BMI Cutoff Comparison: Minimum Eligibility Across 12 GLP-1 Platforms

The most common question we hear: "Do I qualify?" The answer depends entirely on which platform you use. Some follow the strict FDA label. Others accept patients that brand-name prescribing guidelines wouldn't.

GLP-1 medications were FDA-approved for patients with a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with at least one weight-related comorbidity (type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, or obstructive sleep apnea). That's the brand-name standard — what Wegovy's and Zepbound's labels say.

Compounded GLP-1 providers aren't bound by the same labeling. Some follow the FDA criteria closely. Others accept patients with a BMI of 25, and a few don't publish a minimum BMI at all, deferring entirely to their prescriber's clinical judgment. If you've been told you don't qualify, a different provider may have different criteria.

The Eligibility Table

Sorted from lowest published BMI requirement to highest. Where a provider doesn't publish a specific cutoff, we note what their intake questionnaire and FAQ indicate.

Provider	Min BMI	Comorbidity Exception	Verification Method	Notes
Telos Rx	25	Not required at 25+	Self-reported in questionnaire	Broadest access. Prescriber discretion.
MadeMed	25	Not required at 25+	Self-reported in questionnaire	Accepts overweight without comorbidities.
GobyMeds	27	Required at 27–29.9	Self-reported + prescriber review	Follows FDA label criteria.
Wellorithm	27	Required at 27–29.9	Questionnaire	Standard criteria.
Embody	27	Required at 27–29.9	Questionnaire + photo ID	ID verification at signup.
Found	27	Required at 27–29.9	Structured intake	Clinical program with monitoring.
Gala	27	Required at 27–29.9	Questionnaire	Tirzepatide primary.
Oak	27	Required at 27–29.9	Structured intake	Coaching-inclusive program.
Ageless	27	Required at 27–29.9	Questionnaire	Standard criteria.
SHED	30	27+ with comorbidities	Questionnaire	Follows stricter FDA criteria.
Sesame Care	30	27+ with comorbidities	Live consultation	Brand-name only — follows Wegovy/Zepbound label.
RxSpan MD	Prescriber discretion	Determined during intake	Telehealth consultation	No published minimum.

Quick BMI Reference

BMI 25–29.9 = overweight. BMI 30+ = obesity. A 5'9" person at 185 lbs has a BMI of about 27. At 205 lbs, about 30. Most adults know their approximate BMI, but if you're unsure, any free online BMI calculator will give you the number in seconds.

What This Means for You

If your BMI is 30 or higher

You qualify at every provider in this comparison. Your decision is about pricing, format, and clinical support — not eligibility. Start with our intake speed ranking or pricing audit to narrow your options.

If your BMI is 27–29.9

Most providers will accept you if you have a qualifying comorbidity: type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or obstructive sleep apnea. Verification is typically self-reported on the intake questionnaire — providers ask you to check a box, not upload medical records. Telos Rx and MadeMed accept patients at BMI 25+ regardless of comorbidities.

If your BMI is 25–26.9

Your options narrow significantly. Telos Rx and MadeMed are the two platforms with published policies accepting patients at BMI 25 without requiring a comorbidity. RxSpan MD doesn't publish a minimum and defers to prescriber judgment, so eligibility at lower BMIs may be possible on a case-by-case basis.

Our Verdict

For the broadest eligibility: Telos Rx (BMI 25+, no comorbidity required) and MadeMed (same). For the most clinically rigorous evaluation before prescribing: Sesame Care (live consultation, brand-name only, strict label adherence). Most providers land in the middle at BMI 27+ with comorbidities, which matches the FDA-approved indication.

Lower BMI Doesn't Mean Less Valid

There's a growing clinical conversation about whether the BMI 30 cutoff is too restrictive. Research published in 2024–2025 showed metabolic benefits of GLP-1 medications at lower BMIs, particularly for patients with prediabetes, insulin resistance, or cardiovascular risk factors that don't neatly fit the "weight-related comorbidity" checkbox. Providers like Telos Rx and MadeMed accepting patients at BMI 25 reflect this evolving clinical view, not a lack of standards.

That said, a provider accepting a lower BMI should still perform a meaningful medical evaluation. If the entire intake takes 3 minutes and asks zero questions about your health history, the low cutoff may reflect a business model rather than clinical philosophy. Our lab requirements comparison helps you assess which providers are doing thorough evaluations regardless of their eligibility threshold.

The Self-Reporting Question

Most telehealth providers rely on self-reported BMI data. You enter your height and weight, and the platform calculates your BMI. No provider in this comparison requires a weigh-in at a clinic, a doctor's note verifying your weight, or a photo proving your body size. The practical implication is that the BMI cutoff is an honor-system threshold, enforced by the prescriber's review of your complete questionnaire — not by an automated gate.

This means the cutoff tells you what the platform considers its appropriate patient population, not what it can technically verify. A provider with a BMI 30 cutoff isn't going to catch a patient at BMI 28 who enters incorrect data. The system depends on patients being honest and prescribers exercising clinical judgment.

When a Provider Says No

If you complete an intake and a prescriber determines you don't qualify, the response varies by platform:

Full refund: GobyMeds (no upfront charge), Found (refund if not prescribed)
Partial refund: Some platforms retain the consultation fee but refund the medication cost
Alternative recommendation: Sesame Care and Oak may recommend lifestyle programs or alternative treatments
No refund policy: Check Terms of Service before paying — not all providers guarantee a refund if you're not prescribed medication

Our money-back guarantee ranking covers refund policies in detail.

Methodology

Eligibility criteria verified against provider websites, intake questionnaire flows, and FAQ pages as of September 2026. Where a provider doesn't publish a specific BMI minimum, we note the lowest BMI their intake flow appears to accept based on our walkthrough. Comorbidity requirements are as stated on each provider's patient-facing pages. Individual prescribers may exercise discretion beyond published criteria. See our full methodology.