What BMI do you need for Wegovy?
The US label for Wegovy (semaglutide) covers adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure. At 5 ft 7 in, that is about 192 lb (87 kg), or 172 lb (78 kg) with a condition. The injection also covers children 12 and older with obesity.
What does the Wegovy label say?
The label covers adults with obesity, and adults with overweight plus at least 1 weight-related condition; its trials defined those as a BMI of 30 or more, and 27 to 29.9.1
Its main trial gave raised cholesterol and high blood pressure as examples of weight-related conditions.1 The injection also covers children 12 and older with obesity (the pill is for adults only); their trial used a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for age and sex.1
Wegovy is also approved to lower heart risk in adults with established heart disease and obesity or overweight; that trial enrolled people with a BMI of 27 or more.1 Meeting a BMI number doesn’t mean the medicine suits you. That is for you and your prescriber to decide.
In lb and inches, with the CDC categories. Free, no sign-up.
What weight is that for your height?
BMI is your weight divided by your height squared. In US units, multiply pounds by 703 and divide by your height in inches squared.
| Height | BMI 27 | BMI 30 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 2 in (157 cm) | 148 lb (67 kg) | 164 lb (74 kg) |
| 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) | 172 lb (78 kg) | 192 lb (87 kg) |
| 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | 199 lb (90 kg) | 221 lb (100 kg) |
Our arithmetic, rounded to the nearest pound, using the label’s BMI thresholds.1
The CDC’s categories for adults are the same lines: overweight from 25 to under 30, obesity from 30.2
Do insurers and Medicare use the same numbers?
Not always. Medicare’s GLP‑1 Bridge sets a higher bar: BMI 35 on its own, or 30 or 27 with specific conditions.3
Private plans and state Medicaid programs set their own criteria, usually checked through prior authorization.4 See Who qualifies for the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge?
The CDC says its adult BMI categories apply “regardless of age, sex, or race.”2 Health risks can start lower for some groups, though: the USPSTF tells clinicians to consider diabetes screening at a lower BMI, 23 or more, for Asian Americans.5 The Wegovy label’s thresholds don’t change by ethnicity; see our post BMI cut-offs for Asian Americans. More in Guide 1.
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Related questions
Sources
- Novo Nordisk. Wegovy (semaglutide) injection and tablets, US prescribing information and Medication Guide, revised 06/2026. US label. novo-pi.com
- CDC. Adult BMI categories (“For adults 20 and older, BMI categories are based on a person’s BMI regardless of age, sex, or race”). Updated Mar 19, 2024. cdc.gov
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: information for prescribers. CMS Product No. 12235, June 2026. cms.gov (PDF)
- KFF. Medicaid coverage of and spending on GLP-1s. Jan 16, 2026. kff.org
- US Preventive Services Task Force. Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes: screening. Final recommendation, Aug 24, 2021 (screen “at a lower BMI (≥23) if the patient is Asian American”). uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org
Last checked Oct 12, 2026 · Next review due Oct 12, 2027 · Report an error
How this answer was made. Written by the GLP Guidebook team from the sources above, all checked on Oct 12, 2026. It’s general information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor, pharmacist or other licensed prescriber before starting, stopping or changing any medicine. In an emergency, call 911. How we write