Criteria for Mounjaro Approval in the UK (October 2026)

01 · The short answer

What are the criteria for Mounjaro approval?

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.¹ It must be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.¹

Meeting them does not mean automatic approval. A prescriber will assess your BMI, medical history and current medicines before deciding whether it is suitable for you.¹ Our guide to the full criteria for Mounjaro goes through each element.

02 · NHS or private

NHS criteria versus private criteria

The two routes use different thresholds.

Mounjaro is available on the NHS, but access is being phased in over several years.⁴ 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).⁶ Full rollout is expected to take years, which is why many people who meet the licensed criteria choose regulated private treatment rather than waiting.⁶

For the NHS side in detail, see Mounjaro NHS criteria. For the private side, read the private criteria.

03 · What to do next

What to do if you think you meet the criteria

Start with your BMI and any weight-related conditions, then complete a consultation. If you meet the licensed criteria and want private treatment, our Mounjaro pen consultation is free and reviewed by a GPhC-registered prescriber. Your first 2.5mg pen costs £129.99 with code FIRST40 (standard price £169.99). Our weight loss clinic page explains the wider service.

04 · BMI and ethnicity

How BMI and ethnic background affect approval

BMI is the first filter: the licensed thresholds are a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI between 27 and 30 with at least one weight-related condition.¹ 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 your BMI sits just under a threshold, tell the prescriber your background. It is a legitimate part of the assessment, not a loophole. For more on thresholds specific to weight loss, see criteria for Mounjaro for weight loss.

05 · Who is not approved

Who should not be approved for Mounjaro

Meeting the BMI threshold is not enough if a safety issue applies. 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.¹ If you become pregnant during treatment, stop the medicine and tell your prescriber promptly. Mounjaro must not be used during pregnancy, and 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 Always share your full medical history and medicine list during consultation.¹³

06 · Thyroid history

Thyroid history and your assessment

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 As a precaution, tell your prescriber if you or a close relative have had medullary thyroid cancer or the inherited condition MEN 2 — they will weigh this in your assessment.¹ Routine thyroid monitoring is not required for most people.¹

07 · Why criteria matter

Why the criteria exist: what treatment can do

The thresholds target people most likely to benefit. In the SURMOUNT-1 trial of 2,539 adults, people taking tirzepatide alongside diet and exercise lost on average 15% of their body weight on 5mg, 19.5% on 10mg and 20.9% on 15mg over 72 weeks, compared with 3.1% with lifestyle changes alone.² These are trial averages — individual results vary, and treatment works alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, not instead of them.²

Because it is a prescription medicine with real contraindications, approval is a clinical decision rather than a purchase. Related guides include criteria for a Mounjaro prescription and how prescribers apply the criteria.

08 · How approval works with us

How approval works at EverydayMeds

You complete a short, free health questionnaire with no obligation. It is then reviewed by a GPhC-registered prescriber, not a scoring script. Payment is taken when you place the order; if the prescriber decides the treatment is not suitable, the order is refunded automatically in full.

Approved orders are dispensed by our registered pharmacy (GPhC 9012878), with same-day dispatch when ordered by 3pm and free next-day tracked delivery. We supply genuine KwikPens through official LillyDirect supply. Repeat orders re-check suitability, and there is no auto-shipping. For the wider picture, see weight loss approval.