WEIGHT LOSS CRITERIA Posted or Updated on 30 Jun 2026

Weight loss drugs - information for patients wanting a GLP1

What is Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®)?

Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) is a new medicine that helps people lose weight. It works by making you feel full, so you don’t eat as much.

It has been approved by NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) for some people, but not everyone can get it.

Tests have shown that when used alongside healthy eating and exercise, people can lose up to 20% of their body weight. It’s a weekly injection that you give yourself, but it must be part of a weight loss programme and prescribed by a doctor.

Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) is only available to people who have certain medical conditions. A patient's GP will decide if Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) is right for them. The GP will look at the NICE rules, the patient's health, and whether the practice can safely give and check the treatment.

Who can get this treatment?

Tirzepatide will only be offered to people who have the highest clinical need, this means those whose health is most affected by obesity and who are likely to benefit the most.

To be considered for this treatment, you must:

·         Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more, and

·         Have at least four of the following health conditions:

o    High blood pressure

o    High cholesterol or high fat levels in the blood

o    Sleep apnoea (trouble breathing while asleep)

o    Heart disease

o    Type 2 diabetes