BMI 27–30: your GLP-1 options explained

A weight loss injection at BMI 27 is possible in the UK — but only on one condition, and the rules are stricter than they are at BMI 30. This guide walks you through exactly when you qualify, which medicine tends to fit best in the 27–30 band, and what you can expect to pay.

Do you actually qualify at BMI 27?

This is the question that decides everything else, so let’s be precise. UK private prescribing for GLP-1 weight loss medicines follows two thresholds:

• BMI 30 or above — you can be considered on weight alone.
• BMI 27 to 30 — you can be considered only if you also have at least one weight-related condition.

So a BMI of 27, 28 or 29 on its own is not enough. The prescriber is looking for a linked health problem that the extra weight is contributing to, or making worse. Commonly accepted conditions include:

• Type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• High cholesterol or other raised blood fats
• Obstructive sleep apnoea
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), in some cases

Both licensed injections carry this same 27-with-a-condition rule. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is available privately for adults with a BMI of 30+, or 27+ with a weight-related condition, and NICE recommends it under TA1026. Wegovy (semaglutide) is worded almost identically: a BMI of 30+, or 27–30 with a weight-related condition, alongside diet and lifestyle changes.

One more point specific to your BMI band: if you are from certain ethnic backgrounds where health risks appear at a lower weight — including South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean backgrounds — a prescriber may apply a lower BMI threshold. If you’re close to the line, that’s worth raising in your consultation.

If you qualify: which injection fits the 27–30 band?

Both Mounjaro and Wegovy are licensed and prescribed at this BMI. The choice usually comes down to how much weight you want to lose and how established you want the medicine to be.

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) — the most weight loss

Mounjaro is the only dual-hormone jab, acting on two gut hormones (GIP and GLP-1) rather than one. In the SURMOUNT-1 trial, adults without type 2 diabetes lost a mean of 21.4% of body weight at 10 mg and 22.5% at 15 mg over 72 weeks, versus 2.4% on placebo. It’s the option currently linked to the greatest average weight loss.

In the 27–30 band you may want a moderate loss rather than a large one, so that ceiling matters less — but many people still choose it for the appetite control and settle on a lower maintenance dose that suits them.

Wegovy (semaglutide) — the most established

Wegovy has the longest UK track record and the most trial and real-world data behind it. In the STEP 1 trial, adults lost about 15% of body weight (mean −14.9%) over 68 weeks at the 2.4 mg dose. It’s also the only weight-loss jab shown to cut heart attack and stroke risk in people with existing heart disease (the SELECT trial) — which can be relevant if your weight-related condition is cardiovascular.

Not sure which way to lean? Our which GLP-1 is right for me guide walks through the trade-offs, and Mounjaro or Wegovy for beginners covers the practical first-injection differences.

What it costs at the starter dose

Everyone begins on a low starter dose that’s increased slowly — that’s the price that matters in month one. The table below shows starter-dose pricing per 4 weeks from a sample of UK-regulated providers, sorted by ongoing price, with any first-order promo shown alongside. Prices were checked 4 July 2026; confirm the current figure on each provider’s own site.

A few things to read from this. First, the same starter dose varies widely between regulated pharmacies — for Mounjaro 2.5 mg, the ongoing price runs from around £146 to £219 across the full market. Second, Wegovy’s starter dose is cheaper than Mounjaro’s almost everywhere, because it’s a lower-strength lead-in. And third, a low first-order promo isn’t the whole story — what you pay from month two matters more, since you’ll be on this treatment for many months. You can see the full ranked list on our home page price comparison.

Your BMI 27–30 decision path

1. Check your BMI is 27 or above. Below 27, neither injection is licensed for you privately.
2. Identify a weight-related condition. No linked condition in the 27–30 band means a prescriber should decline — this is the step people miss.
3. Pick a medicine. Mounjaro for the largest average loss; Wegovy for the longest track record and heart-risk evidence. Undecided? Try our five-question decision guide.
4. Choose a regulated provider and start low. Compare starter-dose prices, check the provider is GPhC or CQC-registered, and remember the dose steps up over months.
5. Reassess at the milestones. NICE advises reviewing progress; if you’re not losing at least 5% after reaching your top tolerated dose, the plan may need to change.

If you later reach a point where one medicine isn’t working for you, switching is possible — our guide on switching between GLP-1 medications covers how that’s done safely.

Frequently asked questions

Reviewed July 2026 by the GLP Finder Editorial Team. Prices last checked 4 July 2026. This is decision and price information, not medical advice — a prescriber decides whether any medicine is right for you.