Am I Eligible for Weight Loss Treatment?

Use our BMI calculator and eligibility guide to understand whether GLP-1 treatments like Wegovy or Mounjaro might be suitable for you.

This is not medical advice. This tool provides general information based on published NICE guidelines and typical clinic criteria. Only a qualified prescriber can determine whether treatment is appropriate for you, based on your full medical history.

BMI Calculator

BMI categories (NHS)

Healthy

18.5 - 24.9

Overweight

25 - 29.9

Obese

30 - 39.9

Severely obese

40+

Eligibility Criteria

N

NHS (NICE TA875)

Wegovy is NICE-approved for use in specialist NHS weight management services when:

  • BMI of 35 or above (or 32.5+ for African Caribbean, Asian, and some other ethnic groups)
  • At least one weight-related health condition (type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, sleep apnoea, etc.)
  • Referred through a specialist weight management service
  • Maximum 2 years on treatment

Availability varies by area. Waiting lists may apply. Mounjaro is not yet NICE-approved for weight management.

P

Private clinic

CQC-registered online clinics typically prescribe GLP-1 treatments when:

  • BMI of 30 or above (obesity), or
  • BMI of 27 or above with at least one weight-related health condition
  • Age 18 or over
  • No contraindications (pregnancy, MTC history, MEN 2, severe GI disease)

Criteria vary by clinic. The prescriber makes the final decision based on your full medical history. Wegovy from GBP 99.97/month. Mounjaro from GBP 176.97/month.

BMI thresholds and ethnicity

NICE recommends lower BMI thresholds for people from African Caribbean, Asian, Middle Eastern, and some other ethnic backgrounds. This is because health risks associated with obesity can occur at a lower BMI in these groups. For NHS access, the threshold is 32.5 instead of 35. Private clinics may also adjust their thresholds accordingly.

Who should not take GLP-1 treatments?

GLP-1 receptor agonists are not suitable for everyone. Your prescriber will check for these contraindications:

Pregnant or breastfeeding
Planning to become pregnant
Personal/family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
Severe gastrointestinal disease (e.g. gastroparesis)
History of pancreatitis
Under 18 years old
Caution: type 1 diabetes, severe kidney/liver disease, eating disorders (prescriber will assess)

What happens during an online consultation?

1

Health questionnaire

Answer questions about your weight, height, medical history, current medications, and weight loss goals.

2

Prescriber review

A GMC-registered prescriber reviews your answers. They may ask follow-up questions or request additional information.

3

Clinical decision

If appropriate, a prescription is issued. If not, you're told why and are not charged for the consultation.

4

Dispensed and delivered

Medication is dispensed by a GPhC-regulated pharmacy and delivered to your door, usually within 2-3 working days.

Frequently Asked Questions

What BMI do I need for Wegovy?
Under NICE guidelines (TA875), Wegovy is recommended for adults with a BMI of 35 or above (or 32.5+ for some ethnic groups) who also have at least one weight-related health condition. Private clinics may prescribe at BMI 30+ (or 27+ with comorbidities) based on the prescriber's clinical judgement.
Can I get weight loss injections on the NHS?
Wegovy is NICE-approved (TA875) and available through specialist NHS weight management services, but access varies significantly by area. Waiting lists can be long. Most people currently access GLP-1 treatments through private online clinics, where prescribers assess eligibility based on your health profile.
What counts as a weight-related health condition?
Common weight-related comorbidities include type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol (dyslipidaemia), obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease, and osteoarthritis. Your prescriber will assess your full health history during consultation.
Are there reasons I can't take GLP-1 treatments?
GLP-1 treatments are not suitable for everyone. Contraindications include pregnancy or breastfeeding, personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2), and severe gastrointestinal disease. A prescriber will review your full medical history before deciding if treatment is appropriate.
Do I need to see a doctor in person?
No. All UK-regulated online clinics on SlimmingBoost offer remote consultations. You complete a health questionnaire online, which is reviewed by a GMC-registered prescriber. They may ask follow-up questions. If treatment is clinically appropriate, a prescription is issued and medication is dispensed by a GPhC-regulated pharmacy.

Ready to compare clinics?

All clinics on SlimmingBoost are CQC-registered and use GPhC-regulated pharmacies. Compare pricing, features, and regulatory status.

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Sources

  • NICE Technology Appraisal TA875: Semaglutide for managing overweight and obesity (March 2023)
  • NHS: Obesity — Treatment (nhs.uk/conditions/obesity/treatment)
  • NHS: BMI healthy weight calculator (nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/bmi-calculator)
  • NICE Clinical Guideline CG189: Obesity — identification, assessment and management
  • MHRA: Summary of Product Characteristics — Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4mg)
  • MHRA: Summary of Product Characteristics — Mounjaro (tirzepatide)