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Could a GLP-1 medicine be an option for me?

GLP-1 check: what the Health Canada labels and the guideline say. 9 short questions, checked against the labels, the Canadian adult obesity guideline and the drug plan rules where you live.

Takes about 1 minute Nothing you type leaves your device Every result cites its source

Educational only. It never says "yes" or "you qualify". It shows what published rules say about answers like yours. Your doctor, nurse practitioner or another prescriber decides.

Question 1 of 9
What brings you here?

Pick the one that fits best.

How this works

The check compares your answers with three sets of published rules:

  • The Health Canada labels (product monographs): who should not take these medicines, and the BMI the weight approvals for Wegovy, Zepbound and Saxenda start from. Ozempic and Mounjaro are approved for type 2 diabetes only.1,2,3,7,8
  • The Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guideline (Obesity Canada, pharmacotherapy chapter updated 2025): when medicine is offered, and the lower BMI and waist cut-offs for South, Southeast and East Asian adults.4,5
  • The drug plan rules where you live, which differ between provinces, and how private plans usually work.17,19,21,23,25

Safety answers are checked first, so a "do not use" answer always wins over a BMI number. BMI is rounded to one decimal place before any rule is applied, so the number you see is the number we use. The labels say "30 or greater" and "27 to less than 30", so a BMI of exactly 27.0 counts.2

The five results, and the rule behind each. Safety answers are checked first, from the top.

Usually not used for you

If your answers show any of these:

  • Medullary thyroid cancer or MEN2, in you or a close relative
  • Pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to get pregnant
  • Severe gastroparesis (food stays in the stomach far too long)
  • A past serious allergic reaction to these medicines

Rule and source: a contraindication (a reason not to use the medicine) or "not recommended" on the labels1,9,10; the Canadian guideline on pregnancy4

Talk to a specialist first

If your answers show any of these:

  • Under 18
  • Type 1 diabetes
  • An eating disorder
  • Past pancreatitis (a swollen, painful pancreas)
  • Severe kidney disease
  • Diabetic eye disease

Rule and source: teen use from age 12 on the Wegovy and Saxenda labels1,3; not for type 1 diabetes9,16; eating-disorder concern14; pancreatitis, kidney and eye warnings9. BMI rules are still checked, and shown when they matter.

Talk to your doctor about it

If your answers show any of these:

  • Type 2 diabetes
  • A BMI of 30 or more
  • A BMI of 27 to 29.9 with a weight-related condition

Rule and source: the Health Canada weight labels for Wegovy and Zepbound1,2; the diabetes labels for Ozempic and Mounjaro7,8; the Canadian guideline4. The result then explains coverage where you live.

Usually not the first step

If your answers show any of these:

  • A BMI in the overweight range (from 25, or from 23 for South, Southeast and East Asian adults), below the label line
  • This includes people who want to lose a few pounds, or lose weight before an event

Rule and source: below the label line1,2; Obesity Canada BMI cut-offs5

Below the range where they're used

If your answers show any of these:

  • A BMI below 25, or below 23 for South, Southeast and East Asian adults

Rule and source: Obesity Canada BMI cut-offs5; the weight labels cover obesity, or overweight with a condition1,2

Some answers add notes for your doctor, whatever the result. These cover:

  • already taking another GLP-1, or a gliptin (a DPP-4 inhibitor tablet such as sitagliptin)
  • gallstones or gallbladder problems
  • insulin and sulfonylureas (diabetes pills such as gliclazide)
  • the birth control pill
  • planned surgery
  • heart disease, fatty liver and sleep apnea
  • age 75 and over
  • not knowing your sugar levels
  • an Asian background below the label line

What this can't tell you

  • Whether a medicine is right for you. Only a prescriber who has checked you can weigh your whole health and the side effects.
  • Whether your plan will pay. We explain how public and private coverage usually works. Your provincial plan or insurer has the final word, and private plans differ a lot.24,25
  • Which medicine, or what dose. We don't compare brands.
  • Everything on the labels. We ask about the most important answers. A prescriber reviews the full list. See Guide 4.

Online care is allowed in Canada, but doctors must meet the same standard as in person, including when prescribing, and consider whether you need a physical exam.30 Get medicines only from a licensed pharmacy, and check the 8-digit DIN on the box.26

Questions people ask

Does this check tell me if I qualify for Wegovy or Zepbound?

No. There's no "qualify" here. It shows what the Health Canada labels, the Canadian adult obesity guideline and your provincial drug plan say about people with answers like yours. A family doctor, nurse practitioner or other prescriber decides, after weighing your whole health and the side effects.

Which GLP-1 medicines are approved for weight in Canada?

Health Canada has approved Wegovy (semaglutide), Zepbound (tirzepatide) and Saxenda (liraglutide) for chronic weight management,1,2,3 and Sevmia, a generic version of Wegovy, in June 2026.6 Ozempic and Mounjaro are approved for type 2 diabetes only, so using them for weight is off-label.7,8

Does my province pay for Wegovy or Zepbound for weight loss?

We found no public drug plan that covers Wegovy, Zepbound or Saxenda for weight loss as of 12 October 2026.17,18 Public plans do cover semaglutide for type 2 diabetes, with criteria that differ by province.19,21,23 Some private plans cover weight-loss medicines, usually with special authorization forms and BMI rules.24,25

Does my ethnic background change anything?

It can. The Canadian guideline starts overweight at a BMI of 23 for South, Southeast and East Asian adults, uses lower waist cut-offs, and asks doctors to use these ethnicity-specific measures when deciding about medicine.4,5 The labels use the same BMI numbers for everyone.1,2

Is what I type saved or sent anywhere?

No. The check runs in your browser. Your answers aren't sent, stored or put in the web address. They disappear when you close the page.

Sources

  1. Novo Nordisk Canada. Wegovy (semaglutide injection) product monograph, revised 2 October 2026 (Health Canada Drug Product Database): indications (adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with at least one weight-related comorbidity; adolescents 12 to under 18 with a BMI at or above the 95th percentile and body weight above 60 kg; reducing the risk of non-fatal heart attack in adults with established cardiovascular disease and a BMI of 27 or more; MASH with F2 to F3 fibrosis, authorized under the NOC/c policy). pdf.hres.ca
  2. Eli Lilly Canada. Zepbound (tirzepatide injection) product monograph, 11 June 2026: chronic weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or greater, or 27 to less than 30 with at least one weight-related comorbid condition; moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity; not recommended with other tirzepatide products or GLP-1 medicines. pdf.hres.ca
  3. Novo Nordisk Canada. Saxenda (liraglutide injection) product monograph: chronic weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight-related comorbidity, "and who have failed a previous weight management intervention"; adolescents 12 to under 18. pdf.hres.ca
  4. Pedersen SD et al. Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guideline: Pharmacotherapy for Obesity Management in Adults, 2025 update. Obesity Canada, Version 3, 11 August 2025 (recommendation 1: ethnicity-specific BMI thresholds and waist measures to guide starting medicine; recommendation 3: medicine offered at a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with adiposity-related complications; recommendations 5 to 10 on heart disease, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, MASH and sleep apnea; not recommended in pregnancy, breastfeeding or when trying to conceive; stop semaglutide at least 2 months and tirzepatide at least 1 month before a planned pregnancy; contraception and anesthesia notes). obesitycanada.ca
  5. Obesity Canada. Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guideline: Assessment of People Living with Obesity, Version 1, 4 August 2020 (South, Southeast or East Asian adults: overweight from a BMI of 23; waist 85 cm in men and 75 cm in women, against 102 cm and 88 cm otherwise; "Health Canada recommends the diagnosis of obesity not be based on BMI alone"). obesitycanada.ca
  6. Apotex. Sevmia (semaglutide injection) product monograph, authorized 29 June 2026: a generic version of Wegovy, in a pen that gives 1 mg doses; listed as "Approved", not yet marketed, in the Drug Product Database on 12 October 2026. pdf.hres.ca
  7. Novo Nordisk Canada. Ozempic (semaglutide injection) product monograph, 13 July 2026: adults with type 2 diabetes (blood sugar control; lowering the risk of major heart events in type 2 diabetes with heart or kidney disease; kidney outcomes). pdf.hres.ca
  8. Eli Lilly Canada. Mounjaro (tirzepatide injection) product monograph, 23 June 2026: type 2 diabetes in adults, and in children aged 10 to under 18; not approved for weight management under the Mounjaro name. pdf.hres.ca
  9. Novo Nordisk. Wegovy (semaglutide) prescribing information, US label, revised June 2026: boxed warning, sections 4, 5 (pancreatitis, low blood sugar with insulin or sulfonylureas, kidney injury, diabetic retinopathy), 8.5 and 14. PDF
  10. Eli Lilly. Zepbound (tirzepatide) prescribing information, US label, revised August 2026: sections 4, 5 (severe gastrointestinal disease), 7 (oral contraceptives) and 8.4. PDF
  11. Lincoff AM et al. Semaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in obesity without diabetes (SELECT). NEJM, 2023;389:2221–32. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2307563
  12. Wilding JPH et al. Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: the STEP 1 trial extension. Diabetes Obes Metab, 2022;24:1553–64. doi:10.1111/dom.14725
  13. American Society of Anesthesiologists. New multi-society GLP-1 clinical practice guidance released. 29 October 2024. Declared interests: 2 of 10 guidance authors declare fees from Novo Nordisk (paper's own declaration). asahq.org
  14. The dual role of GLP-1 receptor agonists in weight management and eating disorders: potential benefits and risks. J Psychiatr Res, 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2026.03.008
  15. GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy and skeletal muscle: a narrative review with implications for older adults. JAR Life, 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jarlif.2026.100083
  16. European Medicines Agency. Ozempic (semaglutide) summary of product characteristics, sections 4.1 and 4.4 ("Semaglutide is not a substitute for insulin"). Not the Canadian label. PDF
  17. Canada's Drug Agency (CDA-AMC). Semaglutide (Wegovy) reimbursement recommendation SR0841, July 2025: "Reimburse with conditions" only for adults with a BMI of 27 or more and established cardiovascular disease, renewed only with at least a 5% loss after the first year; a 67% price reduction required. canjhealthtechnol.ca
  18. BC PharmaCare. Drug coverage decision: semaglutide (Wegovy), 18 December 2025 ("Non-benefit"; the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance ended negotiations without agreement on 1 December 2025; Novo Nordisk no longer seeking public coverage of Wegovy in Canada). gov.bc.ca (PDF)
  19. Ontario Ministry of Health. Ontario Drug Benefit Formulary: semaglutide pens and Rybelsus listed as Limited Use; generic semaglutide interchangeable with Ozempic, the plan paying the generic price; tirzepatide not listed. Checked 12 October 2026. formulary.health.gov.on.ca
  20. Ontario Ministry of Health. Executive Officer notice, January 2024 (semaglutide Limited Use: adults with type 2 diabetes when blood sugar isn't controlled on the maximum tolerated dose of metformin, or metformin can't be used; not funded with another GLP-1 or a DPP-4 inhibitor). Also: Get coverage for prescription drugs (who the Ontario Drug Benefit covers). ontario.ca (PDF) · ontario.ca
  21. BC PharmaCare. Limited coverage drugs: semaglutide (Special Authority after inadequate control on maximum tolerated metformin; up to 1 mg weekly, 2 mg under review), updated 21 April 2026. Also: BC national pharmacare (from 1 March 2026; semaglutide not included). gov.bc.ca · gov.bc.ca
  22. Alberta Blue Cross. Pharmacy Benefact 1330, July 2026 (from 1 July 2026, generic semaglutide added to the Alberta Drug Benefit List for type 2 diabetes, interchangeable with Ozempic). ab.bluecross.ca (PDF)
  23. Diabète Québec. Table of diabetes medications and their coverage, March 2026 (RAMQ: Ozempic an exception drug, with metformin where a sulfonylurea is contraindicated, not tolerated or ineffective; Mounjaro private insurance only; NIHB: Ozempic and Rybelsus Limited Use). A secondary source: the RAMQ site could not be reached. diabete.qc.ca (PDF)
  24. Global News. Novo Nordisk to cut Ozempic price as generics arrive ("only a small number of private insurers cover the use of the drugs for weight management"; "Alberta treats Ozempic as a step therapy"). 26 May 2026. globalnews.ca
  25. Benefits and Pensions Monitor. Can benefit plans stomach the $77 million weight-loss drug bill? (Telus Health data; plan controls such as prior authorization, BMI thresholds and step therapy). benefitsandpensionsmonitor.com
  26. Health Canada. Thinking about buying GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic or Mounjaro? Beware of fake or unauthorized products (advisory RA-81518: get prescription drugs only from a licensed pharmacy; check the 8-digit DIN), updated 21 January 2026. recalls-rappels.canada.ca
  27. Health Canada. Unauthorized injectable peptide drugs seized and sold in Canada (41 peptides including tirzepatide and retatrutide; "illegal in Canada"), 1 August 2025. recalls-rappels.canada.ca
  28. CRTC. 9-1-1 emergency services. crtc.gc.ca
  29. Gouvernement du Québec. Régime public d'assurance médicaments (everyone in Quebec must have drug insurance; people eligible for a private group plan must join it, everyone else is covered by the RAMQ public plan). quebec.ca
  30. College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Virtual Care policy, updated June 2022 (the same standard of care as in person, including prescribing; consider whether a physical examination is required). cpso.on.ca
  31. BC PharmaCare. Your voice: tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for type 2 diabetes, public input 25 February to 24 March 2026 (under review, not yet a benefit). gov.bc.ca (PDF)
  32. American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. 9. Pharmacologic approaches to glycemic treatment: Standards of Care in Diabetes—2026. Diabetes Care, 2026;49(Suppl 1):S183–S215. Recommendation 9.18 (“Concurrent use of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors with a GLP-1 RA or a dual GIP and GLP-1 RA is not recommended due to lack of additional glucose lowering”); the section groups GLP-1 medicines and DPP-4 inhibitors together as incretin medications. Checked 13 Oct 2026. doi:10.2337/dc26-S009 · Full text

All sources last checked 12 Oct 2026 · Drug plan rules change often · Next review due Jan 2027

How this tool was made. Built by the GLP Guidebook team from the sources above. It's educational information about published rules, not advertising for any medicine, and not medical advice. Where we cite a US or European label, we say so; it is used for warnings we couldn't check in the Canadian monograph. Talk to your doctor, nurse practitioner or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine. In an emergency, call 9-1-1. How we write