How to get weight loss medication through the NHS England

Up to 64% of UK adults may qualify for medical weight loss [1]. But between specialist referrals, long waiting lists and higher BMI requirements, getting access to weight loss medications through the NHS isn’t exactly a breeze. 

So how can you access weight loss medications like semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) through the NHS?

How can I access weight loss medications through the NHS?

In order to access weight loss medications through the NHS, you will need a referral to an NHS specialist weight management service (which means you need to see your GP first). 

Plus, you’ll need to join a waiting list and need to be significantly more overweight than is needed for private treatment.

Semaglutide (Wegovy)

Semaglutide is a prescription medicine that is administered with a pre-filled pen (much like an epi-pen). 

Taken through weekly injections, this medication is shown to be effective for both weight loss and weight management as it mimics your glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) hormone pathway to reduce appetite, curb cravings, and delay stomach emptying. 

Most people can expect to lose about 15% of body weight in 68 weeks [2]. In a real-world test, after a year on Wegovy, people lost over 13% of their body weight [3].

According to the NHS [4], you'll only be prescribed semaglutide treatment if you have health problems due to your weight and you have a BMI of either:

• 35 or more, or 32.5 or more if you're of Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean origin;
• 30 to 34.9, or 27.5 to 32.4 if you're of Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean origin, and you meet other criteria to be treated by a specialist weight management service.

These are the minimum requirements for NHS treatment, however, your local NHS service may have more stringent BMI requirements than this.

On the NHS, you will undergo a review after 6 months on semaglutide. You'll then usually only carry on taking the medicine if you've lost at least 5% of your body weight.

Tirzepatide (Mounjaro)

Sold under the brand name Mounjaro, tirzepatide is the active ingredient in a medication used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and excess weight. 

Similar to semaglutide, tirzepatide is a weekly injection, however, it is one of the only medications that work on two incretin hormones — glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP).

This dual-action effect has been found to significantly reduce glycemic levels and improve insulin sensitivity, as well as reduce body weight by more than 20% and improve fat metabolism [5].

NHS England proposes that patients likely to achieve the greatest clinical benefit from weight loss are prioritised to receive the medication in a variety of new services that will be tested before an expansion of the drug’s availability. 

As part of the proposed initial rollout people may be eligible to receive tirzepatide treatment if they have a body mass index (BMI) of [6]:

• >40 and at least 3 of the specified weight-related health problems: hypertension, dyslipidemia, obstructive sleep apnoea, or cardiovascular disease, then; 
• >40 plus 2 weight-related health problems, then;
• >40 plus 1 weight-related health problem. 

These are the minimum requirements for NHS treatment, however, your local NHS service may have more stringent BMI requirements than this.

How long do I have to wait to get weight loss medications on the NHS?

At the moment, the waiting list for access to specialist NHS weight management services can be up to 2 years.

How else can I access weight loss medication?

The good news is, even if you're not able to access weight loss medications on the NHS, there's another avenue with similar clinical and cost-effectiveness — that actually sets you up for life.

Juniper's Weight Reset Programme provides a holistic approach by pairing medically backed treatments with habits that create lasting change. Research shows that without sufficient lifestyle change, some people gain back the weight after they stop taking weight loss medications [7].

Rather than providing you with a prescription and leaving you to your own devices, Juniper provides 1:1 coaching and nutrition support to help you achieve your weight loss goals — and actually keep it off for good.

Achieving a 15% reduction in body weight on average, our programme has been recommended by NICE to the NHS. So, you can trust you're receiving the gold standard in weight loss treatment and support.

Ready to kickstart your weight loss journey? Check your eligibility for the Juniper Weight Reset Programme here.