Who May Be a Candidate for a Medical Weight Loss Program

Who May Be a Candidate for a Medical Weight Loss Program

This article is informational only — it is not a diagnostic tool and it does not determine whether you will be prescribed any medication. Only a licensed physician can make that assessment. If you're curious whether a medical weight loss program might be appropriate for you, this overview of the published clinical context may help you have a more informed conversation with your doctor.

Who Was Studied in the Clinical Trials

The two landmark trials supporting the FDA approval of semaglutide and tirzepatide for weight management enrolled adults with specific clinical profiles. These profiles are not Bunny's eligibility criteria — they are the characteristics of the populations studied in the research.

STEP 1 (semaglutide, Wilding et al., NEJM 2021 — doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2032183):

  • Adults with BMI ≥30, OR
  • BMI ≥27 with at least one weight-related comorbidity (hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea, or cardiovascular disease)
  • Type 2 diabetes excluded from this arm

SURMOUNT-1 (tirzepatide, Jastreboff et al., NEJM 2022 — doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2206038):

  • Adults with BMI ≥30, OR
  • BMI ≥27 with at least one weight-related comorbidity
  • Type 2 diabetes excluded from this arm

Weight-Related Comorbidities Referenced in the Research

The trials referenced comorbidities including:

  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • High cholesterol or triglycerides (dyslipidaemia)
  • Obstructive sleep apnoea
  • Cardiovascular disease

The presence of one or more of these conditions alongside overweight or obesity was the clinical threshold used to enrol participants in the lower BMI bracket in both studies.

What the Trials Did Not Study

Both STEP 1 and SURMOUNT-1 excluded participants with type 2 diabetes in their primary obesity arms (separate trials examined GLP-1 medications in diabetic populations). The trials also had other exclusion criteria — including prior bariatric surgery, certain medications, and specific medical conditions — that are part of the full clinical evaluation a physician performs.

What Bunny's Physicians Assess

Our physicians conduct an individualised assessment. There is no blanket BMI cutoff and no blanket approval or denial based on a single factor. The care team follows Heally's clinical protocols and each physician applies their clinical judgement. Eligibility is case-by-case.

Common factors reviewed during a consultation include:

  • Current weight and BMI
  • Medical history and existing conditions
  • Current medications and potential interactions
  • Prior weight loss attempts and history
  • Lifestyle, diet, and activity levels

GLP-1 Medications Are Not for Everyone

GLP-1 medications have contraindications and are not appropriate for all patients. Known contraindications referenced in FDA labelling include a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma and multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2), among others. Your physician will review your full medical history before any prescription is issued. GLP-1 medications are not suitable for everyone.

Ready to Find Out If Our Appetite Program Is Right for You?

The only way to know whether a medical weight loss program is appropriate for you is to speak with a licensed physician. Our consultation is free and takes less than five minutes to schedule. If a GLP-1 program is right for you, your doctor will advise on the right approach. If it's not, they'll tell you that too.

Schedule your free consultation →

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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. All medical decisions are made solely by licensed healthcare professionals. Medications are prescribed only when medically necessary. GLP-1 medications are not suitable for everyone. Results may vary.

Results vary. Clinical trial results apply only to the FDA-approved branded medication specifically identified and do not apply to compounded medications. All medications must be prescribed by a licensed provider based on medical necessity.