Can you get weight loss injections with a BMI of 25?

There aren’t any studies involving participants with a BMI of 25; most participants have a minimum BMI of 27. This is because guidelines and research have found that taking WLIs at a low BMI can put your health at risk. This might include increasing the risk of extreme weight loss, sarcopenia, malnutrition, and bowel problems.

Some private pharmacies may offer WLIs to individuals with a BMI of 25 (just touching the overweight range), but this is considered off-label and isn’t within the approved criteria for these injections. In the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) strictly licenses these injections based on clinical safety data. For WLIs, the current criteria state that a BMI of 30, or 27 with a weight-related health condition such as diabetes, is needed to be eligible. If a pharmacy or clinician prescribes them to someone with a low BMI, they would need to be confident that the WLI is required and is likely to benefit the person using it. The prescriber could face investigation or suspension for breaching guidelines and putting the patient’s health at risk if they haven’t got robust evidence to support their decision, or if they don’t make it clear to their patient that they’re prescribing outside of its prodiuct license.

Using a WLI when starting at a healthy weight is different from managing weight loss after achieving it. For example, if someone starts with a BMI of 30 and loses weight to reach a BMI of 25, their clinician might recommend continuing the medication to maintain the weight loss. This is because evidence shows that stopping WLI can lead to weight gain of about 0.4 kg per month. Evidence suggests that within 1.5 years, the patient might return to their baseline weight, and any cardiovascular improvements, such as improved blood pressure and blood sugar levels, may revert to their pre-weight-loss levels. To prevent this, it’s best to remain on the maintenance dose and continue with a healthy diet and strength training. Your clinician will provide more tailored advice based on your health and personal needs.