Can I Get Weight Loss Injections If I Have High Cholesterol?
Can I Get Weight Loss Injections If I Have High Cholesterol?
If you have high cholesterol and are considering weight loss injections, you may be wondering whether your cholesterol means you cannot use treatments such as Mounjaro or Wegovy.
The short answer is: having high cholesterol does not automatically prevent you from having weight loss injections.
In fact, high cholesterol can be considered a weight-related health condition when clinicians assess eligibility for certain weight management treatments.
Whether treatment is suitable for you still depends on your overall health, BMI, medical history, current medication and an individual clinical assessment.
Here is what you need to know.
Can You Have Weight Loss Injections With High Cholesterol?
Potentially, yes.
High cholesterol, sometimes referred to medically as dyslipidaemia, is specifically recognised as a weight-related health condition in the criteria for some weight management medicines.
For example, Mounjaro, which contains tirzepatide, is authorised for weight management in adults who have:
- A BMI of 30 or above, or
- A BMI between 27 and 30 alongside at least one weight-related health problem
Examples of those health problems include:
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Prediabetes
- Type 2 diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- Obstructive sleep apnoea
So rather than automatically excluding you from treatment, high cholesterol may actually be relevant when determining whether you meet the eligibility criteria.
However, meeting the basic BMI and health criteria does not guarantee that medication will be prescribed.
A clinician still needs to determine whether treatment is appropriate for you.
Why Does High Cholesterol Matter When Assessing Weight?
Cholesterol itself is something your body needs, but having unhealthy levels of certain fats in your blood can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Being overweight or living with obesity can be associated with abnormal cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
This is one reason clinicians do not assess weight purely by looking at the number on the scales.
They may also consider whether excess weight is contributing to other health problems such as:
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Type 2 diabetes
- Prediabetes
- Sleep apnoea
- Heart and cardiovascular disease
The overall aim of weight management is therefore not simply to change somebody's appearance.
For people carrying excess weight, reducing weight can form part of a broader approach to improving long-term health.
Can High Cholesterol Help Me Qualify for Weight Loss Injections?
Potentially.
It depends partly on your BMI and which medicine is being considered.
For Mounjaro, adults with a BMI between 27 and 30 generally need at least one weight-related health condition to fall within the authorised weight-management criteria.
High cholesterol is one of the recognised examples of such a condition.
Someone with a BMI of 28 and diagnosed high cholesterol may therefore potentially meet the basic weight-related eligibility criteria where somebody with the same BMI and no relevant health conditions may not.
That does not mean treatment will automatically be prescribed.
The prescriber will still assess your complete medical circumstances before making a decision.
What If My BMI Is Over 30?
For medicines authorised for weight management from a BMI of 30, having high cholesterol is not necessarily required to meet the basic BMI eligibility threshold.
However, your cholesterol remains relevant to your overall clinical assessment.
Your prescriber may consider:
- Your BMI
- Your current weight
- Your medical history
- Your cholesterol history
- Any cardiovascular conditions
- Your current medication
- Other weight-related health problems
- Previous attempts at weight management
Eligibility is therefore not simply a tick-box based on one condition.
What If I Take Statins for High Cholesterol?
Taking medication for high cholesterol does not automatically mean you cannot have weight loss treatment.
Many people with high cholesterol take medicines such as statins.
During a weight management assessment, you should provide a complete and accurate list of the medicines you currently take.
The prescribing clinician can then consider your medication alongside your medical history when deciding whether a particular weight management treatment is appropriate.
You should not stop or change your cholesterol medication in order to start weight loss treatment unless the healthcare professional responsible for your medication advises you to do so.
Can I Get Mounjaro If I Have High Cholesterol?
Potentially, yes.
The MHRA's weight-management authorisation for Mounjaro specifically lists high cholesterol among the examples of weight-related health problems that can be relevant for adults with a BMI between 27 and 30.
Mounjaro is a once-weekly injection containing tirzepatide.
It is used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for appropriate adults.
Whether it is suitable for you requires an individual clinical assessment.
Can I Get Wegovy If I Have High Cholesterol?
Potentially.
Wegovy contains semaglutide and is another prescription medicine used for weight management in eligible adults.
High cholesterol does not automatically prevent somebody from being considered for Wegovy.
As with Mounjaro, your prescriber will assess your overall health rather than looking at one condition in isolation.
Your BMI, medical history, medication and other health conditions all need to be considered.
Can I Get Weight Loss Injections on the NHS If I Have High Cholesterol?
Possibly, but having high cholesterol on its own is not enough to qualify for NHS weight loss injections.
NHS eligibility is currently much stricter than the wider criteria under which some medicines can be prescribed privately.
In England, the rollout of Mounjaro through primary care is being prioritised towards people with the greatest clinical need.
Current NHS England criteria include:
- A BMI of 35 or above, with lower thresholds applying to some ethnic groups
and
- Four of five specified weight-related health conditions
Those five conditions include:
- Type 2 diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Cardiovascular disease
- Obstructive sleep apnoea
- Abnormal blood fats, including high cholesterol
Therefore, high cholesterol can count towards NHS eligibility, but it does not currently mean that someone will qualify by itself.
NHS access is also being introduced gradually, and different routes apply to specialist weight management services.
What Is the Difference Between NHS and Private Eligibility?
This causes a lot of confusion.
Not qualifying for NHS treatment does not necessarily mean that you are medically unsuitable for weight loss injections.
The NHS must decide how treatments are funded and prioritised across a very large eligible population.
Private prescribing is different.
A private prescriber assesses whether you fall within the appropriate criteria for treatment and whether the medicine is clinically suitable for you.
For example, someone may have:
- A BMI of 28
- Diagnosed high cholesterol
and therefore potentially fall within the authorised weight-management criteria for Mounjaro.
That same person would not necessarily meet the much narrower criteria currently being used for NHS primary care access.
Will Weight Loss Improve High Cholesterol?
Weight management can form part of the treatment approach for people who are overweight and have abnormal cholesterol levels.
However, weight loss medication should not be viewed as a replacement for cholesterol treatment prescribed by your healthcare professional.
Your cholesterol may need to continue to be monitored and managed separately.
If you are already taking cholesterol medication, continue taking it as prescribed unless the healthcare professional responsible for your care advises otherwise.
What Will the Clinician Ask About?
When applying for prescription weight management treatment, you will normally be asked about your broader health rather than simply your weight.
This may include:
- Height
- Weight
- BMI
- Medical conditions
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes or prediabetes
- Cardiovascular history
- Current medicines
- Allergies
- Previous weight loss treatment
It is important to provide accurate information.
The clinician needs this information to determine whether treatment is appropriate and whether anything further needs to be checked before prescribing.
Does High Cholesterol Make Weight Loss Injections More Important?
Not necessarily.
High cholesterol is one factor within your overall health.
Having it does not automatically mean that you need medication, just as having a normal cholesterol level does not automatically mean that weight management treatment is inappropriate.
The purpose of the clinical assessment is to look at the complete picture.
For some people, lifestyle changes may be the most appropriate approach.
For others who meet the relevant criteria, prescription weight management treatment may also be considered.
Are Weight Loss Injections the Only Option?
No.
There are now several approaches to medical weight management.
Depending on your circumstances and clinical suitability, treatment options may include:
- Mounjaro injections
- Wegovy injections
- Prescription weight loss tablets
- Orlistat
- Diet and lifestyle support
The most appropriate option depends on the individual.
Choosing treatment simply because somebody you know has used it is not a good substitute for proper clinical assessment.
Can I Get Weight Loss Injections Privately With High Cholesterol?
Potentially, yes.
You do not need to qualify for NHS-funded weight loss injections before completing a private assessment.
A private provider can assess whether you meet the appropriate clinical criteria for treatment independently of NHS funding rules.
You will still need to provide your medical history and current medication, and treatment will only be prescribed where the prescriber considers it appropriate.
Can Keltoi Help?
Keltoi provides private online weight management assessments for adults across the UK.
If you have high cholesterol, you can still complete an eligibility assessment.
You will be asked to provide details about your:
- Height and weight
- Medical history
- Current medicines
- Existing health conditions
Your information is then reviewed by a UK prescriber.
If prescription weight management treatment is considered clinically appropriate, the available options can be considered based on your individual circumstances.
If further information is needed before a decision can be made, the clinical team will let you know.
All prescription treatment is subject to clinical assessment and suitability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you take Mounjaro if you have high cholesterol?
Potentially, yes. High cholesterol does not automatically prevent treatment and is actually listed as an example of a weight-related condition within Mounjaro's weight-management eligibility criteria.
Does high cholesterol qualify you for Mounjaro?
It can be relevant, particularly if your BMI is between 27 and 30. However, meeting the basic eligibility criteria does not guarantee that Mounjaro will be prescribed.
Can you take Wegovy with high cholesterol?
High cholesterol does not automatically prevent somebody from being considered for Wegovy. Your overall medical history and current medicines must be reviewed by the prescriber.
Can I get weight loss injections if I take statins?
Taking cholesterol medication does not automatically rule out weight management treatment. Make sure you declare all medicines during your assessment so the prescriber can determine whether treatment is suitable.
Does high cholesterol qualify me for NHS Mounjaro?
Not by itself. High cholesterol is one of the weight-related conditions considered under the current NHS England rollout, but additional BMI and health criteria currently apply.
What BMI do I need if I have high cholesterol?
The answer depends on the treatment and prescribing pathway. For Mounjaro's authorised private weight-management use, adults with a BMI between 27 and 30 may be eligible where they also have a weight-related condition such as high cholesterol. Treatment remains subject to individual clinical assessment.
The Bottom Line
Having high cholesterol does not automatically stop you from having weight loss injections.
In fact, high cholesterol is recognised as a weight-related health condition when eligibility for some prescription weight management medicines is considered.
This can be particularly relevant for people with a BMI between 27 and 30.
However, cholesterol is only one part of the assessment.
Your BMI, wider medical history, current medication and other health conditions all need to be considered before a prescription can be issued.
And importantly, not qualifying for weight loss injections through the NHS does not necessarily mean that you would be ineligible for private treatment.
If you would like to find out whether prescription weight management treatment may be suitable for you, you can complete Keltoi's online eligibility assessment.