Am I Entitled to the Weight Loss Injection? (October 2026)

01 · Your two routes

NHS or private: which route applies to you?

The NHS route depends on how high your clinical need is, while the private route depends on the licence and a prescriber's judgement. NICE recommends it for adults with a BMI of at least 35 plus at least one weight-related condition, and the NHS primary-care rollout began in June 2025 with the highest-need groups first (initially BMI 40+ with four or more qualifying conditions).⁴⁶ Full rollout is expected to take years, which is why many people who meet the licensed criteria choose regulated private treatment rather than waiting.

For more detail on the NHS side, see our guide on eligibility for Mounjaro on the NHS.

02 · What to do

What to do next

Start by working out your BMI, noting any weight-related conditions, and asking your GP where your area stands on the rollout. If you would rather not wait, you can complete a free consultation and a GPhC-registered prescriber will review it. Payment is taken when you place the order; if the prescriber decides the treatment is not suitable, the order is refunded automatically in full. Pen details and current pricing are on the Mounjaro pen page, and our weight loss clinic explains the wider service. Across the UK pharmacies we track, a Mounjaro pen ranges from £143.96 to £339.00 per month (checked 12 October 2026).

Related guides: Hse weight loss injections and Injection fir weight loss and Rena weight loss injections.

03 · Private licensed criteria

The licensed criteria for private treatment

Mounjaro is licensed for weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI between 27 and 30 with at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease, prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. It must be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.¹

A prescriber will assess your BMI, medical history and current medicines before deciding whether it is suitable for you.¹¹ That assessment is what turns eligibility into a decision. See also who Mounjaro is suitable for.

04 · Ethnic background and BMI

Lower BMI thresholds for some backgrounds

Your ethnic background can change whether you qualify. People from South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean backgrounds are at higher risk of weight- related health problems at a lower BMI, so clinical thresholds are usually reduced by 2.5 kg/m² for these groups.⁴ If you sit just under a standard threshold, mention your background to your GP or prescriber.

05 · Who should not take it

When Mounjaro is not suitable

Meeting the BMI criteria does not promise suitability. You should not take Mounjaro if you are allergic to tirzepatide or any of its ingredients, and it should not be used during pregnancy or while trying to conceive; it should be stopped at least one month before trying to conceive. Your prescriber will take extra care, or may recommend against treatment, if you have a history of pancreatitis, severe gut or digestive disease, diabetic retinopathy, or gallbladder problems.¹³

Tell your prescriber if you or a close relative have had medullary thyroid cancer or the inherited condition MEN 2. In rodent studies tirzepatide caused thyroid C-cell tumours; it is not known whether this applies to humans, and no increase has been shown in human trials.¹ Always share your full medical history and medicine list.

06 · Why a GP may say no

Why your GP might not prescribe it

If your GP will not prescribe, the most common reason is that the NHS rollout has not yet reached your group. Access is phased, with the highest-need groups first, so being turned down now does not mean you will never qualify.⁶ A GP may also decide the medicine is clinically unsuitable for you. Ask which criterion you do not meet and when your group is expected to open. NHS access to Wegovy runs through specialist weight-management services; ask your GP.

07 · How Mounjaro works

How does Mounjaro work?

Tirzepatide is the first treatment of its kind to activate two natural gut-hormone receptors at once: GIP and GLP-1. Together these help regulate appetite, slow how quickly the stomach empties, and improve the way the body responds to insulin. In practice, most people feel fuller sooner and less hungry between meals, which supports a reduced-calorie diet.¹

It is a prescription-only, once-weekly injection used alongside diet and activity. Individual results vary.