Who qualifies for a GLP-1
For weight loss, the FDA-label criteria are simple: a BMI of 30 or higher, or a BMI of 27 or higher if you also have at least one weight-related health condition. The checker above calculates your BMI and applies exactly those rules, then tells you which side of the line you’re on.
The weight-related conditions that lower the threshold from 30 to 27 include type 2 diabetes (or prediabetes), high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obstructive sleep apnea, and heart disease. If you have any of them and a BMI in the 27–29.9 range, you meet the medical criteria — a clinician just needs to confirm the diagnosis.
These are the criteria for the weight-management drugs specifically: Wegovy, Zepbound, and Saxenda. The diabetes GLP-1s (Ozempic, Mounjaro, Rybelsus) are approved on glucose-based criteria instead and are prescribed off-label for weight loss at a clinician’s discretion.
The three thresholds
| Your situation | Do you meet the label criteria? |
|---|---|
| BMI 30 or above | Yes — on BMI alone |
| BMI 27–29.9 with a weight-related condition | Yes |
| BMI 27–29.9 with no such condition | Not by the standard criteria |
| BMI under 27 | Generally no (talk to a clinician about exceptions) |
Qualifying medically vs. getting it covered
This is the distinction that catches most people off guard: meeting the FDA criteria and getting your insurance to pay are two different things. This tool checks the medical bar — whether a clinician can appropriately prescribe the drug for you. Coverage is a separate hurdle, and it’s often higher. Some plans demand a BMI above 30, documented prior weight-loss attempts, or exclude anti-obesity medications altogether.
So you can absolutely qualify medically and still get a coverage denial. If that’s you, the insurance checker walks through your options, and appeals and prior authorizations succeed more often than people expect.
BMI’s limitations
BMI is a blunt instrument. It’s a ratio of weight to height that says nothing about body composition — a very muscular person can have a “high” BMI with little excess fat, and BMI can misjudge risk differently across ages and ethnicities. It’s the criterion the labels and insurers use, so it’s what this checker applies, but it isn’t the whole picture of your health. A good clinician looks at your waist circumference, lab work, and history alongside it.
The bottom line
Use this to walk into a conversation informed about where you stand against the criteria. But eligibility isn’t a self-diagnosis — a licensed provider makes the final call, confirms any conditions, and decides what’s appropriate for you. This tool is educational and not medical advice.