The UK's most complete GLP-1 guide
Every Question Answered. Every Side Effect Explained.
- How GLP-1 medications work
- Mounjaro vs Wegovy compared
- Injection instructions
- Side effects & solutions
- What to eat on treatment
- FAQs answered
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Understanding Height Percentile in the UK
Height percentile is a measurement used by the NHS and healthcare professionals in the UK to compare your height against others of the same age and sex. It shows what percentage of the population is shorter than you. For example, if you're at the 75th percentile, 75% of people your age are shorter, and 25% are taller. Understanding your height percentile can provide useful context when assessing overall health, growth patterns, and healthy weight ranges for your individual height.
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Enter your height and weight below. Supports both imperial (stone & lbs) and metric (kg). Results include NHS category, healthy weight range, and ethnicity adjustments.
What Is BMI and Why Does It Matter?
Body Mass Index (BMI) is the most widely used screening tool for assessing whether your weight falls within a healthy range. Used by the NHS, GPs, and weight management services across the UK, BMI provides a quick snapshot of your weight relative to your height. The formula is simple: your weight in kilograms divided by your height in metres squared (kg/m²).
While BMI isn't a perfect measure — it doesn't account for muscle mass, bone density, or fat distribution — it remains the standard first step in identifying potential weight-related health risks including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and certain cancers.
The NHS also recommends adjusted thresholds for people of South Asian, Chinese, or Black African heritage — a BMI of 23 or above is classified as overweight, and 27.5 as obese. Our calculator includes this adjustment as a one-click toggle.
How NHS Height Percentiles Work in the UK
The NHS uses UK90 growth reference charts — the official growth standard for UK children and young people. These charts plot height (and weight) against age to determine where a child sits compared to others of the same age and sex. Height percentile shows this position as a number between 0 and 100.
- 50th percentile: Exactly average height for your age and sex
- 90th percentile: Taller than 90% of peers; only 10% are taller
- 10th percentile: Shorter than 90% of peers; 90% are taller
- Below 2nd percentile: May indicate short stature requiring GP assessment
- Above 98th percentile: May indicate tall stature; GP assessment recommended
For UK adults, percentile calculations use population data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Average UK adult height is approximately 175cm (5ft 9in) for men and 162cm (5ft 4in) for women.
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How It Works
Three simple steps to understand your weight and take action.
Enter your height and weight in our free calculator. Get your BMI, NHS category, healthy weight range, and ethnicity-adjusted thresholds instantly.
If your BMI suggests you're overweight or obese, explore our GLP-1 calculators to project potential weight loss on Mounjaro or Wegovy.
Use our progress tracker to log your weight weekly, visualise your journey with charts, and stay motivated — all stored privately in your browser.
Free Weight Loss Tools & Guides
Everything you need to understand your weight, explore medication options, and track your progress — completely free.
Height Percentile and Healthy Weight in the UK
Your height percentile doesn't directly determine healthy weight — that's where BMI (Body Mass Index) comes in. The NHS recommends using BMI calculated against your actual height, not your percentile rank. Our free BMI calculator above helps you find your healthy weight range based on your specific height and current weight. Taller individuals naturally have higher healthy weight ranges; shorter individuals have lower ranges. Height percentile is most useful in children's healthcare to track growth patterns, while BMI is the primary adult health screening tool used by the NHS.
- Dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist
- Up to 22.5% body weight loss (SURMOUNT-1)
- Weekly injection, dose escalation over 20+ weeks
- Available via private prescription in the UK
- Doses: 2.5mg → 5mg → 7.5mg → 10mg → 12.5mg → 15mg
- GLP-1 receptor agonist
- Up to 15–17% body weight loss (STEP trials)
- Weekly injection, 5-step dose escalation
- NHS & private prescription available
- Doses: 0.25mg → 0.5mg → 1mg → 1.7mg → 2.4mg
Mounjaro vs Wegovy: Head-to-Head
A side-by-side comparison of the two most popular GLP-1 weight loss medications available in the UK.
| Feature | Mounjaro | Wegovy |
|---|---|---|
| Drug class | Dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist | GLP-1 agonist |
| Active ingredient | Tirzepatide | Semaglutide |
| Avg. weight loss | 15–22.5% | 12–17% |
| Key trial | SURMOUNT-1 (2022) | STEP 1 (2021) |
| Max dose | 15 mg weekly | 2.4 mg weekly |
| Escalation period | 20–32 weeks | 16–20 weeks |
| Administration | Weekly injection (pen) | Weekly injection (pen) |
| NHS availability | Private prescription only | NHS & private |
| Approx. private cost | £150–£250/month | £150–£300/month |
| Common side effects | Nausea, diarrhoea, constipation | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea |
Data sourced from SURMOUNT-1 and STEP 1 clinical trials. Costs are approximate and vary by provider. Always consult a prescriber.
Am I Eligible for Weight Loss Medication?
In the UK, eligibility for GLP-1 weight loss medications like Mounjaro and Wegovy is based on your BMI and overall health profile.
- BMI of 30 or above (obese)
- Age 18 or over
- No contraindicated conditions
- Committed to lifestyle changes
- BMI of 27 or above
- Plus type 2 diabetes
- Or high blood pressure
- Or obstructive sleep apnoea
Use our BMI calculator to check whether your BMI falls within the eligible range.
How We Built These Tools
Every calculator and guide on myweightcheck is built with accuracy and transparency in mind. Our BMI calculator uses the standard WHO formula with NHS-aligned category thresholds. Our GLP-1 projections are modelled on published clinical trial data from SURMOUNT and STEP studies.
All data stays on your device. We don't require sign-ups, and we don't store your health information on any server. Your progress tracker saves data locally in your browser using localStorage, so only you can see it.
We're based in the UK and our tools are designed specifically for UK users — supporting stone & lbs by default, referencing NHS guidelines, using NICE-approved medication data, and linking to GPhC-registered pharmacies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about BMI, weight loss medications, and our free UK tools.
What's the difference between height percentile and BMI?
Height percentile compares your height to others your age and sex (a ranking), while BMI measures the relationship between your weight and height to assess body composition. BMI is used for adult health screening; percentiles are mainly used in children's growth monitoring. You can check both using our free BMI calculator on this page.
Should I be worried if my child is below the 10th percentile in height?
Not necessarily — being below average is normal for many children. However, if your child's growth has slowed or dropped significantly across percentile lines, consult your GP. The NHS health visitor programme monitors children's growth routinely, and your GP can assess whether further investigation is needed.
Is there a healthy height percentile for adults?
No — for adults, height is simply a measurement, not a health concern in itself. What matters for health is your weight in relation to your height, which is measured using BMI. The NHS focuses on BMI categories (healthy weight 18.5–24.9) rather than height percentiles for adult health assessment.
How is height percentile calculated by the NHS?
The NHS uses UK90 growth reference charts for children, which plot your height against age and sex using population data from thousands of UK children. For adults, height is compared to general population averages from the Office for National Statistics rather than percentile ranking.
Can I use height percentile to determine my ideal weight?
No — use your actual height with a BMI calculator instead. Height percentile is a comparison rank, not a measurement suitable for weight calculation. Our free weight converter and BMI calculator above will give you a personalised healthy weight range based on your specific height in centimetres or feet and inches.
Ready to take control of your weight loss journey?
Start with a free BMI check, explore your GLP-1 options, or begin tracking your progress today. No sign-up. No cost. Just results.