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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Pounds and Weight — A UK Health Guide
Understanding pounds and weight is essential for managing your health in the UK, where we typically measure body weight using stone and pounds rather than kilograms alone. Whether you're tracking weight for health reasons, following NHS guidance, or simply curious about your measurements, knowing how pounds fit into the broader picture of weight management is important. This guide explains how pounds work, how they convert to other units, and what healthy weight means using UK measurements and health thresholds.
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Calculate Your BMI Instantly
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 Pounds Fit Into UK Weight Measurements
In the UK, body weight is expressed using three different units, and understanding how they relate is crucial for health management. Pounds (lbs) are used alongside stone as part of the traditional imperial system, while kilograms (kg) are the scientific standard. One pound equals 0.453592 kg, and one stone equals 14 pounds exactly — so a person weighing 11 stone 7 pounds (161 lbs) weighs approximately 73 kg.
The NHS provides health guidance using BMI (Body Mass Index), which can be calculated in both metric and imperial units. You can use our free weight converter above to switch between kg, stone, and lbs instantly, making it easy to understand your weight in whichever measurement you prefer. Most UK health professionals use kg clinically, but patients often find stone and pounds more intuitive for everyday conversation.
- 1 pound (lb) = 0.453592 kg
- 1 stone = 14 pounds = 6.35029 kg
- 1 kg = 2.20462 pounds = 0.157473 stone
Clinically BackedWeight Loss
No appointments. No waiting rooms. Just care — from a UK-regulated online pharmacy.
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.
Healthy Weight in Pounds and What It Means
According to NHS guidelines, a healthy weight depends on your height and is expressed as a BMI (Body Mass Index) between 18.5 and 24.9. For example, an adult who is 5 feet 8 inches tall (173 cm) has a healthy weight range of approximately 121 to 163 lbs (55 to 74 kg, or 8 stone 8 lbs to 11 stone 8 lbs). However, BMI has limitations — it doesn't account for muscle mass, bone density, or where fat is stored on your body.
Your GP can provide personalised advice about what a healthy weight means for you, especially if you have existing health conditions. Try our free BMI calculator above to check your personal BMI instantly and see where you fall on the NHS healthy weight scale. Even a modest weight loss of 5–10% of your body weight can bring meaningful health benefits.
- 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.
How do I convert pounds to kilograms?
Divide the number of pounds by 2.20462 to get kilograms. For example, 150 pounds ÷ 2.20462 = 68 kg. Alternatively, use our free weight converter on this page to convert instantly between pounds, kilograms, and stone.
What is a healthy weight in pounds for a UK adult?
Healthy weight depends on your height. The NHS recommends a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. For a 5 feet 8 inch adult, this equals roughly 121 to 163 lbs. Use our BMI calculator above to find your personal healthy weight range based on your height.
Why does the UK use both stone and pounds instead of just kilograms?
Traditionally, the UK used imperial measurements (stone and pounds) for everyday weight, while the NHS uses kg for clinical purposes. This dual system persists because many UK adults grew up with stone and find it more intuitive, though kg is now standard in medicine and science.
How many pounds is one stone?
One stone equals exactly 14 pounds. So if someone weighs 11 stone, that's 154 pounds (11 × 14). This traditional conversion is still widely used in UK health conversations and weight management discussions.
Can I use pounds to calculate my BMI?
Yes. The BMI formula in imperial units is (weight in pounds × 703) ÷ height in inches squared. However, our free BMI calculator above handles the conversion automatically — simply enter your weight in pounds and height in feet and inches for gradual improvement.
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.