Do You Qualify for a GLP-1? BMI Requirements

Last updated October 20, 2026

Short answer: The FDA labels for Wegovy and Zepbound cover adults with obesity, and adults with overweight who also have at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or sleep apnea. In the trials behind those labels, obesity meant a BMI of 30 or higher and overweight meant a BMI of 27 to under 30. A prescriber makes the decision, and insurers often set their own rules.

BMI checker

What the labels say

Both labels say the medication is used together with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. The wording of the weight management indication is:

Where the BMI numbers come from

The indication wording uses the words obesity and overweight rather than a BMI cutoff. The numbers appear in the descriptions of the trials that supported the labels. In Zepbound's main trial and in Wegovy's STEP 1 trial, people were enrolled with a BMI of 30 or higher (obesity), or a BMI of 27 to under 30 (overweight) plus at least one weight-related condition. The examples the labels list include dyslipidemia (abnormal cholesterol), hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease.

The CDC defines overweight as a BMI of 25 to under 30, and obesity as 30 or higher. Because the trials enrolled people from a BMI of 27, that is the lower line the evidence supports for people with a weight-related condition.

Other things to know

• Ozempic and Mounjaro are approved for type 2 diabetes, so their labels are not built around a weight cutoff. See our Ozempic vs. Wegovy and Mounjaro vs. Zepbound guides.
• Wegovy also has an indication to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with established cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight.
• For children and teens, Wegovy injection is approved from age 12 for obesity, and BMI is judged against age- and sex-specific percentiles rather than adult cutoffs. This tool is for adults.
• Insurance coverage criteria often differ from the label and change over time, so check with your plan. Our cost guide covers what to ask.
• Prescribers consider more than BMI, including medical history and other medications. Not meeting these numbers does not by itself rule anything in or out.

Read the Ozempic for weight loss guide for the on-label and off-label distinction, or the cost guide for coverage questions.