How to get approved for weight loss injections: the real process

The myth that's worth clearing up first

A lot of people arrive at this question believing the hard part is navigating the paperwork. It isn't. The actual barrier is clinical suitability, and that's a feature, not a bug. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Wegovy (semaglutide) are prescription-only medicines under UK law, which means no legitimate provider can dispense them without a prescriber's sign-off on your individual case. What that sign-off involves is much less intimidating than most people assume: a structured health questionnaire, identity verification, and in some cases a live weight check on video. If you meet the licensed criteria and have no contraindications, the clinical decision is usually straightforward.

The misconception that catches people out is thinking they can be approved in advance, or that approval is guaranteed once they've paid. Neither is true with any reputable service. A prescriber assesses the full picture (your BMI, any weight-related conditions, your medication history, your goals) and makes a clinical judgement. At nume, that judgement is made by a named clinician, not software. You can read about our clinical team on the prescriber profile page if you'd like to know more about who reviews your case.

The eligibility criteria that actually matter for approval

Both Mounjaro and Wegovy are licensed for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI of 27 or above alongside at least one weight-related condition, for example, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, or obstructive sleep apnoea. Lower BMI thresholds can apply for some ethnic backgrounds under UK guidance. NICE's appraisal of tirzepatide (TA1026) outlines the clinical thresholds in detail.

Being above the BMI threshold alone doesn't guarantee a prescription, it opens the door. The prescriber will also consider whether you have any conditions that affect suitability, such as a history of pancreatitis or certain gastrointestinal conditions, and whether any medicines you take could interact. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and trying to conceive are situations where these treatments are not recommended. Under-18s are not eligible under the current licence. If you're unsure whether you qualify, the free consultation is the right place to start, the prescriber will tell you clearly if treatment isn't appropriate for you.

How to get a prescription safely: the step-by-step

The legal route to these medicines in the UK runs through a prescription following a clinical assessment. Here's how that works at nume, step by step. You complete a free online health questionnaire covering your weight, medical history, and any relevant conditions. Our prescriber reads it the same day (personally) and may request a live video weight check or ask follow-up questions. If you're clinically suitable, a prescription is issued and your treatment is dispensed by our GPhC-registered pharmacy. Order before 12pm on a weekday and dispatch happens the same day, with DPD delivering to your door the next working day. Repeat orders follow the same process: no automatic renewals, a fresh clinical review each time.

If you're currently on treatment elsewhere, transferring to nume is possible, you'll need to provide evidence of your current dose so the prescriber can review it appropriately. More detail on the transfer process is on the getting started with weight loss injections page, and if you'd like a broader overview of the process from the start, how to get the weight loss injection walks through each stage in full.

Verifying any online pharmacy, and why it matters

Before handing over personal health information or money to any online pharmacy, check it on the GPhC pharmacy register. Every legitimate UK online pharmacy must be registered; you can search by name or registration number. nume's registration number is 9012878.

This step matters more than it used to. The MHRA has warned publicly about fake weight loss pens circulating online and via social media, counterfeit pens have been found containing insulin, and a manufacturing site producing fake tirzepatide pens was raided in the UK in October 2025. Red flags include sellers offering these medicines without a prescription, prices well below market rate, and discount codes from unknown sources. You can report suspect sellers directly via the MHRA's Yellow Card scheme. For more on the NHS route and how public access works, the NHS weight loss injection page sets out what's currently available and who qualifies. If you're weighing up private versus NHS access, you may also find it helpful to read about the NHS approved weight loss injection, which covers which treatments have formal approval and what that means in practice. Worth checking, your eligibility may have changed as the NHS rollout has expanded, and if you'd like to understand the application process in detail, how to apply for weight loss injections on the NHS takes you through exactly what's involved.