Who may qualify for semaglutide for weight loss?

For adult weight management, prescription medicines are often considered when body mass index, or BMI, is at least 30. They may also be considered when BMI is at least 27 and a person has a weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure. Meeting these criteria does not mean semaglutide is automatically appropriate.

Your physician will review your health history, current medicines, and past weight-management efforts. Tell them about diabetes, eye disease, pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, kidney problems, or severe stomach-emptying problems. These conditions may affect the treatment decision or the monitoring you need.

Semaglutide should not be used if you or a family member has had medullary thyroid cancer, or if you have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, also called MEN 2. A serious past allergic reaction to semaglutide is another reason not to use it.

Semaglutide should not be used for weight loss during pregnancy. Discuss breastfeeding and pregnancy plans before starting. A licensed physician in your state makes the final decision about treatment.