Do You Qualify for Wegovy? The Complete 2026 Eligibility Guide

Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg) is FDA-approved for chronic weight management in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, or a BMI of 27 or higher who also have at least one weight-related medical condition such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol. It is also approved for children aged 12 and older who have obesity.

That's the short answer. But "do I qualify" depends on more than a single number — your BMI category, your existing health conditions, your age, and certain safety factors all play a role. This guide walks through every part of the FDA criteria in plain language, shows you exactly what counts as a qualifying condition, and explains how to find out whether a licensed provider considers you a candidate.

Quick-answer eligibility table

Find your BMI category

BMI is a screening number calculated from your height and weight. It's the starting point for Wegovy eligibility, but it isn't the whole picture — a licensed provider confirms your BMI and reviews your full health history before any treatment decision.

For reference, the standard adult BMI categories are:

• Overweight: BMI 25 to 29.9
• Obesity: BMI 30 and above

The Wegovy eligibility line sits inside the overweight range at 27 — which is why a weight-related condition matters so much for anyone between 27 and 29.9.

The two ways an adult qualifies

What counts as a "weight-related condition"?

The label points to medical conditions that are commonly caused or worsened by excess weight. The conditions most often cited as qualifying include:

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Type 2 diabetes
• High cholesterol or high triglycerides (dyslipidemia)
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Cardiovascular disease (such as a history of heart attack or stroke)

This list is not exhaustive, and a diagnosis on its own doesn't guarantee eligibility — only a licensed provider can confirm whether a specific condition satisfies the criteria in your case.

"Do I qualify if I have…?"

Pediatric eligibility (ages 12–17)

Wegovy is also FDA-approved for adolescents aged 12 and older who have obesity — defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for their age and sex on the standard growth charts. The pediatric approval was supported by the STEP TEENS trial, in which once-weekly semaglutide reduced BMI in adolescents with obesity compared with placebo (Weghuber et al., 2022). Treatment decisions for minors are made by a licensed provider together with a parent or guardian, and are paired with lifestyle changes appropriate for a growing adolescent.

Beyond weight: expanded FDA indications

Wegovy's approved uses have broadened over time, and these expansions matter if you have a qualifying condition:

• Cardiovascular risk reduction. Wegovy is FDA-approved to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events — such as heart attack and stroke — in certain adults who have established cardiovascular disease together with obesity or overweight. This indication followed the SELECT trial, in which semaglutide reduced major adverse cardiovascular events compared with placebo in adults with cardiovascular disease and overweight or obesity (Lincoff et al., 2023).
• Weight-related liver disease. The label has continued to expand into certain forms of fatty liver disease associated with metabolic dysfunction, supported by phase 3 trial evidence in metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH) (Sanyal et al., 2025).

In all cases, Wegovy is intended to be used together with a reduced-calorie eating plan and increased physical activity.

Who is not a candidate

Meeting the BMI criteria does not override safety. Wegovy is generally not appropriate for people who:

• Have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), or have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
• Have had a serious allergic reaction to semaglutide or any ingredient in the medication
• Are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding

"Wegovy" vs. compounded semaglutide

When people search for Wegovy eligibility, they're usually trying to get access to semaglutide for weight management — and they quickly run into two different things:

• Wegovy is the brand-name, FDA-approved product made by Novo Nordisk. Every eligibility criterion on this page is the FDA criteria for that product.
• Compounded semaglutide is a custom preparation made by licensed compounding pharmacies. It is not the same medication as Wegovy and is not FDA-approved — the FDA does not evaluate compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness, or quality.

The clinical eligibility considerations (BMI, conditions, safety history) are similar regardless of which form is discussed, but the products are not interchangeable. For pricing, see our semaglutide cost breakdown and insurance coverage guide. Whether you may be a candidate for any semaglutide treatment is a decision a licensed medical provider makes based on your individual health.

What happens after you qualify

Qualifying is the first step, not the finish line. If a provider determines you're a candidate, treatment typically begins at a low dose and increases gradually over several weeks to reduce side effects — an approach called titration. Treatment is ongoing and paired with lifestyle changes, and your provider monitors your progress and adjusts as needed. Here's what to expect in your first week and a full weight loss timeline. In the STEP 1 trial, adults with overweight or obesity (without diabetes) who reached the maintenance dose lost about 15% of their body weight on average over 68 weeks, compared with roughly 2.4% on placebo, alongside lifestyle changes (Wilding et al., 2021). Individual results vary and are never guaranteed.

Frequently asked questions