What's the criteria for Mounjaro? The answer is simpler than most people expect

The common misconception: that you need a very high BMI or a diabetes diagnosis

The question our prescribers field most often is some version of: "I'm not diabetic and my BMI isn't that extreme, do I even qualify?" The short answer is that many people do. The widely circulated idea that tirzepatide is only for people with very severe obesity or type 2 diabetes comes from early press coverage of the drug's diabetes licence and, later, from the stricter NHS commissioning thresholds. If you want a clear breakdown before reading further, our page covering what's the criteria for Mounjaro walks through the key thresholds in plain terms.

Under the terms of Mounjaro's UK marketing authorisation, adults with a BMI of 30 or above may be assessed for treatment. Adults with a BMI between 27 and 29.9 may also qualify if they have at least one weight-related condition, hypertension, high cholesterol, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnoea or cardiovascular disease are all examples. You do not need a diabetes diagnosis. You do not need a BMI over 35. Those thresholds apply to NHS commissioning under NICE's appraisal of tirzepatide (TA1026), not to the licensed indication itself.

Lower BMI cut-offs can apply for people of South Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean backgrounds, reflecting established UK clinical guidance on the relationship between BMI and metabolic risk in those groups. Our full eligibility guide covers how those adjustments work.

What the licensed criteria actually say, and what they leave to the prescriber

The Mounjaro SmPC (the clinical reference document) sets the indication as weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 kg/m² or above, or 27–29.9 kg/m² with at least one weight-related comorbidity, used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. For a detailed look at how those thresholds are applied in practice, our page on the criteria for Mounjaro sets out exactly what each condition covers and how the assessment works.

What the criteria don't do is run on autopilot. A prescriber still needs to weigh contraindications: a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, a diagnosis of MEN2 syndrome, a history of pancreatitis, and certain gastrointestinal conditions all require careful clinical discussion before treatment is appropriate. Pregnancy, breastfeeding and trying to conceive are situations where Mounjaro is not recommended. The same applies for anyone under 18. The NHS tirzepatide information page lists these clearly if you want to read the full picture before your consultation.

One practical habit worth building before you apply anywhere: open the NHS BMI calculator, enter your height and weight, and note the figure. It takes under a minute and means you'll have an accurate number ready rather than a rough estimate, prescribers need the real measurement, not a best guess.

Private eligibility versus NHS criteria: why they differ

The NHS funds tirzepatide under considerably tighter criteria than the licensed indication allows. NICE's TA1026 guidance targets NHS commissioning at people with a BMI of 35 or above and at least one weight-related comorbidity. Access is being phased in gradually: the first NHS cohort (BMI 40 or above, four or more qualifying conditions) opened in June 2025; a second cohort (BMI 35 to 39.9, four or more conditions) followed from June 2026. Further phases are planned through 2027. Even meeting those thresholds doesn't guarantee a prescription, each NHS patient must take part in a structured weight management programme, and availability varies by GP practice and ICB area. If you're exploring the GP route specifically, our guide to the criteria for Mounjaro from a GP explains what your practice is likely to look for and how that differs from private assessment.

Private prescribing follows the licensed criteria described above, not the NHS commissioning thresholds. That's why people who don't meet the NHS criteria, or who can't access the NHS route quickly, turn to regulated private services. For a full picture of how private eligibility is assessed, our page covering the tirzepatide criteria explains what a prescriber considers and where the key differences from NHS thresholds lie. If cost is a factor worth thinking through alongside eligibility, our Mounjaro cost guide sets out what private treatment typically involves. The key point is that private doesn't mean unregulated: every prescription still requires a qualified prescriber and a genuine clinical assessment.

What happens during a clinical assessment at nume

At nume, the process starts with a free consultation, a detailed health questionnaire that covers your BMI, medical history, current medicines and weight-related conditions. Every set of answers is read by a GPhC-registered Independent Prescriber on the same day. A real clinician reviews it; automated software does not make prescribing decisions here. You'll also go through photo-ID verification and live weight verification by video, which is how we confirm the numbers you've given us accurately.

If treatment is clinically suitable, your prescription is issued and your order dispatched the same day (for consultations completed by 12pm Monday to Friday), arriving by DPD the next working day in plain, unbranded packaging. If a prescriber has questions, they'll contact you directly. If treatment isn't appropriate at that point, you'll be told plainly and given guidance on what to do next. Our clinical team page gives more background on the prescribers overseeing that process, and our about page explains how the service is structured. Broader treatment options are also covered on our weight-loss overview.

If you're ready to find out whether you qualify, you can speak to our prescribers through a free consultation at any time.

Start your free consultation with our prescribers