Who can use weight loss treatment

The BMI rules #

For most adults, treatment is licensed for:

• BMI of 30 or above, or
• BMI of 27 or above with at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, sleep apnoea or fatty liver disease.

These thresholds come from the medicines' licences. Private prescribers follow them in the same way as the NHS.

Lower thresholds for some backgrounds

Health risks from weight arrive earlier for people of South Asian, Chinese, Black African and African-Caribbean backgrounds, so prescriber guidance applies thresholds about 2.5 BMI points lower. Tell us your background in the health check and we apply the right threshold.

Age limits #

We treat adults aged 18 to 75. Under 18s need specialist paediatric services through the NHS. Over 75, the balance of benefit and risk needs a GP or specialist who knows your full history, so we refer on rather than prescribe remotely.

Conditions which rule out treatment #

A prescriber will decline treatment if you have:

• Pregnancy or breastfeeding; if you are planning pregnancy, discuss the medicine-specific stopping interval in our pregnancy and contraception guide
• A history of pancreatitis
• Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, or MEN2 (multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2)
• Type 1 diabetes
• A current or recent eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia
• Severe gastrointestinal disease, such as gastroparesis

Some conditions do not rule treatment out but change the plan: past gallstones, kidney disease, diabetic retinopathy and thyroid tablets all need a conversation.

Medicines needing care #

• Insulin or sulfonylureas (like gliclazide): adding a GLP-1 can cause low blood sugar. We ask your GP to adjust doses first.
• The contraceptive pill: Mounjaro can reduce absorption. Use a barrier method for 4 weeks after starting and after each dose increase, or consider a non-oral method. Foundayo also requires a non-oral contraceptive method or additional barrier contraception for 30 days after starting and each dose increase. Wegovy does not carry this additional precaution. See Foundayo UK product information, section 4.5 and our pregnancy and contraception guide.
• Warfarin: dose changes need INR monitoring.
• Thyroxine: absorption can shift. Your GP may recheck thyroid levels.

Why we verify your weight #

UK pharmacy rules require independent weight evidence before a first prescription. You can send a photo or video on the scales, or your GP record. The step feels formal, but this is how a responsible pharmacy proves these medicines go to the people they are licensed for.

If you are not eligible #

A no from us comes with an explanation and, where useful, a signpost. Options can include your GP, NHS weight management services, or simply waiting until circumstances change, after breastfeeding ends, for example. You are never charged for a declined request.