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Key takeaways
Wegovy is a weight loss medication prescribed for people who meet certain BMI and health criteria.
If you want a Wegovy prescription, you will need to be evaluated by a healthcare professional who may prescribe the medication to you.
For best results, Wegovy should be combined with lifestyle modifications, such as healthy eating and exercise.
Wegovy (semaglutide) is an injectable GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) medication that was initially approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss along with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise. Since its initial FDA approval, it has also been approved to reduce cardiovascular risk in adults with obesity or adults who are overweight with a weight-related health condition. The active ingredient is semaglutide, the same active ingredient used in Ozempic; however, Ozempic was FDA approved to treat Type 2 diabetes. Like Ozempic, Wegovy has quickly risen in demand. As such, many people are wondering how to qualify for Wegovy and, if so, how to get Wegovy prescribed.
RELATED: How much does Wegovy cost?
How to qualify for Wegovy
Wegovy must be prescribed by a licensed physician, but you can’t just go to your doctor and ask for it, expecting to get it. You must meet specific requirements in order to get a Wegovy prescription. You’re more likely to get prescribed Wegovy if your healthcare provider believes it’s the right option for you and if you plan on taking it for the indications it was FDA approved to treat:
- Weight loss in adults with obesity or who are overweight with a weight-related health condition
- Weight loss in adolescents ages 12 and older who have obesity
- To reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in adults with known heart disease who are either overweight or have obesity
BMI requirements
In order to qualify for Wegovy, you need to meet certain body mass index (BMI) requirements. The drug’s prescribing information states that adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher have obesity, while adults with a BMI of 27 or higher are considered overweight. If you are overweight, you must also have at least one weight-related health condition in order to qualify for Wegovy. If your BMI is 30 or higher, that alone is enough to qualify for Wegovy.
For adolescents 12 and older, obesity is considered having a BMI equal to or greater than the 95th percentile for their age and gender.
Still, some healthcare providers will only use these bodyweight recommendations as general guidelines. “It’s important to understand that even though the BMI criteria are there, they are mostly there to guide us,” explains Asad Niazi, MD, lead physician at Shed, a virtual wellness clinic. “These BMI cutoffs aren’t based on actual studies but just general recommendations, and as a healthcare provider, it’s extremely important to provide a case-by-case treatment for patients.”
Weight-related conditions
If you’re an adult whose BMI is in the 27 to 29 range, you need to have at least one weight-related health condition to qualify for Wegovy. Examples include high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes, or sleep apnea, according to Dr. Niazi.
Medical evaluation
Most importantly, if you want to qualify for a Wegovy prescription, you need to be evaluated by a licensed healthcare provider. “You will always need a full medical evaluation to be prescribed Wegovy, as your BMI needs to be documented, you need to have your vitals checked, you need to be placed on a concurrent diet and exercise regimen, and you need to be clear of major contraindications,” says Austin Shuxiao, MD, internal medicine physician and founder of PeachIV.
How to get a Wegovy prescription
Most people will go to their primary care doctor first to get a Wegovy prescription. But there are many different options when it comes to healthcare providers who write Wegovy prescriptions.
“The most likely person you will be asking is your primary care doctor, who can be a doctor trained in either family medicine, internal medicine, or OB-GYN,” Dr. Shuxiao explains. “From there, if they cannot prescribe it to you for whatever reason, or if insurance does not approve, they may be able to send you to an endocrinologist or obesity medicine specialist.”
Additionally, he says, sometimes nurse practitioners (NP) or physician assistants (PAs) can prescribe Wegovy, depending on state regulations.
Undergo a full medical evaluation
At your appointment, you will likely need to undergo a full medical evaluation. According to Dr. Shuxiao, this will likely include:
- A BMI evaluation or documentation
- Having your vitals checked
- Discussing your medical history
- Discussing any medications you are currently taking
- Evaluating any recent blood test results
Discuss weight loss goals and treatment options
If losing weight is your goal while taking Wegovy, you’ll need to develop a plan of care with your healthcare provider. “Wegovy works best when combined with healthy lifestyle changes,” explains Andrew Shapiro, MD, surgeon at Advanced Surgical Physicians and the medical director of the Comprehensive Breast Center at Wellington Regional Medical Center.
Dr. Shapiro, who has prescribed Wegovy for his breast cancer patients, says that the best way to lose weight while taking Wegovy is to eat a balanced diet, increase physical activity, get enough sleep, and manage stress levels.
“GLP-1s are not magic fixes; they support your body’s ability to feel full and control appetite, but long-term success depends on building sustainable habits,” Dr. Shapiro shares. “I tell patients to think of it as a partner to help you reach your goals and not a replacement for the basics of good health.”
RELATED: Can I start Wegovy at 1.7 mg?
How to get insurance to cover Wegovy
If you are hoping to have your insurance cover Wegovy, you should be aware that coverage may be limited. While some plans cover Wegovy, other plans are more restrictive. For example, some health insurance plans will only cover Wegovy as a cardiovascular risk treatment, not as a weight loss drug. If insurance companies cover Wegovy for weight loss, they may require prior authorization.
If you are unable to get insurance coverage for Wegovy, there are multiple ways to save on your Wegovy prescription if you’re paying out of pocket.
RELATED: Does Kaiser cover Wegovy?│Does Aetna cover Wegovy?| BCBS Wegovy prior authorization criteria
Who should not take Wegovy?
There are certain people who shouldn’t take Wegovy. “There are exclusion criteria with Wegovy, including a black box warning regarding an increased risk of thyroid C-cell tumors,” Dr. Shuxiao says. “Anyone with a family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome 2 (MEN 2) and medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) should not take Wegovy.”
You should also not take Wegovy if you’re pregnant. “If you’ve been taking Wegovy and have become pregnant while on it, you should stop taking it immediately,” Dr. Shuxiao advises. If you are taking Wegovy and plan to become pregnant, Dr. Shuxiao recommends stopping Wegovy at least two months beforehand.
Lastly, anyone with an allergy to Wegovy or semaglutide should not take it.
Bottom line
Wegovy is an effective weight loss medication, but it shouldn’t be used alone. The best way to use Wegovy is to combine it with lifestyle adjustments, such as healthy eating and exercise. If you want a prescription for Wegovy, you will need to visit a licensed healthcare provider. They will evaluate your health and decide if Wegovy is the best choice for you. If you are not a good candidate for Wegovy, your healthcare provider can discuss alternative Wegovy medications with you, which may include Alli (orlistat OTC), Phendimetrazine, or Lomaira (phentermine).
- FDA approves new drug treatment for chronic weight management, first since 2014, Food and Drug Administration (2021)
- FDA approves first treatment to reduce risk of serious heart problems specifically in adults with obesity or overweight, Food and Drug Administration (2024)
- Wegovy prescribing information, Food and Drug Administration (2024)