Who is eligible to use Mounjaro for weight loss?
In the UK, Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is recommended for weight management in adults when used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, but only for those with obesity and specific health criteria. NICE guidance recommends it for adults with an initial BMI of at least 35 and at least one weight-related health problem, with lower BMI thresholds (usually minus 2.5) for people from South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African, or African-Caribbean backgrounds. Separately, the MHRA has authorised Mounjaro for adults with BMI ≥30, or BMI 27–29.9 with weight-related conditions, establishing the licensed indication; however, NHS use follows the stricter NICE criteria and staged rollout. Local NHS information reflects this approach, prioritising those with the highest clinical need within specialist or phased primary care services under NICE’s framework.
- Adults must use Mounjaro alongside diet and physical activity for weight management.
- NICE eligibility: BMI ≥35 plus at least one weight-related comorbidity; lower BMI thresholds apply for certain ethnic groups.
- MHRA licence: BMI ≥30, or BMI 27–29.9 with weight-related conditions; this defines the authorised use.
- NHS access follows NICE criteria with phased prioritisation for those at highest clinical need.
- Ethnic-specific BMI adjustment (usually minus 2.5) is applied to support equitable access.