Who can get weight loss medicine in the UK
Three sets of rules apply. The licence sets who a private prescriber can treat. NICE sets who the NHS should treat. NHS England sets who goes first.
A private prescriber can usually prescribe from a BMI of 30, or 27 with a weight related condition. NICE recommends Mounjaro on the NHS from a BMI of 35 with at least one weight related condition. NHS GP practices in England started with a BMI of 40 or more and four of five listed conditions.
The thresholds side by side
| Private prescription | The medicine's licence | 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight related condition | A prescriber at a registered pharmacy or clinic |
|---|---|---|---|
| NICE, Mounjaro | NICE guidance TA1026 | 35 or more with at least one weight related condition | The NHS, phased in over time |
| NHS GP practice, Mounjaro, first group | NHS England rollout | 40 or more with at least four of five listed conditions | Your GP practice or a local service |
| NHS GP practice, Mounjaro, second group | NHS England rollout, 2026 to 2027 | 35 to 39.9 with at least four of five listed conditions | Your GP practice or a local service |
| NHS specialist service, Wegovy | NICE guidance TA875 | 35 or more, or 30 to 34.9 with other criteria | A specialist weight management service |
Check your BMI against each threshold
The five listed conditions
NHS England counts these weight related conditions for the phased rollout. Source: NHS England.
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Abnormal blood fats (dyslipidaemia)
- Obstructive sleep apnoea
- Cardiovascular disease
- Type 2 diabetes
Lower thresholds for some ethnic backgrounds
BMI thresholds are reduced by 2.5 for people from South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean backgrounds. Source: NHS England.
Who should not take them
The MHRA says these medicines should not be taken during pregnancy, while trying for a baby or while breastfeeding. Source: MHRA. A prescriber checks for other reasons a medicine may not suit you.
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
NICE guidance and the NHS England rollout apply in England. Health services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set their own access. Check with your local health board. Private prescribing follows the same UK licence in all four nations.
Questions
What BMI do I need for weight loss injections in the UK?
For a private prescription the licence usually needs a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight related condition. NICE recommends Mounjaro on the NHS from a BMI of 35 with at least one weight related condition, and NHS England is phasing access in.
Does ethnicity change the BMI threshold?
Yes, for NHS and NICE thresholds. They are lowered by 2.5 for people from South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean backgrounds.
Who makes the final decision?
A prescriber. Meeting a BMI threshold does not guarantee a prescription. The prescriber also checks your medical history and other medicines.
Can under 18s get these medicines?
The weight management licences described here are for adults. Speak to a GP about care for anyone under 18.
Official sources
Every rule on this page comes from the sources below. GLP Index checked each one on 8 October 2026.
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. UK first in Europe to authorise orforglipron for weight management and type 2 diabetes. 10 August 2026.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Tirzepatide for managing overweight and obesity (TA1026). Published December 2024.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Semaglutide for managing overweight and obesity (TA875). Published March 2023.
- NHS England. Weight management injections. Checked 8 October 2026.
- NHS England. Interim commissioning guidance: NICE TA1026 tirzepatide. Reviewed April 2026.
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. GLP-1 medicines for weight loss and diabetes: what you need to know. First published 5 June 2025, updated 5 February 2026.
More on UK rules
- GLP-1 medicines in the UK: which are licensed for weight loss
- Weight loss injections on the NHS: who qualifies and when
- Buying weight loss medicine online: the UK rules
- MHRA safety advice for weight loss medicines
- Why weight loss medicines are not advertised in the UK
- Who regulates weight loss medicines in the UK
- UK weight loss medicine timeline: every key decision
- NHS vs private: what weight loss medicine costs in the UK
- All UK rules pages