trial versions. I never present pipeline data as if the drug were currently available.
Spot an error? Have a suggestion?
This site is made by one person. If something is wrong, missing, or could be better — I would love to hear it. I read every message.
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Built with agentic AI tools and not a substitute for medical advice
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