Quick answer
To be eligible for the Wegovy tablet in the UK you generally need a BMI of 30 or above, or 27-29.9 with at least one weight-related condition such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnoea. Below BMI 27 you are not eligible under the licence. A registered prescriber confirms eligibility.
Wegovy tablet BMI requirements UK: eligibility criteria explained
The Wegovy tablet (oral semaglutide) is a prescription-only medicine in the UK. Prescribers must follow MHRA licensing criteria when deciding whether to prescribe it. The central criterion is BMI, often combined with at least one weight-related health condition. This page explains exactly what the BMI thresholds are, how they are applied, and what else affects eligibility.
The BMI thresholds for Wegovy tablet eligibility
The MHRA-licensed criteria for the Wegovy tablet are the same as for Wegovy injection:
- BMI of 30 kg/m² or above (classed as obese) — eligible without any additional co-morbidity requirement
- BMI of 27 kg/m² to 29.9 kg/m² (classed as overweight) — eligible only if at least one weight-related co-morbidity is present
Patients with a BMI below 27 kg/m² are not eligible under the licensed indication, regardless of other health conditions.
What counts as a weight-related co-morbidity?
For patients in the 27–29.9 kg/m² range, a qualifying co-morbidity must be present. The MHRA-listed co-morbidities include:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Dyslipidaemia (abnormal cholesterol or triglycerides)
- Obstructive sleep apnoea
- Cardiovascular disease
PCOS is not a listed co-morbidity under the standard criteria. Individual prescribers may exercise clinical judgement, but PCOS alone does not make a patient with BMI 27–29.9 automatically eligible.
How BMI is calculated and who confirms it
BMI is calculated from height and weight: BMI = weight (kg) / height (m)². Online providers typically ask you to self-report your height and weight during the consultation questionnaire. Some providers may request verification — for example, a recent GP measurement or photograph evidence.
Lying about your BMI to obtain a prescription is fraudulent and potentially dangerous. GLP-1 drugs have a specific risk profile and contraindications that make accurate clinical assessment essential.
Other eligibility factors beyond BMI
BMI is a necessary but not sufficient condition for eligibility. Prescribers will also screen for:
- Contraindications: Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2 (MEN2), pancreatitis history, or hypersensitivity to semaglutide
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding: The Wegovy tablet is not appropriate and should be stopped before attempting to conceive
- Type 1 diabetes: Not licensed for T1D management
- Severe gastrointestinal disease: The tablet’s absorption mechanism may be affected
- Kidney or liver impairment: Caution required at higher degrees of impairment
- Other medications: Drug interactions must be assessed (notably with oral contraceptives)
What if I am borderline eligible?
If your BMI is close to the 27 or 30 threshold, the prescribing decision rests with the clinical team at your chosen provider. A measurement taken on a different day, wearing different clothing, or using a different scale may yield a different result. If you are borderline, be transparent with your prescriber and ask them to make the clinical call based on an accurate assessment.
Will my BMI threshold change if I am from a South Asian, Chinese or Black African background?
NICE guidance recognises that people from certain ethnic backgrounds develop weight-related health risks at lower BMI levels. For South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African and African-Caribbean family backgrounds, NICE has recommended lower BMI thresholds for intervention. This may be taken into account by some UK prescribers, but it is not universally applied across private online clinic providers. Ask your provider explicitly about their approach to ethnicity-adjusted thresholds.
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Frequently asked questions
What BMI do you need for the Wegovy tablet?
A BMI of 30 or above qualifies without a comorbidity. A BMI of 27-29.9 qualifies only if you have a weight-related condition. Below 27 is not eligible under the licensed indication.
Can I get the Wegovy tablet at BMI 27?
Only if you also have a qualifying weight-related condition such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, sleep apnoea or cardiovascular disease. A prescriber confirms this from your full assessment.
Does ethnicity lower the BMI threshold for Wegovy tablets?
NICE recognises that some ethnic groups develop weight-related risk at lower BMI levels and recommends lower thresholds. Application varies by provider, so ask your prescriber directly about their approach.
What if my BMI is borderline?
If you are close to 27 or 30, the clinical decision rests with your provider's prescribing team. Measurements vary by day, scale and clothing. Be transparent and let the prescriber make an accurate assessment.
Is PCOS a qualifying comorbidity for BMI 27?
PCOS is not a listed comorbidity under the standard criteria, so it does not automatically qualify someone at BMI 27-29.9. A prescriber may use clinical judgement on your overall picture.