Can you get weight loss injections on the NHS?

If you’ve been wondering whether the NHS prescribes Wegovy or Mounjaro, the short answer is yes - but only if you meet the right criteria and sign up to a proper NHS weight management programme. You can’t just ask your GP for them on demand.

Currently, the NHS can prescribe the following:

Semaglutide (Wegovy)
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro)
Liraglutide (Saxenda) - available in generic form through specialist services
Orlistat - a tablet rather than an injection

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How do I weight loss injections on the NHS?

“In the UK, weight loss injections are not usually prescribed directly by GPs. Instead, they are offered through specialist tier 3 weight management services,” explains Jane Msumba, multi-award-winning pharmacist and founder of Inner Glow Clinic.

“The process starts with a GP appointment, where your doctor can assess your BMI, medical history and previous weight management attempts. If you meet the criteria, your GP may refer you to a specialist clinic.”

At that clinic, you’ll see a team that could include doctors, dietitians and psychologists. If you’re eligible for weight loss treatment under the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) rules, you may be prescribed medicines such as Wegovy (semaglutide) or Mounjaro (tirzepatide), always as part of a wider programme.

On the NHS, both Wegovy and Mounjaro are normally prescribed for up to two years, with reviews at six months to ensure benefit.

The NHS has a tiered system for managing weight

To help people access the care they need, the NHS has a tiered system for weight management that offers different levels of support based on individual needs. Tier 1 focuses on early prevention, selfcare and public health initiatives, tier 2 offers structured lifestyle interventions and programs and tier 3 involves multidisciplinary teams who provide more intensive, personalised support. Tier 4 is for people with severe obesity and complex health conditions who require specialist treatment and/or bariatric (weight loss) surgery.

Find out more about the NHS tier system

Dr Daniel Atkinson, Clinical Lead at Treated, adds: “The best thing is to be as open as possible [with your clinician]. List all the approaches to losing weight you’ve tried. Let them know about your medical history, so the clinician can determine if [weight loss injections are] medically suitable [for you]. And ask about anything that’s concerning you.

“You can find lots of info about weight loss injections online, but clinicians can often share their experiences with patients - for example, how often people stay on an incremental dose for longer than a month, how long people stay on treatment, which side effects are more common, and so on.”

What are the NHS wait times for weight management services?

Currently, NHS weight management services are experiencing long waiting times. In some regions, waits of up to two years have been reported for tier 3 weight management services.

Jane Msumba says, “Yes, waiting times can be a barrier. While waiting, it’s still possible to make meaningful changes. Joining local lifestyle services, using digital weight management tools if available, and reviewing current medications with your GP are all worthwhile.

“Many of our clients choose to begin mindset and lifestyle coaching while waiting, so they’re already building the foundations of change before they reach a specialist clinic.”

Incredibly difficult to get via the NHS unless you are happy to wait as you will be put through every hoop they have before prescribing [and there’s a] minimum 2- to 3-year wait.

Edinlassy

Which weight loss medicines are NHS-approved?

With so many names of POMs (prescription-only medications) mentioned these days, you’d be forgiven for losing track of exactly which ones are licensed by the MHRA for weight loss.

“Wegovy (semaglutide) is a once-weekly injection licensed for weight management and has one of the strongest evidence bases”, shares Jane Msumba. “Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer once-weekly injection that targets both GLP-1 and GIP receptors and has been recommended by NICE for weight management.

“Saxenda (liraglutide) is a daily injection which is less effective on average but may still be used in certain cases. Orlistat is an oral capsule that reduces fat absorption but often causes gastrointestinal side effects.”

She adds: “Ozempic, although containing the same drug as Wegovy, is only licensed for type 2 diabetes and is not prescribed for weight loss on the NHS.”

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Who is eligible for weight loss injections?

Eligibility depends on your BMI, your health and sometimes your ethnicity.

Medicine	Standard BMI	Extra criteria	Lower BMI for some ethnic groups*	Who prescribes it	Review point
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro)	≥30 or ≥27 with at least one weight-related condition	Yes	Yes	Specialist service / GP in pilot areas	Six months
Semaglutide (Wegovy)	≥35 with a health problem, or ≥30 to 34.9 with extra criteria	Yes	Yes	Specialist service	Max two years
Liraglutide (Saxenda)	≥35 with a health problem	Yes	Yes	Specialist service	Three months
Orlistat	≥28 with a condition, or ≥30 without	Yes (if BMI <30)	No	GP	Three months

*Lower BMI thresholds apply for people of Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean heritage.

I asked my GP for it (my BMI is 39.8) but I don't qualify. They could give me Orlistat tablets but no injections [...]

Fatmumslim01

What to do if you’re not eligible for weight loss injections via the NHS

If you don’t qualify for weight loss injections, your GP may suggest other NHS options - including the Digital Weight Management Programme, group-based diet and activity support or medication like orlistat (which comes in tablet form).

Bariatric (weight loss) surgery is another route but is usually reserved for people with a BMI of 40+ or 35+ with serious health conditions.

Some Mumsnet users say they’ve had good results with NHS weight management programmes, while others have found them less effective*. It can depend on the level of local support and your own motivation.

“Where NHS eligibility isn’t met, many people benefit from private lifestyle support,” says Jane Msumba. “Medicines can give a boost, but coaching, mindset work and lifestyle changes are what truly sustain weight loss once the prescription ends.”

Join the conversation

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Paying for weight loss injections privately

GLP-1 medicines can be purchased privately if you’re unable to access them via the NHS.

But the same rules apply - if you want to access this medication privately, a consultation with a healthcare professional must happen before the prescription can be issued so they can carry out checks and make sure you’re aware of both the benefits and risks of taking the medicine.

Do not buy them from unregulated sellers, like beauty salons or via social media, without prior consultation with a healthcare professional. Fake injection pens have been seized in recent years by the MHRA.

Not only does buying POMs from unregulated sellers expose people wanting to lose weight to serious health risks – it is also against the law to sell these medicines in this way.

How to check legitimacy of an online pharmacy

The only way you can make sure you receive a genuine GLP-1 medicine is to obtain it from a legitimate pharmacy - including those trading only, with a prescription issued by a healthcare professional.

“It is only safe if the provider is a UK-registered pharmacy and the medicine is prescribed following a proper health assessment”, shares Jane Msumba. “Patients should check the General Pharmaceutical Council’s (GPhC) website and avoid social media sellers or unregulated websites, as counterfeit pens have been reported in the UK.”

For more information about use of online pharmacies, you can also read the GpHC’s guide on how to keep safe when getting medicines or treatment online.

What Mumsnet users say

“I was a BMI of 38 and diabetic. I was denied and unfortunately I think it's a postcode lottery.

I am not overly sure it would work anyway, you have to actually want to lose weight for the drug to work properly. It's a diet aid. I feel those who get told to go on it would just not do it properly and would be a waste of money for the NHS. Another reason this drug works so well is that we are all personally financially invested. We wouldn't waste our own money.” mounjaromarc

“The NHS can help you with weight loss in other ways too. Go and ask for help. They may or may not give you the injections but they’ll give you other help and if you’re on the ‘system’ then you will be more likely to get the injections than if you’re not.” Cucy

“[...] I'm on an NHS weight loss programme. As my BMI is over 30, it's free. When I went for my over 40s health check, I was offered a Slimming World course. Maybe look at your local authority website as mine is run through them.” LidlAmaretto

Weight loss injection side effects and safety

Like all medications, GLP-1 prescription-only medicines like Wegovy and Mounjaro can cause common side effects.

“Most people report nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, or bloating, which usually improve with time,” says Jane Msumba. They’re also not suitable for everyone. “They are not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or for people planning pregnancy soon.

In the US, people with MTC or MEN2 are advised not to take GLP-1s. In the UK, prescribers may still avoid them in these cases, but they aren’t official contraindications. Pancreatitis is a serious risk factor where caution is required, not an absolute ban.

“Caution is also needed with severe gastrointestinal conditions, gallbladder disease and kidney impairment.”

If you have a medical history of the following, you’re considered high-risk and should avoid using weight loss POMs:

Pancreatitis
Certain types of thyroid cancer
Severe gastrointestinal disorders (eg gastroparesis)
Severe heart, liver or kidney failure

Jane adds: “Urgent medical attention is required if there is sudden or severe abdominal pain, symptoms of pancreatitis, gallbladder issues, or persistent vomiting that prevents hydration.”

You should also make it known to your clinician if you’re taking the contraceptive pill, HRT and/or insulin. Tirzepatide in particular can reduce absorption of the oral contraceptive pill after dose increases. Extra precautions are advised for four weeks after each dose increase.

If you do experience side effects, however mild or serious, you can report them via the MHRA’s Yellow Card Scheme.

Finding NHS weight management services near you

You can check what’s available locally by asking your GP surgery, looking on your local integrated care board’s (ICB) website or searching online for NHS weight management services near me.

Find your local integrated care board

The bottom line: you can get weight loss injections on the NHS if you meet the criteria and agree to join a supervised weight management programme.

If you think you could qualify, speak to your GP about a referral to a specialist service.

Jane Msumba concludes: “Prepare to fully engage with the specialist programme, because lifestyle and behavioural support are at the heart of sustainable results.”

Useful links for more information

🔎 This article has been medically reviewed

Last reviewed in September 2025 by Dr David Porter MBBS, MSc, PgDip, an internationally renowned sports medicine physician and Founding Director of Opus.

Learn more

About the expert

Dr Daniel Atkinson is the Clinical Lead at Treated.com, an online healthcare service company.
Jane Msumba is a multi-award-winning pharmacist, certified mental imagery coach, and founder of Inner Glow Clinic, a mindset-first health coaching service helping people break free from unhealthy habits and sustain long-term wellbeing.

About the author

Our resident Leeds lass, Rebecca Roberts is a Senior Content Editor here at Mumsnet. On a daily basis, she commissions, writes and edits content designed to help parents navigate real life - from product reviews to practical features on everything from sex and relationships to fashion to skincare.

Rebecca - aka Beccy - brings unique personal insight to weight loss content here at Mumsnet, having undergone her own journey with medically supervised injections. Her firsthand experience with GLP-1 treatments provides authentic expertise that resonates with parents exploring similar options.

Beyond her role as an editor, she can be found balancing life as a working mum of two toddlers and when she’s not at her desk, you’ll likely find her at a PTA meeting, in a nearby coffee shop, or walking her two dogs up and down country lanes.

*MumsGPT, 1 January 2025 - 13 August 2025