Who qualifies for GLP-1 weight loss medication?

The official labels name two body mass index thresholds. A clinician looks at more than a number. Here is what is asked and why.

There is no single test for a GLP-1 prescription. There is a starting point that the official labels share, and then a clinician's review of your health.

The two thresholds in the official labels

The FDA approved tirzepatide (Zepbound) for chronic weight management in adults with obesity, a body mass index of 30 or greater, or with overweight, a body mass index of 27 or greater, and at least one weight-related condition. The prescribing information of Wegovy (semaglutide) names the same two thresholds.

Both are approved for use together with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity.

How body mass index is worked out

Body mass index compares weight with height. In pounds and inches: weight, times 703, divided by height, divided by height again. In kilograms and meters: weight divided by height squared.

You do not have to do the arithmetic. The neo assessment asks your height and weight and works it out.

What a clinician looks at besides the number

A body mass index is where the review starts, not where it ends. A clinician also looks at:

Your health history and the conditions you have now.
The medications you take, and any weight loss medication you have used before.
Whether there is a reason a medication of this kind is not appropriate for you.

If treatment is not right for you

Some people who meet a threshold are still not prescribed medication, and that decision protects them. At neo the online assessment is free, and if a licensed clinician decides treatment is not right for you, you are not charged.

How to find out

The assessment takes about 3 minutes. It asks the state you live in, your date of birth, your height and weight, and questions about your health. An independent licensed clinician reviews your answers and makes the decision.

The medications prescribed through neo are compounded. Compounded medications are not FDA approved and are not the same as brand-name medications.

This article is general information, not medical advice. A licensed clinician decides whether a medication is appropriate for you.