The BMI guide
BMI compares your weight with your height. It is a rough screening tool, not a full picture of health, but it is how the approved uses of these medicines are defined:
- BMI 30 or more: may be considered for weight-loss medicine.
- BMI 27 to 29.9: may be considered if you also have a weight-related health problem, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol or sleep apnea.
- BMI under 27: these medicines are generally not used for weight loss.
Your provider measures your height and weight at your visit rather than relying on a home calculation.
Who should not take these medicines
GLP-1 medicines such as semaglutide and tirzepatide are generally not used if you:
- Are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Have had medullary thyroid cancer, or have a family history of it
- Have multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2)
- Have had a serious allergic reaction to one of these medicines
Your provider also takes extra care if you have had pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, kidney problems, serious stomach or bowel problems, or diabetic eye disease, or if you take insulin or other medicines that lower blood sugar.
What an evaluation looks at
- Your weight history and what you have already tried
- Your health conditions and medicines, including supplements
- Conditions that may affect weight, such as thyroid problems or medicines that cause weight gain
- Conditions that extra weight may affect, including knee, hip and back pain
- Your goals, and what a realistic plan looks like for you
Blood tests may be part of the evaluation. A consultation does not mean you will be prescribed a medicine or lose a particular amount of weight.
If medicine is not the right fit
Medicine is one tool, not the only one. A plan built around eating, activity, sleep and follow-up can still help, and your provider can talk with you about other options.
Talk with our Frisco team
Medical weight loss at our Frisco office starts with a consultation, separate from a pain management visit. Learn more about medical weight loss in Frisco and how semaglutide and tirzepatide differ, or call 214-618-9600 or request a consultation.