Who is eligible for GLP-1 treatment in the UK depends on the route. For a private prescription, the UK licences for Mounjaro, Wegovy, the Wegovy pill and Foundayo cover weight management in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more, or 27 to under 30 with at least one weight-related health condition. NHS access in England is narrower and, as of September 2026, depends on the medicine, your BMI and which conditions you have.
This guide is information only, not medical advice. All these medicines are prescription-only in the UK, and a qualified prescriber decides whether any is suitable for you.
Who is eligible for GLP-1 medicines in the UK? The short answer
Two sets of rules apply: the MHRA licence, which private prescribers normally work within, and narrower NHS funding rules set by NICE. Either way, a prescriber decides. See our comparison page or our guide to what GLP-1 medications are.
What do the UK licences say?
For weight management, Mounjaro (tirzepatide), Wegovy (semaglutide injection), the Wegovy pill (oral semaglutide) and Foundayo (orforglipron) are all licensed for adults with a starting BMI of:
- 30 kg/m² or more (obesity), or
- 27 kg/m² to under 30 kg/m² (overweight) with at least one weight-related condition, such as prediabetes, high blood pressure, dyslipidaemia (abnormal blood fats), obstructive sleep apnoea or cardiovascular disease.
The MHRA says GLP-1 medicines should not be used for cosmetic weight loss. The Wegovy injection is also licensed to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death in adults with established cardiovascular disease and a BMI of 27 or more.
Age limits
For weight management, Mounjaro, the Wegovy pill and Foundayo are licensed for adults only. The Wegovy injection is also licensed for young people aged 12 and over who have obesity (BMI at or above the 95th percentile for age and sex) and weigh more than 60 kg. NICE has made no recommendation on NHS use in this age group (TA910, 2023).
The higher 7.2 mg Wegovy dose
Since January 2026 the MHRA has allowed Wegovy to be raised to 7.2 mg weekly after at least four weeks on 2.4 mg, but only for adults with obesity (BMI 30 or above), not for heart-risk use or adolescents. See our Wegovy page.
Who can get Mounjaro on the NHS?
NICE recommended tirzepatide in December 2024 (technology appraisal TA1026) for adults with a BMI of at least 35 plus at least one weight-related condition. The BMI threshold is usually 2.5 lower for people from South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean ethnic backgrounds.
Since 24 March 2025, specialist weight management services have been funded to offer it to anyone meeting NICE’s criteria where a prescribing clinician approves, though local NHS boards may apply the cohorts below. In primary care, funding began on 23 June 2025, with access widening in cohorts based on five clinically defined conditions: high blood pressure, dyslipidaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
- Cohort I (from June 2025): BMI of 40 or more with at least four of the five conditions.
- Cohort II (from around June 2026): BMI of 35 to 39.9 with at least four of the conditions.
- Cohort III (from around March 2027): BMI of 40 or more with three of the conditions.
For those ethnic backgrounds, each figure is 2.5 lower (such as 37.5 instead of 40). About 220,000 people should become eligible over the first three years, and everyone treated must get “wrap-around” support with diet and behaviour change. Details are in NHS England’s commissioning guidance.
If less than 5% of starting weight has been lost after six months on the highest tolerated dose, NICE says whether to continue should be decided on benefits and risks. These phased rules cover England; elsewhere, ask your GP. See our Mounjaro page.
Who can get Wegovy on the NHS?
Wegovy for weight loss
Under TA875 (March 2023), Wegovy is recommended only within a specialist weight management service, for up to two years, for adults with at least one weight-related condition and a BMI of at least 35, or 30 to 34.9 if they meet NICE’s specialist referral criteria. Lower thresholds apply for the same backgrounds, and NICE advises considering stopping if under 5% of starting weight is lost after six months.
Wegovy to lower heart attack and stroke risk
Under TA1152 (7 May 2026), Wegovy up to 2.4 mg weekly is recommended for adults with established cardiovascular disease (a previous heart attack or stroke, or symptomatic peripheral arterial disease) and a BMI of at least 27. The NHS in England had to fund it within 90 days.
Are the Wegovy pill and Foundayo available on the NHS?
Not as of September 2026. When approving the Wegovy pill (11 June 2026) and Foundayo (10 August 2026), the MHRA said neither was currently available on the NHS and that NHS use would follow a NICE evaluation. NICE’s orforglipron appraisal (ID6516) is provisionally due on 18 November 2026, though timetables can change.
For now, both are private prescription only. See our Wegovy pill page, Foundayo page or GLP-1 medications compared.
Who should not take a GLP-1 medicine?
NHS guidance says semaglutide and tirzepatide may not be suitable if you have had an allergic reaction to them or another GLP-1 medicine, or have or have had acute pancreatitis (an inflamed pancreas). None of the four medicines should be used in pregnancy; the product information advises stopping semaglutide at least 2 months, tirzepatide at least 1 month and orforglipron at least 3 weeks before a planned pregnancy.
Semaglutide and orforglipron should not be used while breastfeeding. For tirzepatide, the current product information says it could be considered, but the NHS medicines page says it is not used, so ask a prescriber. Report suspected side effects to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
How is eligibility checked if you go private?
Private prescribing still needs a consultation. The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), which regulates pharmacies in Great Britain, says an online questionnaire or phone call alone is not enough for weight management medicines: details such as height and weight should be verified, for example through clinical records or your GP.
The MHRA’s GLP-1 guidance says the only way to guarantee a genuine product is a legitimate pharmacy, including online, with a prescription. Registration can be checked with the GPhC, or in Northern Ireland the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland. The MHRA warns against buying from beauty salons, social media or anywhere without a prior consultation, as illegally sold products may be fake, contaminated or incorrectly dosed. Unlicensed or so-called “compounded” copies are not a safe alternative.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a GLP-1 medicine with a BMI of 27?
Possibly. Privately, all four licences start at a BMI of 27 if you also have a weight-related condition. NHS weight-loss thresholds in England are higher, but NICE recommends Wegovy for adults with established cardiovascular disease and a BMI of 27 or more.
What are the five conditions for NHS Mounjaro?
High blood pressure, dyslipidaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, each clinically defined. As of September 2026, the primary care rollout covers at least four of them plus a BMI of 35 or more (lower for some ethnic backgrounds).
Does ethnicity change the BMI threshold?
Yes, for NHS weight-loss treatment: NICE usually lowers the Mounjaro and Wegovy BMI thresholds by 2.5 for people from South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean backgrounds.
Can teenagers have GLP-1 treatment?
For weight management, only the Wegovy injection is licensed for under-18s: those aged 12 or over with obesity who weigh more than 60 kg. NICE has made no recommendation on NHS use in this age group.
Will I have to stop if I do not lose enough weight?
Possibly. For NHS weight-loss treatment, NICE says continuing should be reviewed if less than 5% of starting weight has been lost after six months (for Mounjaro, on the highest tolerated dose).
Can I get Wegovy on the NHS if I have heart disease?
Possibly, if you have had a heart attack or stroke, or have symptomatic peripheral arterial disease, and your BMI is 27 or more (NICE TA1152, May 2026). A clinician decides whether it suits you.