Strict criteria for weight loss injections outlined as prescriptions now available

People living with type 2 diabetes among those who may be eligible to receive treatment.

The NHS has published guidance on a weight loss treatment recently available on prescription.

The staggered eligibility criteria is designed to allow the NHS to cope with demand, although in the longer term it is expected that the treatment will become more widely available.

Tirzepatide (also called Mounjaro) is a weight loss medicine that makes you feel fuller for longer and therefore less hungry. It comes in the form of an injection which you inject yourself, once a week.

The treatment is recommended for people living with health complications related to being overweight and obesity, including type 2 diabetes.

NHS weight loss injection guidance said: “National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for the management of obesity for certain patients.

“From 23 March 2025, you may be prescribed tirzepatide (Mounjaro) to manage your weight only if it is prescribed by a specialist weight management service, where a healthcare professional feels it is the right treatment for you. In specialist weight management services, there are various healthcare professionals, such as dieticians and psychologists, who can help support you.

“NICE has recommended tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) for weight management for eligible adults living with obesity, who present with other weight-related health problems.”

The NHS has also published interim commissioning guidance outlining NHS England’s approach to implementing tirzepatide (Mounjaro) into the weight management pathway. The full guidance will be issued after an evaluation by NICE of the initial three-year rollout.

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