Candidacy · Newnan, GA
Am I a candidate for GLP-1 weight loss?
The short answer is below. The real answer comes from a medical evaluation with Dr. Eduardo, who can also tell you, honestly, when surgery is the better fit.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Roger Eduardo, MD, FASMBS, Board-Certified General Surgeon. Last reviewed August 2026.
Book a consultation →Do I qualify?
You may be a candidate for GLP-1 weight loss medication if your BMI is 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, prediabetes, or sleep apnea. Final candidacy is always determined after a full medical evaluation that screens for the conditions that make GLP-1s unsafe (source: FDA labeling for Wegovy and Zepbound).
BMI thresholds
Where you stand
BMI is the starting point, not the whole story. We weigh it alongside your health conditions and goals.
- 27–29.9Overweight: likely a candidate with one weight-related condition (e.g. hypertension, high cholesterol, prediabetes, sleep apnea).
- ≥ 30Obesity: likely a candidate for GLP-1 therapy.
- ≥ 35Worth discussing bariatric surgery as well: stronger, more durable results, and Dr. Eduardo can offer both. See surgical criteria →
Who shouldn't take GLP-1
Why the evaluation comes first.
GLP-1 medications aren't right for everyone. A physician evaluation screens for the conditions below before any prescription, a safety step a med-spa intake may skip.
Generally not recommended if you have
- Personal/family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN2
- A prior episode of pancreatitis (requires individual review, not an automatic no)
- Pregnancy or plans to conceive
- Type 1 diabetes (special caution)
- A prior serious reaction to a GLP-1
The MD decides, for you
A personalized evaluation, not a checkbox
Two people with the same BMI can need very different plans. Dr. Eduardo reviews your history, labs, and goals, screens for contraindications, and recommends the safest effective path, medication, an oral option, surgery, or a sequence of both.
When surgery is the better fit
Higher BMI? You have a stronger option.
If your BMI or health points toward bariatric surgery, that's not a dead end, it's an upgrade in your options. The same surgeon who'd run your medication program can perform your surgery, with full continuity of care.
See bariatric candidacyCandidacy FAQ
Candidacy questions
Can't find your answer here? Call us at (470) 742-1832 or book a consultation, we'll answer every question before you commit to anything.
You may be a candidate if your BMI is 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, prediabetes, or obstructive sleep apnea. Final candidacy is determined after a full medical evaluation with Dr. Eduardo, who reviews your history, labs, and any contraindications (source: FDA labeling for Wegovy and Zepbound).
FDA labeling for branded GLP-1 weight-loss medications supports use at a BMI of 30 or higher (obesity), or 27 or higher (overweight) when you also have a weight-related health condition. We calculate your BMI and review the whole picture. BMI alone doesn't decide it.
GLP-1 medications are contraindicated if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2, if you have had a serious reaction to one before, or if you are pregnant. A prior episode of pancreatitis is not an automatic disqualifier; it is a precaution that requires individual review, because these medicines have not been studied in that group. People with type 1 diabetes and some medication combinations need special care. This is exactly what the medical evaluation screens for.
Possibly. At higher BMIs (generally 35+ with a weight-related condition, or 40+), bariatric surgery offers stronger, more durable results and is often insurance-covered. Because Dr. Eduardo is a board-certified bariatric surgeon, he can recommend medication, surgery, or a sequence of both, and you won't have to start over with a new doctor.
Dr. Eduardo reviews your weight history, medical conditions, medications, and goals, calculates your BMI, screens for contraindications, and orders baseline labs. Together you decide on the safest, most effective starting point, which may be a GLP-1, an oral option, surgery, or a combination.
Both. We first confirm you meet general criteria for medical weight loss, then match you to the right FDA-approved medication based on your health, tolerance, and coverage. The medication is chosen for you, not the other way around.
Start your journey
Find out where you stand.
Book a medical evaluation with Dr. Eduardo and get a straight answer, medication, surgery, or both.
