GLP-1 BMI Eligibility Calculator

The FDA labels for weight management GLP-1 medicines describe the people they are approved for partly by BMI: adults with a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with at least one weight related condition. This calculator works out your BMI and shows, in educational terms, how it compares with those label ranges.

Person measuring their waist with a tape measure at home

Tick any that a doctor has diagnosed. These only change the explanation for a BMI in the 27 to 29.9 range, which is the band where the labels mention a weight related condition.

Please check your entries. Height should be 48 to 96 inches, or 122 to 244 cm. Weight should be between 80 and 1,000 in your chosen unit.

How this compares with the label BMI ranges

This panel repeats the published label wording in plain language. It is not an eligibility decision. Your prescriber decides whether a GLP-1 medicine is right for you, based on much more than BMI.

How this estimate works

BMI, or body mass index, is your weight in kilograms divided by your height in meters squared. It is the standard screening measure used in the CDC adult BMI categories: underweight below 18.5, healthy weight from 18.5 to 24.9, overweight from 25 to 29.9, and obesity at 30 or higher.

The FDA approved labels for the weight management versions of these medicines, Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide), describe them for adults with a BMI of 30 or higher, or a BMI of 27 or higher who also have at least one weight related condition, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol. The calculator compares your BMI with those two ranges. The condition checkboxes only matter in the 27 to 29.9 band, because that is the band where the label wording includes a condition.

Falling inside a label range does not mean a medicine is safe or suitable for you, and falling outside it does not rule out every treatment option. Prescribers weigh your full health history, other medicines, pregnancy plans and more. BMI is also a blunt measure: it says nothing about body fat percentage or where fat is carried, which is why the GLP-1 Body Fat Calculator can be a useful companion number.

Sources and notes. BMI ranges for weight management use are taken from the indication wording in the FDA prescribing information for Wegovy and Zepbound. Adult BMI categories are the standard CDC categories. This page explains published label wording for education only; labels change over time, and the current label and your prescriber are the authority.

Related tools and guides

Educational tool only. This calculator works out your BMI and explains how it compares with published label ranges. It is not medical advice, it does not decide eligibility, and it does not recommend a medication or a dose. Talk to your own doctor or pharmacist about whether any treatment is right for you.

Frequently asked questions

What BMI do the GLP-1 weight loss labels describe?

The FDA labels for weight management GLP-1 medicines such as Wegovy and Zepbound describe use in adults with a BMI of 30 or higher, or a BMI of 27 or higher together with at least one weight related health condition, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Being in the BMI range is only one part of eligibility.

If my BMI is in the range, does that mean I can get a prescription?

No. The BMI range is only the starting point in the label. A prescriber also looks at your overall health, other conditions, other medicines you take and whether the medication is safe for you. Only your own prescriber can decide whether a GLP-1 medicine is appropriate for you.

Is BMI the whole picture of health?

No. BMI is a simple ratio of weight to height. It does not measure body fat directly, where fat is carried, muscle mass or fitness, and two people with the same BMI can be in very different health. The labels use it because it is a simple screening measure, not because it tells the whole story.

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