Overview
Weight loss injectable treatments such as Mounjaro® and Wegovy® are not suitable for everyone. MedExpress determines eligibility using clinical guidelines, medical safety criteria, and strict prescribing regulations, and only a UK-registered prescriber can confirm whether treatment is appropriate for you.
Use this article when you want to:
Understand the age, BMI, and medical eligibility requirements for weight loss injectables
Find out how BMI thresholds work, including adjusted thresholds for certain ethnic backgrounds
Understand why clinical review is required before treatment can be approved
Find out what happens if a MedExpress prescriber decides treatment isn't suitable for you
Who Is Not Eligible for Weight Loss Injectables?
A MedExpress prescriber may determine that weight loss injections are not appropriate for you if any of the following apply:
Age: You are under the age of 18.
BMI: Your Body Mass Index (BMI) falls below MedExpress's clinical treatment thresholds.
Pregnancy/Nursing: You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Allergies: You have a history of a serious allergic reaction to the medication or its ingredients.
Medical Conditions: You have certain underlying conditions where GLP-1 medicines are not recommended.
Medication Interactions: You are using medications that conflict with, or make it unsafe to use, weight loss injectables.
Clinical Safety: Your prescriber judges any other situation to make treatment clinically unsafe.
What Are the Detailed BMI Eligibility Thresholds?
To be eligible for treatment with Wegovy® or Mounjaro®, you must be an adult (18+) and meet one of the following BMI criteria.
Standard BMI Thresholds
BMI of 30 or higher: the standard threshold for adults living with obesity.
BMI of 27 or higher: eligible if you also have a weight-related health issue, such as:
Prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Sleep apnoea
High cholesterol
Heart disease
BMI between 25 and 30: eligible for off-label prescribing in some cases. MedExpress clinicians assess these cases individually to ensure safety.
Are BMI Thresholds Adjusted for Certain Ethnic Backgrounds?
Research indicates that people from certain ethnic backgrounds may face higher health risks at lower BMI levels. Because of this, MedExpress lowers its BMI thresholds by 2.5 for people from the following backgrounds:
Asian
Black African
African-Caribbean
Middle Eastern
For example, if you're from one of these backgrounds, the threshold for eligibility without additional weight-related health issues is 27.5 instead of 30.
Why Do These Eligibility Rules Exist?
Restrictions on weight loss injectable prescribing are based on UK clinical safety guidance, regulatory standards, and evidence from medical research. These safeguards ensure that Mounjaro® and Wegovy® are only supplied when the benefits outweigh the risks.
What Happens if Treatment Is Not Suitable for Me?
If a MedExpress prescriber determines that a weight loss injectable is not appropriate for you, a prescription will not be issued. This decision is based strictly on clinical safety requirements, to protect you from potential harm.