What BMI Do You Need to Get Wegovy in the UK?

The number that opens the door, and the conditions that lower it

A BMI of 30 is the baseline, but the 27–29.9 band matters too. If your BMI sits in that range and you have a condition such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia or obstructive sleep apnoea, you meet the licensed eligibility criteria just as someone with a BMI of 35 would. The logic is straightforward: at lower BMIs, weight-related illness adds clinical urgency that justifies treatment.

Ethnic background also shifts the thresholds. UK clinical guidance acknowledges that health risks from excess weight appear at lower BMIs in people from South Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African and African-Caribbean backgrounds. The standard adjustment is roughly 2.5 kg/m², so a threshold of 30 becomes 27.5, and 27 becomes 24.5, for those groups. If you're close to a threshold, it's worth raising your background at consultation rather than assuming a single number rules you out.

You can get a quick sense of what your BMI needs to be for Wegovy before using the NHS BMI calculator, though the prescriber's own assessment (using verified weight and height) is what counts. At nume, that verification happens on a short video call before treatment is dispensed, so the number is live, not self-reported.

NHS criteria versus private prescription: the same BMI, very different routes

This is the decision most people are actually weighing up. Both routes share the same licensed BMI thresholds, the medicine is the same pen, from the same supply chain. What differs is who prescribes it, under what framework, and how long you wait.

On the NHS, Wegovy is recommended by NICE (TA875) for use within specialist weight management services, for a maximum of two years, and only for adults with a BMI of 35 or above (or 30–34.9 meeting specialist-referral criteria) alongside at least one weight-related comorbidity. NHS eligibility sits above the standard licensed threshold. Waiting lists for specialist services are commonly long, and availability varies by area.

Private prescription through a regulated online pharmacy bypasses the waiting list. There's no referral needed and no two-year cap written into the prescription. If you're wondering what BMI you have to be to get Wegovy on a private prescription, the licensed thresholds apply directly: BMI 30-plus, or 27-plus with a qualifying condition. That said, a private prescriber still has full clinical responsibility, so the assessment is thorough. Our page on BMI criteria for Wegovy sets out the comparison in more detail if you want to dig into the specifics before consulting.

If cost is part of the decision, the Wegovy price comparison page covers what private treatment typically costs in the UK and what should be included in any transparent quote.

What can make a prescriber say no, even if your BMI qualifies

Meeting the BMI threshold is necessary, but it isn't sufficient on its own. Certain medical histories lead a prescriber to decline or defer. A personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or a condition called MEN2 (multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2) is a contraindication listed in Wegovy's prescribing information. A history of pancreatitis, certain gallbladder conditions, or serious gastrointestinal disease also warrants careful discussion.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding and trying to conceive all sit outside the licensed indication, Wegovy is not recommended in any of those situations. Under-18s are not eligible. And if you're taking other medicines, the prescriber will consider interactions, particularly with oral contraceptives for women starting tirzepatide (though the contraception picture for semaglutide is somewhat different, worth discussing specifically).

None of this is designed to put people off. It reflects what responsible prescribing looks like. Our prescribers at nume are GPhC-registered Independent Prescribers; a real clinician reads every consultation the same day it's submitted, not a piece of software, and will flag anything that needs clarifying before issuing a prescription. If you're unsure about what BMI you need for Wegovy given something in your history, the consultation is the right place to raise it.

You can read more about the full Wegovy treatment overview or explore weight-loss treatment options more broadly if you're still deciding which route suits your situation. When you're ready to check your eligibility properly, speak to our prescribers, the consultation is free, and there's no obligation to proceed.