Eligibility for weight loss medication is primarily determined by your Body Mass Index (BMI) and your overall health profile. MedExpress follows clinical guidelines to ensure that Mounjaro and Wegovy are prescribed safely and effectively.

Use this guide to check if you meet the criteria for:

• Standard BMI thresholds.

• Eligibility based on weight-related health conditions.

• Adjusted thresholds for specific ethnic backgrounds.

Standard eligibility criteria

You may be eligible to start treatment with Wegovy or Mounjaro if you are an adult and meet one of the following criteria: Additionally, for medications like Wegovy, all new prescriptions must start with a 0.25 mg dose to ensure safe titration. Similarly, Mounjaro prescriptions will commence at 2.5 mg unless evidence of prior use at a higher dose is provided.

• BMI of 30 or higher: This is the standard threshold for adults living with obesity.
• BMI of 27 or higher with weight-related health issues: If your BMI is at least 27, you may be eligible if you also have health problems related to your weight, such as:
• Prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes.
• High blood pressure (hypertension).
• Sleep apnoea.
• High cholesterol.
• Heart disease.
• BMI between 25 and 30 (off-label use): In some cases it is possible to initiate GLP-1 medication at BMI's between 25 and 30. This is called off-label prescribing and may not be suitable for everyone. Our clinicians will assess each order to ensure all prescriptions are safe and appropriate. If your BMI does not meet the above thresholds, your order may not be fulfilled without supplemental evidence, including documentation verifying your BMI and prior prescriptions.

Adjusted BMI thresholds for ethnic backgrounds

Research indicates that individuals from certain ethnic backgrounds may face higher health risks at lower BMI levels. Consequently, the BMI thresholds for Mounjaro and Wegovy are lowered by 2.5 for individuals from the following backgrounds:

• Asian

• Black African

• African-Caribbean

• Middle Eastern

For example, if you are from one of these backgrounds, the threshold for eligibility without additional health problems would be a BMI of 27.5 instead of 30.

Prescription Processing Policies

Meeting eligibility criteria is just one aspect of obtaining a prescription for GLP-1 medications. Providers may also require:

• Evidence of prior prescriptions, especially for dosages higher than the standard starting dose.
• Documentation such as a government-issued ID or full-body photo for BMI and identity verification. Failure to provide this evidence may result in delays or adjustments to your prescription.

Additional Resources

To calculate your BMI or learn more about starting your weight loss journey, visit our dedicated GLP-1 Hub.

Need further support?

If you still need help after reviewing the information above, additional assistance is available.