Looking for advice - meeting the criteria

[Lovingthelighterevenings]

So if I understand things, I could get a private prescription if

1. My BMI is above 30 and/or
2. I have high blood pressure and/or
3. I have high cholesterol
4. Other existing medical conditions which would be improved by being lighter.

So my BMI is 29. I don't know what my blood pressure is, but I think I can go into my GP surgery and use the pressure cuff to measure it (not sure if I need a reason to do this). I have no idea what my cholesterol - I'm 55 and it's never been measured (why would it?).

If I want to get the injections, how would I get my cholesterol or blood pressure measured so that the prescribed will be able to prescribe? Or do they just take your word for it (not sure how you prove your weight - picture of the scales?)

Sorry if I'm being stupid here.

Anyone aged 40-74 is entitled to an NHS health check every five years, so by 55 you should have been invited by your GP surgery several times. This includes bloods which will check your cholesterol, amongst other things. They will also check your blood pressure.

Hi OP, my BMI was 29 too. I took a couple of cm off my height and voila I qualified. I posted about it recently and some other posters recommended ordering via Juniper. Just had my first dose this evening. Good luck!

@VelociraptorsVelociRapping i have emailed my GP in the past and they sent me the paperwork for blood tests at the hospital (I was tired and a bit anemic). The results are loaded into the NHS app for me to see - but I didn't ask for cholesterol levels. Maybe I can do that. Not had an invitation yet so I guess it varies where you live (East Cambs).

Orr I could just shrink by a cm as @Crimea suggests....

@Crimea well you didn’t qualify, you provided false information to obtain a prescription medication.

It’s a national programme, OP. Your GP surgery is at fault if they’ve never invited you.

Pharmacy in my area provide free BP checks and also do the NHS free health check aged 40 and over although some won't check for cholesterol. Talk to your nearest pharmacy if you can't get a GP appointment.

@VelociraptorsVelociRapping I had a quick look on the surgery website - the health checks are mentioned but it suggests they are online as they have limited appointments for it. But it in our area there are walk in clinics in some libraries - my nearest centre is only 20 miles away so I could go this. DH has been called up.colon screening, I get call ups for other screening (smear, breast) so I suspect it's a case of limited resources being applied where it's needed.

@Lovingthelighterevenings perhaps, I couldn’t say. Here is the national info if it is of use: https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/nhs-health-check/.

I only made a point of mentioning it because you said in your OP that you had never had your cholesterol checked, because why would you. It should not have been possible for you to get to the age of 55 without being offered a cholesterol check or to know if you have high blood pressure as part of a fairly comprehensive health screen several times by now. I hope the information is helpful to you.

@VelociraptorsVelociRapping thank you. It seems that the screening is available to me in the library (once or twice a quarter) I just didn't know it. I know my husband hasn't been offered a wellness check either, and checking with friends at the same surgery they haven't either (but now we all know we can sign up for the waiting list for the library appointments).

Back to my question, i'm not sure if the online pharmacies need proof in writing of weight, blood pressure etc.. I'd ask my GP but it's all done by email so only works if you have a free slot by 3pm so they can ring me back - if they don't get through on the day you email them they close the ticket and you have to repeat the next day.... Hence I never get around to these things

Is your BMI 29 in the morning or later in the day? I was a pound away from BMI 30 in the morning so didn't think I would qualify, but realised I was easily over 30 at any other time of the day after eating and drinking.

I don't think it's providing false information as my morning weight when I am a bit dehydrated etc. is lower than it should be if you see what I mean.

It might be that your still under in any event but it's worth checking!

And when I applied with BMI 30.1 ish I had to send photos of me taken from the side and a photo of me on the scale.