Am I eligible to receive weight loss medication?

Weight loss medication is not for everyone – read on to see if you are in the target group

The guidelines that doctors follow state that the patient must have a BMI over 30 or over 27 plus other comorbidities to be considered for the medication.

The Health Authority’s guidelines and the doctor determine who may receive weight loss medication

Perhaps you have reached a point where you feel relatively certain that you want to try weight loss drugs. The next question is whether you are eligible to receive it. Weight loss drugs are not for everyone, and the Health Authority has set guidelines for who may be prescribed the medication.

The guidelines that doctors follow state that the patient must have a BMI over 30 or over 27 plus other comorbidities to be considered for the drug. Other comorbidities can include prediabetes or high cholesterol.

The general recommendations still say that medical treatment for obesity should not be the first choice, and if medical treatment is deemed medically relevant, it should be supplemented with lifestyle changes and assessed to significantly improve the patient’s health.

Who should not take weight loss medication

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is advised not to take weight loss medication. The same applies if you suffer from a serious liver or kidney disease or have type 1 diabetes. Since weight loss medication is prescription-only, it will always require a thorough conversation and preliminary examination by a doctor before starting a treatment course.

Do you know your BMI? Try our calculator

To be prescribed weight loss medication, you must have an elevated BMI.

Currently, the threshold is 30, or 27 if you have comorbidities.

Are you unsure of your BMI? Then try this calculator.

Calculate your BMI here