Weight Loss Injections on the NHS

Yes, you can get weight loss injections on the NHS, but you will need to meet their eligibility criteria before you can get it.

Weight loss injections are usually only available on the NHS for those who have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher, or a BMI between 30 and 35 with a weight-related health condition like high blood pressure or heart disease. Weight loss injections will not be offered by the NHS unless you have tried other weight loss methods first, such as sticking to a strict diet and exercise plan.

You usually cannot get a prescription for weight loss injections from your GP. To get weight loss injections on the NHS you must first be referred to a specialist weight management service.

You must meet strict criteria to get weight loss injections on the NHS, including:

• having a BMI of 35 or more (this may differ depending on your ethnic background) and at least 1 other weight-related medical condition
• being eligible for a referral to the NHS tier 3 weight management service, as this is the only way to be prescribed with weight loss injections through the NHS at the moment

To be referred to tier 3 services, your GP will take into consideration:

• your BMI
• any weight-related health conditions
• what you’ve already done to try to lose weight
• if you have already tried other weight loss medications, such as orlistat tablets

Referral criteria may also differ in each area of the UK, depending on demand for these services. In some places, you need to complete a tier 2 weight loss programme first.

➤ We’ve also included more information on the prescribing criteria for each weight loss injection in this article.

How long does it take to get weight loss injections on the NHS?

The waiting times for tier 3 weight management services are different in every area. For example, if you live in Derbyshire, the waiting times for referrals are over 2 years. You’d need to check on your local NHS website or ask your GP for more information for services in your area.

You cannot currently get Mounjaro on the NHS, though they plan to make it available soon. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has announced a phased launch for tirzepatide (the active ingredient in Mounjaro) for weight loss through NHS England. Tirzepatide will be available for a limited number of patients with the most clinical need over the next 3 years, and then become more widely available after that.

Who can get Mounjaro on the NHS?

Mounjaro is not available on the NHS at the moment. However, based on the draft recommendations by NICE, if it does become available the guidelines are expected to be:

• prescribed alongside increased physical activity and reduced calorie intake
• for those with a BMI of 35 or more
• for those with at least 1 other weight-related health condition (such as high blood pressure)

If you are from a South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Black African, African-Caribbean or Middle Eastern ethnic background, the BMI required to get Mounjaro is 32.5 or more.

If you don’t lose 5% or more of your body weight after 6 months on the highest dose you can be prescribed, a decision will be made on whether to continue with your treatment.

Please note that the guidelines for prescribing Mounjaro on the NHS described above have not been finalised. However, NICE’s draft recommends that it be used in primary care settings as well as specialist weight management services.

management service. Referrals to these services are usually made by your GP based on whether you meet certain criteria. The specialist weight management service will then decide if Wegovy is appropriate for you.

How do I get Wegovy on the NHS?

Wegovy is available from NHS specialist weight management services. There are certain criteria which make you suitable to get Wegovy and you will also normally be required to increase physical activity and reduce calorie intake. The guidelines for prescribing Wegovy say that you can get it for a maximum of 2 years if you have at least 1 other weight-related health condition and either:

• a BMI of 35 or more
• a BMI between 30 and 34.9 and meet the criteria to be referred to a specialist weight management service

If you are from a South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Black African, African-Caribbean or Middle Eastern ethnic background, the BMI you need to get Wegovy is reduced by 2.5.

No, Saxenda is not currently available from the NHS or private healthcare providers. This is due to a national shortage, making it long-term out of stock. However, a generic version of the medication called liraglutide is now available.

Alternative treatments like Wegovy or Mounjaro might be suitable for some people. Saxenda (liraglutide) requires a daily injection, but Wegovy and Mounjaro only need to be taken once per week.

Who can get Saxenda on the NHS?

Like any other prescription medication, there are prescribing guidelines for it when it is available.

Saxenda (now being replaced with generic liraglutide) is normally recommended for those who:

• have a BMI of 35 or more
• have type 2 diabetes

If you are from a South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Black African, African-Caribbean or Middle Eastern ethnic background, the BMI you need to get Saxenda is reduced by 2.5.

Yes, you can get Ozempic on the NHS but it is not approved as a weight loss treatment. Ozempic is a medication approved for helping to control blood sugar levels if you have type 2 diabetes. It can result in some weight loss for people who take it.

Ozempic contains the same active ingredient as Wegovy, called semaglutide. However, the dosage of Ozempic differs from that of Wegovy. If you require weight loss treatment, Wegovy is more likely to be suitable for you.

Who can get Ozempic on the NHS?

Ozempic can be prescribed by the NHS for type 2 diabetes when other medications like metformin have not been effective or you cannot take these medications and one of the following is true:

• you have a BMI of 35 or more and have medical conditions related to obesity
• using insulin could affect your job because of the risk of low blood sugar
• weight loss would improve any obesity-related conditions

If you are from Black African, African-Caribbean, Asian, South Asian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern backgrounds, you can have a lower BMI and still be considered for Ozempic, as you’re more at risk from obesity-related health conditions.

If you think you may have diabetes, we offer a Diabetes Test Kit service.

Ozempic is not available on the NHS or privately for weight loss.

How much is Ozempic on the NHS?

If you are over 60 and diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you can get Ozempic free of charge on the NHS. If you are under 60, you will need to obtain a medical exemption certificate from the NHS to get it for free, otherwise you have to pay the prescription charge.

There are 2 other medical treatments available on the NHS for weight loss. These include tablets and surgery. Whether you can get them will depend on factors like your BMI and what other things you have tried to lose weight.

Weight loss tablets

You can only get generic orlistat on the NHS and your GP can prescribe it, rather than needing a referral to a weight management service. Orlistat will only be prescribed if you:

• have made a significant effort to lose weight through lifestyle changes like diet and exercise
• have a BMI of 28 or more with other weight-related medical conditions like type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure, or a BMI of 30 or more
• are not pregnant or breastfeeding

Orlistat

Orlistat 120mg capsules are a generic medication in tablet form, commonly prescribed to help people lose weight. It works by stopping about one-third of the fat in the food you eat being absorbed into your body and being passed out with your stool instead. Orlistat can be prescribed by a GP.

Unless you are exempt from paying for an NHS prescription, orlistat will cost you the standard prescription charge of £9.90. Orlistat is free from the NHS if you do not pay for prescriptions. It’s not usually taken for more than 1 year. Orlistat is also available from ZAVA.

There are a few different types of orlistat tablets but only generic orlistat is available on the NHS. Xenical (120mg) and alli (60mg) also contain orlistat and work by reducing how much fat your body absorbs.

Xenical is available privately and is a branded version of Orlistat, while alli is available over the counter and from private services. Xenical and alli are usually not available on the NHS, and you will typically be offered generic orlistat (Xenical) as it is a lower cost option.

Mysimba

Mysimba is the only other prescription weight loss tablet available in the UK but you cannot get it on the NHS. Mysimba can be prescribed through private, safe and regulated online doctor services like ZAVA, and you will have to pay for the medication. Mysimba contains naltrexone hydrochloride and bupropion hydrochloride which work on the areas of your brain responsible for food intake, hunger levels, and energy.

Mysimba supports weight loss by reducing how hungry you feel. This makes it easier to make the healthy lifestyle changes needed for effective weight loss, such as eating fewer calories and snacking less.

Surgery

Weight loss surgery is occasionally used as a treatment for people with severe obesity. It involves reducing the size of your stomach, so you feel full after less food and is only performed by the NHS when people fulfil certain criteria. The most common types of weight loss surgery available on the NHS are:

1. Gastric bypass: A surgeon will make changes to how your stomach and small intestine handles food, also making your stomach smaller. When you eat, your food will no longer go to some parts of your stomach and small intestine.
2. Gastric band:This involves placing a gastric band made of silicone around the upper part of your stomach, creating a small pouch. This restricts how much food you can eat at once because it reduces your stomach capacity and slows the passage of food.
3. Gastric balloon: A non-surgical procedure where you swallow a rolled-up gastric balloon. A doctor will then use an endoscope (a tube with a camera that is inserted through the mouth and oesophagus) to inflate the balloon, reducing the size of your stomach. This stays in for 6 to 12 months.
4. Sleeve gastrectomy: A surgeon will remove around 80% of your stomach to make it much smaller, and sleeve-shaped. This restricts how much food you can eat comfortably.

To get weight loss surgery you need:

• a BMI of 40 or greater, or between 35.0 and 39.9 and a serious health condition such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure
• to have tried non-surgical ways to lose weight which have failed or not been sustained for long enough
• to be well enough to be given anaesthetic and have surgery
• to be committed to long-term follow-ups and ongoing management of your weight by specialist services

If you are from a South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Black African, African-Caribbean or Middle Eastern ethnic background, the BMI you need to be considered for weight loss surgery is reduced by 2.5.

If you have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the last 10 years you may be considered for weight loss surgery if you:

• have a BMI greater than 30 and are from an Asian, Chinese, Black African or Middle Eastern background
• have a BMI of 27.5 or more and are from an African-Caribbean background
• are getting or are due to get assessed by a specialist weight management service

If you get weight loss surgery, you will have to agree to diet and lifestyle changes after your procedure.

Apart from the NHS, you can also get weight loss injections from regulated and safe online private doctor services like ZAVA. Treatments available from ZAVA include:

• Mounjaro
• Wegovy
• Liraglutide

The criteria for getting weight loss injections from ZAVA are different from the NHS. This is because the NHS only prescribes these treatments for free to people who are most in need, such as to those with a very high BMI or serious medical conditions because of their weight. Because of limited supply, wait times to access these medications on the NHS can be quite high.

Ordering from ZAVA also means getting weight loss treatment within a few days, rather than waiting months or even years. All you need to do is complete a short, medical questionnaire about your health, and send a few photos of your weight so our doctors can safely prescribe these treatments without a face-to-face appointment. You can be prescribed weight loss injections at ZAVA if you have either:

• a BMIof 30 kg/m² or higher (obesity)
• a BMI between 27 and 30 kg/m² (overweight) and a weight-related health condition, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, prediabetes, or heart problems

You can check your BMI using our BMI calculator.

To order weight loss injections from our service, it is simple:

1. Complete a short health questionnaire

You will need to complete a short medical form about your current health and medications. You’ll also need to include your current weight, and send some photos so that our doctors can approve your medication without a face-to-face appointment.

2. Wait for approval

Once you’ve sent over your information, one of our doctors will check your suitability and prescribe Wegovy or Mounjaro if safe for you, based on information you have provided.

3. Receive your treatment

If your treatment request is approved, it will be delivered to your home with our fast, rapid delivery service. We value patient confidentiality, all treatments are delivered discreetly in unmarked packaging, and notifications will be delivered via your online, private patient account. You can also get repeat prescriptions quickly and easily through your account.

ZAVA is a fully regulated service which has been officially regulated and approved by health authorities. This means that the weight loss injections available from ZAVA are just as safe and effective as ones from the NHS. Getting treatment from ZAVA is much more convenient than getting it from the NHS and you will not be required to see a doctor in person.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued a public warning in October 2023 as over 300 potentially fake Ozempic and Saxenda pens were obtained by members of the public through unregulated services.

You shouldn’t buy prescription-only medication without being prescribed it by a registered doctor. It may be unsafe as weight loss injections contain active ingredients that could cause serious side effects when taken alongside certain medications or medical conditions. Always get your medication from official, approved sources such as the NHS or ZAVA.

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How weight loss surgery is done, NHS [accessed January 2025]

Tirzepatide for managing overweight and obesity, NICE [accessed January 2025]

Semaglutide for managing overweight and obesity, NICE [accessed January 2025]

Liraglutide for managing overweight and obesity, NICE [accessed January 2025]

MHRA warns of unsafe fake weight loss pens, GOV.UK [accessed January 2025]

Accessing Wegovy for weight loss: Everything you need to know, GOV.UK [accessed January 2025]