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Who qualifies for a GLP-1 weight-loss prescription?

Last updated July 19, 2026

Reviewed by Jason Burns, Editorial Steward

Published by DirectAnswersRx · Licensed under Citation License 1.0

Under the FDA-approved Wegovy label, adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30) qualify, as do adults with overweight (BMI ≥ 27) who also have at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol; pediatric patients aged 12 and older with obesity also qualify. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration states, in its FDA-approved Wegovy prescribing information (August 2025): "WEGOVY is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist indicated in combination with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity … to reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long term in: Adults and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older with obesity. Adults with overweight in the presence of at least one weight-related [comorbid condition]."

Source: www.accessdata.fda.gov

What the FDA label actually says Per the current Wegovy Prescribing Information (revised August 2025), Wegovy is "indicated in combination with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity … to reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long term in: Adults and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older with obesity" and in "Adults with overweight in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbid condition."

What "weight-related comorbid condition" usually means in practice The conditions most commonly cited by prescribers are type 2 diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), dyslipidemia (abnormal cholesterol), and obstructive sleep apnea.

Who the FDA label explicitly excludes Per the label''s boxed warning and contraindications section, Wegovy is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2), and patients with a known hypersensitivity to semaglutide.

What telehealth clinics do differently Some telehealth services will consider off-label prescribing for patients slightly outside FDA criteria. That is a clinical judgment call the prescriber makes; it is not an "FDA-approved" use for those patients.

Source FDA-approved Wegovy Prescribing Information (August 2025 revision), accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2025/215256s024lbl.pdf

Source:

Last verified: 2026-07-19

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