Am I Eligible for Mounjaro? BMI and Health Conditions Explained

"Am I eligible?" is usually the first thing people ask us about Mounjaro, often before "does it work". It is the right question. Eligibility is not a formality, it is what keeps prescribing safe, and it depends on more than a single BMI number. This page sets out exactly what we look at, and what happens if you do not qualify.

For the full picture on Mounjaro itself, including how it works and what the trials show, see our complete guide to Mounjaro in Edinburgh.

Mounjaro eligibility at a glance

• Age: adults only. Mounjaro is not licensed for weight management in under 18s.
• BMI of 30 or above: you meet the licensed weight criterion on its own.
• BMI of 27 to under 30: you meet it only if you also have at least one weight-related health condition.
• Ethnicity: health risk rises at a lower BMI for some groups, and we take that into account.
• Safety checks: pregnancy, certain thyroid cancers, pancreatitis and some other histories can rule it out.
• Confirmed at consultation: eligibility depends on your full history, not on a form or a phone call.

What are the licensed criteria for Mounjaro?

In the UK, Mounjaro is licensed for weight management, including weight loss and weight maintenance, in adults, as an addition to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. The licence sets out two starting points based on body mass index (BMI):

• a BMI of 30 kg/m² or above, which is classed as obesity, or
• a BMI of 27 kg/m² or above but below 30, which is classed as overweight, together with at least one weight-related health condition.

These are the criteria a prescriber works from. They are a starting point for a clinical decision, not an entitlement. Someone who meets them can still be unsuitable for safety reasons, and someone just outside them may be better helped in other ways.

How do I work out my BMI?

BMI is your weight in kilograms divided by your height in metres, squared. Two quick examples show how the thresholds work in practice.

• Someone who weighs 92 kg and is 1.70 m tall has a BMI of about 31.8 (92 divided by 2.89). That is above 30, so the weight criterion is met without any other condition.
• Someone who weighs 80 kg and is 1.65 m tall has a BMI of about 29.4 (80 divided by 2.72). That is between 27 and 30, so a weight-related condition would also be needed.

Online calculators are fine for a rough idea, but we measure your weight and height ourselves at the appointment, because self-reported figures are often a little out. BMI also has limits. It does not separate muscle from fat, so a very muscular person can have a high BMI without carrying excess body fat. That is one reason the assessment is a conversation and not a calculation.

Which health conditions count as weight-related?

The licence gives examples rather than a closed list. The conditions most often relevant when someone has a BMI between 27 and 30 are:

• high blood pressure (hypertension)
• high cholesterol or other raised blood fats (dyslipidaemia)
• type 2 diabetes or prediabetes
• obstructive sleep apnoea
• cardiovascular disease, such as previous heart attack or stroke

If you have one of these, tell us when you book and bring your most recent results or medicines list if you have them. If you think a different condition is linked to your weight, raise it at the appointment. The prescriber will judge whether it is relevant under the licence.

Does ethnicity change the BMI threshold?

Yes, in how risk is judged. People from South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Black African, African-Caribbean and some Middle Eastern backgrounds develop weight-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes at a lower BMI than people of white European background. Guidance from NICE therefore uses lower BMI thresholds for these groups when assessing health risk.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium makes a similar point in its advice on tirzepatide, noting that a lower BMI cut-off may be more appropriate for members of minority ethnic groups at equivalent risk. We take your background into account when we assess you and explain our reasoning, including where it affects what is possible within the licence.

Who should not take Mounjaro?

Some histories rule Mounjaro out or call for much more caution. We ask about each of these directly:

• Pregnancy, planning a pregnancy and breastfeeding. Mounjaro is not used in any of these situations.
• Thyroid cancer. A personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, or of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2, is a reason not to prescribe.
• Pancreatitis. A history of inflammation of the pancreas calls for caution, and in many cases means Mounjaro is not suitable.
• Severe kidney, liver or gastrointestinal disease. These can make side effects harder to manage safely.
• Allergy. A previous allergic reaction to tirzepatide or any ingredient in the pen rules it out.
• Eating disorders. A current or past eating disorder needs a careful conversation, and sometimes a different approach.

Gallstones, diabetic eye disease and some bowel conditions are not automatic bars, but they change how closely we monitor. This list is not exhaustive. A full medical history is taken at consultation.

Which medicines need extra care?

Bring a list of everything you take, including over-the-counter products and supplements. Four situations come up most often:

• Insulin and sulfonylureas. These raise the risk of low blood sugar when combined with Mounjaro, so their doses often need to come down. Your diabetes team or GP should know before you start.
• Oral contraceptives. Mounjaro can reduce how well the pill is absorbed. UK prescribing information advises switching to a non-oral method, or adding a barrier method, for four weeks after starting and after each dose increase.
• Other weight loss or GLP-1 medicines. Mounjaro should not be combined with other GLP-1 or GIP medicines, so any current or recent treatment needs to be discussed.
• Medicines where timing matters. Mounjaro slows stomach emptying, which can affect how quickly some oral medicines are absorbed. We review your list for this.

What if I do not meet the criteria?

Not qualifying for Mounjaro does not mean there is nothing we can do. Depending on your situation, that might mean a different medicine, a structured lifestyle programme, support with an underlying condition, or a referral back to your GP. We would rather tell you clearly than let you make a decision on the wrong basis.

If your BMI is just under a threshold and your health is otherwise stable, we will say so honestly and suggest what to do next. Eligibility can change, for example if a new condition is diagnosed or your weight changes, so it is reasonable to ask again later.

Mounjaro eligibility: your questions answered

Do I need a BMI over 30 to be eligible?

No. A BMI of 27 to under 30 can qualify if you also have at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes.

Can I get Mounjaro if I only want to lose a few pounds?

No. Mounjaro is licensed for people with obesity, or overweight with a related health condition. It is not a cosmetic treatment and we do not prescribe it for modest weight loss goals.

Does having type 2 diabetes affect eligibility?

It can make you eligible, since it counts as a weight-related condition, but it also changes the safety review. We check your current diabetes medicines closely, because some combinations raise the risk of low blood sugar.

Can I take Mounjaro if I am trying for a baby?

No. Mounjaro is not used during pregnancy or while trying to conceive. If you are planning a pregnancy, we will talk through other options, and if you could become pregnant we will go through contraception with you.

Does a previous attempt on another weight loss medicine matter?

Yes, and it often helps. Tell us what you took, for how long and how it went, including any side effects. That history shapes the choice of medicine and the starting plan.

Do I need to see my GP first?

Not to book a private consultation with us. We do recommend telling your GP, and we cover that in more detail on our page about getting Mounjaro without going through your GP.

Getting assessed

Eligibility can only be confirmed at a consultation, not from a form or a phone call, because it depends on your full history. Book a consultation and we will talk you through it honestly. If you would like to know what the appointment involves first, read what happens at a Mounjaro consultation.

Related reading

• Mounjaro in Edinburgh: The Complete Guide from Bruntsfield Pharmacy
• Mounjaro on the NHS or Privately in Edinburgh: How Access Compares
• Can You Get Mounjaro Without Going Through Your GP in Edinburgh?

Reviewed by Ather Diab, Superintendent Pharmacist and Independent Prescriber (GPhC 2233707). Bruntsfield Pharmacy, GPhC registration 1042628, 129 Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh EH10 4EQ. Last reviewed: 7 October 2026.

This page is for general information and does not replace an individual clinical consultation. Mounjaro is a prescription-only medicine, supplied only following an individual assessment by a prescriber.

Sources: Mounjaro KwikPen Summary of Product Characteristics (electronic medicines compendium); Scottish Medicines Consortium, tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for obesity, SMC2653; NICE guidance on obesity assessment; MHRA guidance on GLP-1 medicines and contraception.