What Are the Requirements to Get Weight Loss Medication in the UK? (October 2026)

01 · The short version

The requirements at a glance

The requirements to get weight loss medication come down to three things: your BMI, whether you have a weight-related condition, and whether the medicine is safe alongside your health history and other medicines. For Mounjaro, the licensed criteria are a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI between 27 and 30 with at least one weight-related condition. Examples include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease, prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.¹

The medicine must be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. It is not a replacement for them.¹ A prescriber assesses your BMI, medical history and current medicines before deciding whether it suits you.¹¹

The private criteria are wider than the NHS ones because they follow the product licence. That is why many people who meet the licensed criteria look at regulated private treatment rather than waiting. You can read our wider guide to the requirements to get GLP-1 medicines for the other medicines in this class.

02 · Cost

What private treatment costs

The Mounjaro pen at the 2.5mg starting dose has a standard price of £169.99 per month, and your first 2.5mg pen costs £129.99 with code FIRST40. After that, every later order is £25 off the standard price (code DOSE25). A new customer also gets £40 off their first order at any dose, including people switching to us at a higher dose. Someone switching at 15mg pays £289.99 for their first order.

Across the UK pharmacies we track, Mounjaro pens range from £143.96 to £339.00 per month depending on dose and provider, checked 10 October 2026. The gap between providers for the same dose ranges from £27 to £41, so it pays to compare like for like. Payment is taken when you place the order; if the prescriber decides the treatment is not suitable, the order is refunded automatically in full.

If you would rather see whether you qualify before thinking about cost, start your free consultation. A GPhC-registered prescriber reviews it, and unsuitable orders are refunded automatically. If you are comparing routes, our guide to getting weight loss medication on the NHS sets out the NHS side in more detail.

03 · Self-check

A quick way to check where you stand

Work out your BMI from your height and weight, then ask whether you have a weight-related condition. If your BMI is 30 or above, you meet the licensed weight criterion on its own. If it is between 27 and 30, you need at least one qualifying condition that is part of your medical record.¹ If your BMI is below 27, Mounjaro is not licensed for weight management for you.

Meeting the BMI line does not mean you will be prescribed it. The prescriber also considers your medical history and everything you take. Be accurate in the questionnaire: it protects you, because the prescriber can only judge safety from what they are told. If you want the broader picture across treatments, see all weight loss treatments, or compare the paperwork in our guide to weight loss medication prescription requirements.

Weight loss medication is a prescription-only treatment in the UK. It is supplied only after a consultation reviewed by a GPhC-registered prescriber. Individual results vary, and this page is information, not a substitute for medical advice.

04 · Licensed BMI criteria

The licensed BMI criteria explained

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.¹ Those two routes are the core of how you qualify for weight loss medication privately. Everything else the prescriber checks sits on top of that.

The weight-related conditions named in the licensed criteria are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease, prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.¹ If you are in the 27 to 30 band, at least one of these needs to apply to you. If your BMI is 30 or above, no additional condition is needed to meet the licensed weight criterion, although the prescriber still reviews your whole health picture.

The criteria do not make the medicine a stand-alone fix. The licence ties its use to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.¹ A prescriber expects you to be working on both.

Why the criteria exist

BMI is a screening measure. It is not a diagnosis, and it cannot tell the prescriber about your muscle mass, your blood pressure or your sleep. That is why the 27 to 30 band is tied to a named condition. If you are unsure whether a condition counts, list it in your consultation and let the prescriber decide.

Adults only

The licence we describe covers adults. If you are under 18, this route is not open to you, and your GP or a specialist service is the right starting point.

What the prescriber does with your answers

A prescriber uses the BNF's indications, dosing and safety information for tirzepatide to decide whether the medicine is appropriate for you specifically.¹¹ They assess your BMI, your history and your current medicines before deciding. Our consultation is reviewed by a GPhC-registered prescriber rather than a scoring script, which means a real person weighs your answers.

If you want to see how this plays out across the other medicines in this class, our page on how easy it is to get weight loss medication covers the practical experience, and the guide to buying weight loss medication covers the purchase side.

One practical point: measure your height and weight accurately before you begin. A rounded or guessed number can put you on the wrong side of a threshold, and the prescriber is working from your figures. If your measurements are close to a line, say so rather than rounding in your favour.

05 · NHS eligibility

NHS eligibility in 2026: the honest picture

Mounjaro is available on the NHS, but access is being phased in over several years.⁶ NICE recommends it for adults with a BMI of at least 35 plus at least one weight-related condition.⁴ That is the recommendation, but the recommendation and your practical access are two different things.

The NHS primary-care rollout began in June 2025 with the highest-need groups first, initially people with a BMI of 40 or above and four or more qualifying conditions.⁶ Full rollout is expected to take years. So someone who meets the NICE threshold on paper may still be waiting for their group to be reached.

The question about "5 criteria"

There is no set five-point list: NICE recommends Mounjaro for adults with a BMI of at least 35 plus at least one weight-related condition. Your GP practice or NHS England guidance can confirm anything further.

Will my GP prescribe it?

That depends on whether you are in a group the rollout has reached and whether your practice is delivering the service. If you meet the NICE recommendation, ask your GP directly whether you are eligible now, and what the practice's timeline is. If you are not yet eligible, ask to be recorded as someone who will qualify as the rollout widens. Wegovy is a different case: NHS access to Wegovy runs through specialist weight-management services, so ask your GP.

NHS or private?

The two routes are not mutually exclusive in time. Some people wait for the NHS, and others choose regulated private treatment because they meet the licensed criteria today. The licensed private criteria are broader than the NHS ones, so someone with a BMI of 32, for example, can meet the licence but would not currently meet the NICE recommendation. Our page on whether you can get weight loss medication on the NHS goes deeper on the NHS route, and our piece on demand for weight loss medication explains why rollout is staged.

If you go private, choose a pharmacy that appears on the GPhC register. Ours is registered under number 9012878, and you can check it on the GPhC public register.¹²

06 · What the prescriber reviews

What a prescriber reviews before supplying

A prescriber reviews your BMI, medical history and current medicines before deciding whether Mounjaro is suitable for you.¹ Meeting the BMI criterion is the entry ticket, not the decision. The consultation exists so a clinician can weigh the rest.

Our process is short. You complete a free online consultation, a short health questionnaire with no charge and no obligation. Payment is taken when you place the order; if the prescriber decides the treatment is not suitable, the order is refunded automatically in full.

Your medical history

Be specific about conditions you have had, treatments you are having now, and anything you have been told to avoid. The prescriber uses the SmPC and the BNF as their reference points for safety information.¹¹¹ If something is unclear, the safest course is to include it and let the clinician decide.

Your current medicines

Because Mounjaro slows stomach emptying, it can affect how quickly some oral medicines are absorbed, particularly when you start treatment or increase the dose. Tell your prescriber about everything you take, especially warfarin or other narrow-margin medicines, insulin, or sulfonylureas, where doses may need reducing to avoid low blood sugar.¹ No adjustment is needed for paracetamol.¹

Note the wording: insulin and sulfonylureas are a reason for dose review, not an automatic bar. Do not change any dose of your own accord. Your prescriber or diabetes team will tell you what to adjust.

Oral contraceptives

Mounjaro slows stomach emptying, which can reduce how well oral contraceptive pills are absorbed.⁷ The SmPC advises switching to a non-oral method, or adding a barrier method (such as condoms), for 4 weeks after starting Mounjaro and for 4 weeks after each dose increase.¹ If you use the pill, say so in the consultation, so the prescriber can advise you on what to do.

Diabetes and weight

If you have type 2 diabetes, you may be on other medicines the prescriber needs to know about. Our blog on diabetes medication and weight loss covers what to know before you start. Tirzepatide is also licensed for type 2 diabetes in the UK.¹

Side effects and reading the leaflet

Every pen comes with a patient information leaflet that lists side effects and what to do about them.¹³ Read it before your first injection. If you notice a side effect, you can report it through the Yellow Card scheme.¹⁹ Our aftercare includes ongoing monthly reviews, dose-titration and follow-up assessments by the prescribing team, plus side-effect support. Repeat orders re-check suitability, and there is no auto-shipping.

07 · What Mounjaro is

What you are actually qualifying for

Mounjaro is the brand name for tirzepatide, a once-weekly injectable prescription medicine made by Eli Lilly.¹ In the UK it is licensed for weight management in adults and for type 2 diabetes. It comes as a pre-filled multi-dose pen, called a KwikPen, in six strengths: 2.5mg, 5mg, 7.5mg, 10mg, 12.5mg and 15mg.¹

How it works

Tirzepatide is the first treatment of its kind to activate two natural gut-hormone receptors at once: GIP and GLP-1.¹ 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

That dual action is what distinguishes it from single-action GLP-1 medicines such as semaglutide (Wegovy and Ozempic). It matters for eligibility because the licence, the BMI thresholds and the review process are all built around this specific medicine.

A weekly pen, not a daily one

Mounjaro and Wegovy are once-weekly injections. Liraglutide, sold as Saxenda and in products such as Erly, is a daily injection supplied at 6mg per millilitre. If daily injections are a concern for you, mention it in your consultation, since it affects which treatment suits you. For the Wegovy ladder, pens are 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 1.7mg and 2.4mg once weekly, stepping up after at least four weeks and reaching the 2.4mg maintenance dose from week 17. The 2.4mg dose is the licensed maintenance dose for weight management.¹⁸

Stopping treatment

Tirzepatide has a half-life of about five days, so after a final dose it takes roughly 4 to 5 weeks to clear the system.¹ There is no way to speed this up, and nothing needs doing while it clears. Knowing this before you start helps you plan, for example if you are thinking about pregnancy or a procedure, which you should always discuss with your prescriber. Mounjaro must not be used during pregnancy, and it should be stopped at least one month before trying to conceive. If you become pregnant during treatment, stop the medicine and tell your prescriber promptly.

Why this matters for your application

When you apply, you are asking for a specific product with a specific licence, and the prescriber is deciding about that product. Knowing what it is helps you answer the consultation properly. You will also see why the process asks about gut symptoms, other medicines and conditions that affect blood sugar.

You can see the product and its pricing on the Mounjaro ordering page. For a broader choice of options, our weight loss injections online page explains the range we supply.

08 · What to expect from results

What results look like once you qualify

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.

At 72 weeks, 85% of participants on 5mg, 89% on 10mg and 91% on 15mg had lost at least 5% of their body weight. Half of participants on 10mg and 57% on 15mg lost at least 20% of their body weight.²

A worked example

For someone starting at 100 kg, 20.9% is about 21 kg. That is the straight arithmetic of the trial average at 15mg over 72 weeks. It is not a forecast for you, and trial averages do not predict your own result.

Three months and two stone in twelve weeks

Three months in, most people are still on the lower rungs of the dose ladder, so trial-average losses at this stage are modest compared with the headline figures: in SURMOUNT-1, the full 15–21% averages were measured at 72 weeks, not 12. Treatment also starts at the lowest dose and steps up, so early weeks are not a good guide to later ones. A prescriber can talk through realistic expectations for you.

Why this affects qualifying

The prescriber is looking for a person who will use the medicine as intended: with a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity.¹ If you are hoping for a rapid target by a fixed date, such as a holiday or an event, tell the prescriber, because it shapes the conversation about what is sensible.

Stopping and maintaining

If you stop, weight can return. In SURMOUNT-4, people who stopped tirzepatide after 36 weeks regained on average 14% of body weight over the following year, while those who continued treatment lost a further 5.5% on average.¹⁴ This is why our aftercare includes ongoing monthly reviews and follow-up assessments.

Comparing with Wegovy

Only the SURMOUNT-5 trial supports a direct comparison between tirzepatide and semaglutide.¹⁵ Numbers from different trials should not be set side by side as if they were head to head. If you are choosing between the two, ask your prescriber which fits your health history and preferences.

09 · Cost over a year

Planning the cost over a year

Qualifying is one question, and affording a year of treatment is another. If you step up after 4 weeks on each dose, your first four pens (2.5mg to 10mg) cost £959.96 at standard prices. A first year (13 pens) costs £2,711.88 if you stay on 5mg after your 2.5mg starting pen, up to £3,599.88 if you step up through every dose to 15mg. These totals are before discounts: a new customer's first order is £40 less, and every later order is £25 less.

Monthly prices by dose

Each pen lasts four weeks. The standard monthly prices are £169.99 at 2.5mg, £218.99 at 5mg, £279.99 at 7.5mg, £290.99 at 10mg, £319.99 at 12.5mg and £329.99 at 15mg. Per week, that works out at £42.50, £54.75, £70.00, £72.75, £80.00 and £82.50 respectively. Your maintenance dose is a clinical decision made with your prescriber, not a budget choice.

Discounts

New customers save £40 on their first order with code FIRST40, at any dose. An automatic £25 reorder discount applies to every future order (code DOSE25). So the ongoing monthly cost at any dose is that dose's standard price less £25.

How pharmacies compare

Across the UK pharmacies we track, the cheapest and dearest Mounjaro starting pens run from £143.96 to £179.99. Boots' Mounjaro prices run from £179.00 to £339.00 across its doses. People often ask about supermarket pharmacies such as Asda. Compare the same dose, the total including consultation, and whether the supplier is on the GPhC register.

Wegovy's first pen costs £99.99 on a first order.

How to pay

You can pay by Visa or Mastercard, Klarna, or pay-monthly options. There are no subscriptions, so you are not locked in. The consultation is free, the price shown is the price paid, and there are no hidden fees. Our weight loss medication coverage and cost page looks at who pays for what.

10 · Ordering and delivery

How ordering works once you meet the criteria

Ordering has four steps, and the first costs nothing. Step one is a free online consultation: a short health questionnaire with no charge and no obligation. Step two is the prescriber review, carried out by a GPhC-registered prescriber rather than 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.

Step three is dispensing and dispatch. Your order is dispensed by our registered pharmacy, with same-day dispatch when ordered by 3pm. Step four is delivery: free next-day tracked delivery by DPD, in temperature-controlled, discreet packaging. Saturday delivery is £14.99. All six doses, 2.5mg to 15mg, are in stock.

Genuine supply

Counterfeit weight loss injections are a real risk, and the MHRA publishes counterfeit medicine alerts.⁷ We supply Mounjaro through official LillyDirect supply, direct from Eli Lilly's UK distribution, and the pens are genuine KwikPens. Be wary of any seller offering to supply without a consultation or prescription, or a price that looks too good to be true. You can verify any UK pharmacy on the GPhC register, and ours is number 9012878.¹²

What arrives with your order

Needles, a sharps bin and injection guidance come with every order. You also get access to GLPTrackr, our free companion app for tracking your GLP-1 journey on iOS and Android.

Support

Our support team is available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, at support@everydaymeds.co.uk, through account portal chat, or by phone on 0333 207 0413. Ongoing monthly reviews, dose-titration and follow-up assessments are carried out by the prescribing team. Repeat orders re-check suitability. We never ship automatically.

If something is wrong

Declined consultations are refunded automatically in full. Dispensed prescription medicines cannot be returned, except if faulty, damaged or the wrong item, in which case contact us within 3 days. Refunds take 5 to 10 working days.

When you are ready, start the free consultation or review the Mounjaro pen and its current prices. More than 100,000 customers have been supported on their weight loss journey with us. That figure reflects customers served, not a promise of results.

11 · If you do not qualify

If you do not qualify yet

If your BMI is below 27, or you are between 27 and 30 with no weight-related condition, Mounjaro is not licensed for weight management for you.¹ That is a clinical boundary, and it is there for safety. A prescriber will not supply outside it, and you should be sceptical of anyone who will.

What to do instead

Speak to your GP about weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. Some weight-related conditions are only identified through tests, so a check could change where you stand. If a condition is diagnosed, it may bring you inside the licensed criteria. Reduced-calorie eating and more physical activity remain the foundation, and they are also what the licence requires alongside any medicine.¹

If you are above BMI 30 but not NHS-eligible

NHS access is being phased in over several years, and the first groups were people with the highest need.⁶ If you meet the licensed private criteria but not yet the NHS ones, you can ask your GP about your place in the rollout. You can also consider regulated private treatment while you wait. Neither choice is wrong, and the safest route is the one with a qualified prescriber and a genuine, registered supplier.

Other options

Other prescription weight-loss medicines exist, such as Wegovy and liraglutide, each with its own criteria and dosing. Your prescriber can say which of them, if any, suits your circumstances. Our page on all weight loss treatments shows what we supply.

Reapplying later

Circumstances change. If your weight, a diagnosis or your medicines change, you can complete a new consultation, and the prescriber will assess you afresh. Keep a record of your measurements and test results, as they make the next review quicker.

What not to do

Do not buy prescription injections from sellers who offer to supply without a consultation or prescription. Do not rely on supplements marketed with dramatic weight-loss claims, as they are low-cost, have no clinical oversight and their dosing is not standardised. If you have already taken something unregulated and feel unwell, seek medical advice and report side effects through the Yellow Card scheme.¹⁹

12 · Serious side effects

Serious side effects: when to get help straight away

Serious side effects are uncommon but need urgent attention. Seek immediate medical help for: severe, persistent stomach pain that may spread to your back, with or without vomiting (possible pancreatitis); pain in the upper right abdomen, fever or yellowing of skin/eyes (possible gallbladder problems); or signs of a severe allergic reaction such as swelling of the face or throat and difficulty breathing. If you take insulin or a sulfonylurea alongside Mounjaro, watch for low blood sugar (shakiness, sweating, confusion) — your prescriber may need to adjust those medicines.¹