Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) – Weight loss drug: Information for patients
You may have heard about a new weight loss medicine being made available to some patients through the NHS.
Tirzepatide, also known by the brand name Mounjaro®, has recently been approved by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) for the management of obesity in patients with complex weight-related health conditions. This is part of a phased national rollout, which began on 23 June 2025.
Eligibility Checker
Weight Loss Medicine Eligibility Checker
The NHS is implementing a phased rollout of tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for weight management from June 2025.
This checker will help you understand if you might be eligible for these treatments for weight loss based on the latest NHS interim guidance, not for the treatment of other conditions such as type 2 diabetes.
Important
Meeting the eligibility criteria shown here does not guarantee access to these medicines. This tool is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. You will need to discuss your options with healthcare professionals who will consider your full medical history and circumstances. Access is subject to phased rollout.
Age
Please confirm your age to continue with the eligibility check.
Ethnicity
NHS guidance uses lower BMI thresholds for certain ethnicity groups. Please select your ethnicity:
Note: NHS guidance uses BMI thresholds that are 2.5 kg/m² lower for people from South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean ethnic backgrounds.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Enter your BMI if you already know it
Qualifying Health Conditions
Please select any of the following qualifying health conditions that apply to you. These are specific conditions defined in NHS guidance:
Selected conditions: 0 of 5
The number of qualifying conditions affects which treatment cohort you may be eligible for.
Why do we ask this? NHS guidance requires that people have tried other weight loss methods first before being prescribed weight loss medication.
Previous Weight Loss Attempts
Have you made serious attempts to lose weight through diet, exercise, and/or behavior changes for at least 6 months without achieving or maintaining significant weight loss?
NHS Norfolk & Waveney ICB Weight Loss Medicine Eligibility Checker
Generated on:
Please take this summary to your GP for discussion
Phased rollout details
This tool is based on NHS interim guidance and is for informational purposes only. It does not replace professional medical advice. The NHS offers various weight management options, and medication is just one possibility. Final decisions depend on clinical assessment and local service capacity.
About tirzepatide
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What is Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®)?
Tirzepatide is a once-weekly injection that works by mimicking natural hormones to reduce appetite and improve blood sugar control. When used alongside diet and physical activity, it can also lead to significant weight loss.
It is only prescribed as part of a wider programme supporting people with healthy nutrition and physical activity for long-term health benefits.
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Who is eligible for NHS treatment?
In the first phase of the national rollout, access is limited to patients with the highest level of clinical need. You may be eligible if you:
- Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more (adjusted for ethnicity) [1], and
- Have four or more of the following health conditions:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol or abnormal blood fats
- Sleep apnoea
- Heart disease
- Type 2 diabetes
These criteria have been defined nationally to ensure the NHS can offer this treatment safely and equitably. Over 3 million people may meet the broader NICE eligibility, so access is being carefully phased.
[1] or a lower threshold, usually reduced by 2.5 kg/m2, for people from South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean ethnic backgrounds
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How is this being offered in Norfolk and Waveney?
In Norfolk and Waveney, the Integrated Care Board (ICB) has decided to commission a community-based service to support prescribing of tirzepatide for eligible patients.
This approach ensures safe, consistent access across all areas, avoids placing additional workload on already stretched GP practices, and aligns with national guidance and equity principles.
Your GP may still offer tirzepatide if they are ready and resourced to do so. However, not all GP practices will be offering this treatment at this stage.
We expect the new community-based service to be available later in 2025. Updates will be shared on this page.
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What should I do if I think I’m eligible?
- Do not contact your GP just to request a prescription.
- Instead, check if your practice is currently prescribing tirzepatide via their website.
- If not, your GP may advise you to wait until the community-based service is available or may suggest other suitable weight management services in the meantime.
Please check this web page for regular updates on service availability and eligibility rules, rather than contacting GP practices directly. This helps GPs focus their time on patient care.
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What if I am receiving treatment privately?
If you are already being prescribed tirzepatide privately and meet the NHS eligibility criteria, you may be referred to the NHS service in future. However, this will only be possible once the community-based service is fully operational and cannot be arranged via your GP in the meantime.
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Other NHS weight loss support
Tirzepatide is one of several support options. You may also benefit from:
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Keep updated
This is an evolving programme. Please return to this page for updates on:
- Who can access tirzepatide
- When the new community-based service goes live
- How to seek referral or support