Am I Eligible for Weight Loss Injections in the UK?

Eligibility for weight loss injections in the UK is not a judgement call. It follows clear clinical criteria set by the medicine licences and by NICE guidance. This article sets out those criteria in plain terms, explains what the pharmacist checks, and tells you what happens if you do not qualify.

The two routes to eligibility

There are two ways to qualify for GLP-1 weight loss treatment in the UK:

• A BMI of 30 or above, or
• A BMI between 27 and 29.9 together with at least one weight-related health condition

BMI stands for body mass index. It is a simple calculation based on your height and weight. It is not a perfect measure of health, but it is the threshold the medicine licences use, so every legitimate UK provider applies it.

If your BMI is below 27, a GLP-1 medication cannot be prescribed for weight loss. Any provider willing to prescribe below the licensed thresholds is not acting within UK prescribing rules, and that should worry you.

What counts as a weight-related condition

If your BMI is between 27 and 29.9, you need at least one health condition that is caused or made worse by excess weight. Common examples include:

• Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Obstructive sleep apnoea
• Heart disease
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

You do not need to prove these with paperwork upfront. You declare them during the consultation, and the pharmacist reviews your answers before any prescription is issued. Be honest. The assessment exists to keep you safe, not to catch you out.

How to work out your BMI

BMI is your weight in kilograms divided by your height in metres squared. For example, someone who is 1.65 m tall and weighs 82 kg has a BMI of 82 divided by 2.72, which is 30.1. That person qualifies on BMI alone.

You do not need to do the maths yourself. The online consultation asks for your height and weight and calculates it for you. The NHS website also has a free BMI calculator if you want to check before you start.

Who cannot take GLP-1 medication

Some people should not take GLP-1 medication even if their BMI qualifies. The main exclusions are:

• Anyone under 18
• Pregnancy, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding
• A personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN2 (a rare endocrine condition)
• A history of pancreatitis
• Certain gut, gallbladder and eating disorders, assessed case by case

Some medications also interact with GLP-1 treatment, which is why the consultation asks for your full medication list. None of this is a moral judgement. These exclusions exist because the risks outweigh the benefits for these groups.

What the pharmacist actually checks

Every consultation is reviewed personally by the prescribing pharmacist. There is no automated approval. The pharmacist checks your BMI, your medical history, your current medications, and your answers on conditions like those listed above. If anything is unclear, they will ask you about it during the video consultation before making a decision.

The £20 deposit you pay to book the video consultation is refunded in full if the pharmacist decides treatment is not suitable for you. You do not pay for medication you cannot have.

What happens if you are not eligible

If you do not meet the criteria, the pharmacist will tell you plainly and explain why. Depending on your situation, they may suggest speaking to your GP, looking at Orlistat (which has different thresholds), or focusing on other support first. A refusal is not a dead end. It is an honest clinical answer.

What happens next

If you think you qualify, the online consultation takes a few minutes. You answer the medical questions, book a video call with the pharmacist, and if approved your medication is delivered in plain packaging by Royal Mail Special Delivery. The whole process is designed to be discreet and clinically safe from start to finish.