What's the criteria for Mounjaro? The real eligibility picture

The myth: a BMI of 30 means you qualify automatically

A question our prescribers hear most weeks goes something like this: "My BMI is 31, does that mean I can start Mounjaro?" The short answer is that your BMI gets you to the conversation; it does not end it. If you want to understand what's the criteria for Mounjaro before speaking to a prescriber, the licensed requirements in the UK, as set out in the medicine's prescribing information, require an adult to have a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI between 27 and 29.9 alongside at least one weight-related health condition. Those conditions include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, obstructive sleep apnoea and cardiovascular disease, among others.

What the BMI figure cannot tell a prescriber is whether Mounjaro is safe for you specifically. A personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, a condition called MEN2, a previous episode of pancreatitis, or certain gastrointestinal conditions are among the factors that require careful clinical discussion before tirzepatide is considered. The prescriber also needs to know every medicine you currently take, because some interactions matter. Meeting the BMI threshold is necessary but not sufficient.

For a clear look at how BMI sits within the broader assessment, the Mounjaro eligibility criteria page walks through the clinical checklist in more detail.

How NHS criteria differ from private licensed eligibility

NHS access to Mounjaro follows phased thresholds set by NICE's technology appraisal TA1026, which are more restrictive than the private licence. From June 2025, NHS eligibility opened to adults with a BMI of 40 or above who also have four or more qualifying weight-related conditions from a list of five: high blood pressure, dyslipidaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. A second NHS cohort (BMI 35 to 39.9 with the same four conditions) became eligible in June 2026.

Those thresholds are high by design. The NHS is rolling tirzepatide out gradually, and even patients who clearly meet the criteria may face waiting lists or find that their GP practice is not yet participating in the prescribing programme. If you are researching the criteria for Mounjaro from a GP, it is worth knowing that even when you qualify on paper, local availability can vary. If you do not meet the NHS criteria today, or you would rather not wait, a private route via a regulated online pharmacy is the legal alternative, subject to the same clinical assessment.

NICE also specifies that for people from South Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean backgrounds, the BMI thresholds are reduced by 2.5 kg/m² throughout. A prescriber applying the criteria privately would apply equivalent adjustments as supported by UK guidance.

What private eligibility actually looks like at assessment

On a private basis, the criteria for Mounjaro are the starting point, with adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above with a qualifying condition, within the scope of the licence, though the prescriber's job is to confirm that prescribing is clinically appropriate for that person on that day. That involves reviewing your health history, any existing diagnoses, your current medication list and, at a regulated service, live weight verification so the BMI figure is real rather than self-reported.

Mounjaro is not licensed for people under 18, and it is not recommended during pregnancy, breastfeeding or when trying to conceive. A prescriber will ask directly about these circumstances. Patients transferring from another provider, or seeking a dose increase, are asked to provide evidence of their current treatment, this is standard clinical governance, not bureaucracy for its own sake.

The tirzepatide criteria page covers the clinical contraindications in more depth, and the BMI requirements for Mounjaro page has the specific numbers alongside the NHS BMI calculator if you want to check where you sit. For context on what private treatment costs and what is included, the weight-loss treatment overview sets this out plainly.

Starting a Mounjaro consultation: what to expect

At nume, the process begins with a free online consultation, no referral needed, no waiting list. A GPhC-registered Independent Prescriber reads your answers the same day; your identity and weight are verified on video. If Mounjaro is clinically suitable, your prescription is written and your order dispatched the same day (for consultations completed before 12pm Monday to Friday), arriving by free tracked DPD delivery the next working day.

If you are unsure whether you meet the criteria, the consultation is the right place to find out. The prescriber will tell you clearly what is possible and why. You can find answers to common questions on our FAQ page, or explore the full weight-loss treatments page to see what is involved before you start. There is no obligation when you begin.