Weight-loss medication eligibility checker
Find out whether you're likely eligible for weight-loss medication - on the NHS, privately, or both - in about two minutes. Get a clear result and a downloadable guide to your next steps.Based on NHS and MHRA prescribing criteria
Free About 2 minutes Based on NHS and MHRA prescribing criteria
This is an eligibility guide, not medical advice or a prescription.
This eligibility check is based on NHS commissioning criteria and MHRA licensing and is not medical advice.
Weight-loss medicines such as Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Saxenda (liraglutide) are prescription-only in the UK. Who can access them - and how - depends on your BMI, your health, and whether you go through the NHS or privately. This checker helps you understand which routes are likely open to you.
What happens after you check your eligibility?
If you're likely eligible
- Understand which route(s) fit your situation
- Use your downloadable next-steps guide
- Compare verified providers if you choose to go privately
If you're not sure or not eligible yet
- Understand why
- Find out how the NHS criteria are expanding
- Explore other weight-management support through your GP or local council
FAQs
The NHS prescribes weight-loss medication only to people meeting strict criteria, typically through specialist services or (for Mounjaro) a phased GP rollout. Private pharmacies use lower BMI thresholds and can prescribe more quickly, but you pay for the medicine and consultation.
In primary care, Cohort 1 is BMI 40+ with four of five qualifying conditions (type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, sleep apnoea). Cohort 2 (from 23 June 2026) is BMI 35-39.9 with four qualifying conditions plus a recent structured weight-management attempt. The rollout is happening in phases so not every GP practice is prescribing yet.
For NHS treatment yes - your GP either prescribes Mounjaro directly (where the pathway is live) or refers you to a specialist service. For private treatment you don't need a GP referral; a registered pharmacy prescriber will assess you.
Private prices vary by pharmacy and dose. Use our GLP-1 comparison tool to see current prices from GPhC-registered pharmacies.
No. These medicines aren't recommended if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN2, or if you're pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding. Other conditions like a history of pancreatitis need a clinician's review first.
Body Mass Index is your weight in kilograms divided by your height in metres squared. Prescribers use adjusted thresholds (typically 2.5 lower) for people from South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African and African-Caribbean backgrounds because health risks appear at lower BMIs.
Yes - NHS Tier 3 specialist weight-management services commonly have waits of 12 to 36 months, and GP-led Mounjaro prescribing is being rolled out in phases so many practices haven't started yet.
You can access private weight-loss treatment without being registered with a GP, provided you meet the pharmacy's clinical criteria. NHS routes require GP registration in England.