Wegovy in the UK: The Complete Guide to Semaglutide for Weight Loss

Wegovy is a prescription-only weight-loss medicine containing semaglutide, made by Novo Nordisk. In the UK it is licensed for adults with obesity, or overweight plus a weight-related health condition, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity, and to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in certain adults. It is most often taken as a once-weekly injection, building up to a 2.4mg maintenance dose, with a higher 7.2mg dose approved by the MHRA in January 2026. A once-daily Wegovy tablet was approved in June 2026. This guide covers how Wegovy works, who can be prescribed it, what the trials show, side effects, NHS access and what affects cost.

What is Wegovy?

The basics

Semaglutide is a modified version of the natural hormone GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). Natural GLP-1 lasts only minutes in the bloodstream, but semaglutide has been engineered to last around a week, allowing once-weekly injection.

The same active ingredient is found in Ozempic, a weekly injection for type 2 diabetes, and Rybelsus, a daily tablet for type 2 diabetes. Wegovy is the semaglutide product licensed specifically for weight management. Our guides to Ozempic vs Wegovy and semaglutide in the UK explain the differences. For an overview of the medicine, see the Wegovy hub.

Licensed uses in the UK

According to the UK product information, Wegovy is licensed:

• For weight management in adults, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, with a BMI of 30 kg/m² or more, or 27 to under 30 kg/m² with at least one weight-related condition.
• For weight management in adolescents aged 12 and over with obesity, under appropriate specialist care.
• To reduce cardiovascular risk in adults with established cardiovascular disease and a BMI of 27 kg/m² or more, based on the SELECT trial.

The UK leaflet also lists use in the liver condition metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) in adults. Licensed indications can change; always check the current Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) on the Electronic Medicines Compendium.

Wegovy in the UK: a short timeline

Dates for licence changes are based on public announcements; check the current SmPC for the exact wording of each licensed indication.

How Wegovy works

Semaglutide acts on GLP-1 receptors in several parts of the body:

• The brain. It acts on areas that regulate hunger, fullness and food reward, reducing appetite and cravings.
• The stomach. It slows stomach emptying, which helps people feel full for longer, especially early in treatment.
• The pancreas. It increases insulin release and reduces glucagon when blood sugar is raised, which is why it also improves blood sugar control.

The result is that people tend to eat less without feeling as hungry, which leads to weight loss over time. Our detailed guide to how Wegovy works covers the science.

Doses and how it is taken

The injection schedule

Wegovy injections are taken once a week, on the same day each week, at any time of day, with or without food. Treatment starts at a low dose and increases every four weeks to reduce gastrointestinal side effects.

Source: UK Wegovy Patient Information Leaflet. The UK SmPC states 2.4mg as the maintenance dose. If gastrointestinal side effects are significant, it allows the prescriber to delay escalation or lower to the previous dose until symptoms improve. The SmPC also says that if at least 5% of initial body weight has not been lost after six months, a decision is needed on whether to continue.

The 7.2mg dose

In January 2026, the MHRA approved a 7.2mg weekly dose for adults with obesity (a BMI of 30 or more), making the UK the first country to do so. Approval was based on the STEP UP trial, in which adults with obesity taking 7.2mg lost on average about 19% of body weight over 72 weeks, compared with about 4% on placebo.

According to the UK leaflet, 7.2mg can be considered after at least four weeks on 2.4mg, and was initially given as three 2.4mg injections on the same day. A single-injection 7.2mg pen has since been reported as available in the UK; check the current SmPC and speak to your prescriber about how it is supplied. The leaflet notes that some side effects, including hair loss and altered skin sensations, are reported more often at 7.2mg. NICE had not assessed the 7.2mg dose for NHS use at the time of writing.

The pen

In the UK, Wegovy injections are supplied as FlexTouch pens, each containing four weekly doses of a single strength. A new needle is attached for each injection. Our guide to using the Wegovy FlexTouch pen explains the steps, and Wegovy doses explained covers titration, missed doses and dose changes in more detail.

Wegovy tablets

The MHRA approved oral semaglutide for weight management, marketed as Wegovy tablets, in June 2026. In the OASIS 4 trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2025, adults taking a 25mg daily tablet lost on average about 14% of body weight, similar to the injection. The tablet must be taken on an empty stomach with a small sip of water, with no food or drink for at least 30 minutes afterwards. NHS access requires a NICE recommendation, which had not been made at the time of writing. See our oral semaglutide guide and the oral GLP-1 hub.

What the trials show

Wegovy was studied in the STEP (Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with obesity) programme. Key trials include:

Results in context

In STEP 1, about 86% of people on semaglutide lost at least 5% of their body weight, about 69% lost at least 10%, and about half lost at least 15%. Some people lost much less, and around one in seven did not reach 5%. Our guide to Wegovy results explains the timeline and what affects individual response.

Heart health: the SELECT trial

SELECT, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2023, enrolled more than 17,000 adults with established cardiovascular disease and a BMI of 27 or more, without diabetes. Over an average follow-up of more than three years, semaglutide 2.4mg reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, non-fatal heart attack or non-fatal stroke) by 20% compared with placebo. In absolute terms, these events occurred in about 6.5% of people on semaglutide and 8.0% on placebo. See Wegovy and heart health.

Compared with tirzepatide

In SURMOUNT-5, the first head-to-head trial in obesity, tirzepatide (Mounjaro) produced greater average weight loss than semaglutide over 72 weeks: about 20% versus about 14%. That trial used semaglutide up to 2.4mg, not the newer 7.2mg dose. See Mounjaro vs Wegovy and SURMOUNT-5 explained.

Side effects

Common side effects

The most common side effects are gastrointestinal: nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, indigestion, bloating and burping. These are most likely when starting treatment and after each dose increase, and usually improve over time. In STEP 1, about 4.5% of people on semaglutide stopped treatment because of gastrointestinal side effects, compared with under 1% on placebo.

Other common side effects listed in the UK leaflet include headache, tiredness, dizziness, hair loss, and, in people with diabetes, low blood sugar.

Less common but serious

• Gallbladder problems, including gallstones.
• Acute pancreatitis.
• Dehydration and kidney problems, usually after significant vomiting or diarrhoea.
• Diabetic retinopathy complications in people with type 2 diabetes.
• Aspiration during anaesthesia, because of delayed stomach emptying.
• Allergic reactions.

Semaglutide should not be used in pregnancy, and people who could become pregnant should use effective contraception. Our Wegovy side effects guide covers what to expect and how side effects are managed.

Who should not take Wegovy

Wegovy may not be suitable if you:

• Are pregnant, planning pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Have had an allergic reaction to semaglutide or any ingredient.
• Have a history of pancreatitis.
• Have severe gastrointestinal disease, such as gastroparesis.
• Have an active or past eating disorder.
• Have severe kidney or liver problems.

Many prescribers also ask about a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2. This reflects thyroid tumours seen in rodent studies and a warning in US labelling; the relevance to humans is uncertain. This is not a complete list, and in the UK the only absolute contraindication in the SmPC is hypersensitivity, so many of these are matters of caution and clinical judgement. A prescriber will review your full medical history. See who shouldn't take GLP-1 medications.

Getting Wegovy in the UK

On the NHS

NICE technology appraisal TA875, published in March 2023, recommends semaglutide for weight management on the NHS only within specialist weight management services, for adults with:

• A BMI of at least 35 kg/m² and at least one weight-related condition, or
• A BMI of 30 to 34.9 kg/m² who meet the criteria for referral to specialist weight management services.

Lower BMI thresholds, usually reduced by 2.5 kg/m², apply to people from certain ethnic backgrounds. NHS treatment is limited to a maximum of two years. Access to specialist services varies widely across the UK. See Wegovy on the NHS and private vs NHS weight loss treatment.

Privately

Many people in the UK receive Wegovy through private prescribers, including online pharmacies and clinics regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) or the Care Quality Commission (CQC). A legitimate service will:

• Carry out a medical consultation, including your BMI, medical history and current medicines.
• Verify your identity and, typically, your weight.
• Only prescribe if treatment is clinically appropriate and within the licence.
• Offer follow-up and a way to report side effects.

Our guides to how to choose an online pharmacy and why online pharmacies verify your ID and weight explain what to look for.

What affects the cost

We do not quote prices because they change frequently and vary between providers. Factors that affect the private cost of Wegovy include the dose, how the provider structures its fees (for example, whether consultations, follow-up and delivery are included), whether you take the 7.2mg dose and how it is supplied, and how long you stay on treatment. See Wegovy prices explained and our prices page for current comparisons.

How Wegovy compares with other UK options

These figures come from separate trials with different populations and designs, so they cannot be compared directly. See every UK weight loss injection compared and every weight loss medication available in the UK.

Common myths about Wegovy

"Wegovy works without any change in diet." Wegovy reduces appetite, which makes eating less easier, but it is licensed for use alongside a reduced-calorie diet and physical activity. In the trials, everyone received lifestyle advice.

"Everyone loses 15%." That is an average. Some people lose much more, and some lose little. Response varies with factors such as diabetes status, dose tolerated and adherence.

"You can stop once you hit your target and keep the weight off." The STEP 1 extension and STEP 4 trials showed that most people regain weight after stopping. Any plan to stop should be made with your prescriber.

"Ozempic and Wegovy are interchangeable." They contain the same active ingredient, but are different products with different licences, pens and doses. Our Ozempic vs Wegovy guide explains why this matters.

Questions to ask your prescriber

1. Am I eligible under the licence, and would I qualify for NHS treatment?
2. Is Wegovy or another option more suitable for my health conditions?
3. How should I manage my other medicines, particularly for diabetes or blood pressure?
4. What should I do if side effects make it hard to increase my dose?
5. How will my progress be reviewed, and what happens if I do not lose much weight?
6. What is the plan for the long term?

Long-term use and stopping

Weight regain after stopping is common. In the STEP 1 extension, people who stopped semaglutide regained about two-thirds of the weight they had lost within a year. In STEP 4, people switched to placebo after 20 weeks regained weight, while those who continued lost more.

This reflects the view that obesity is a long-term condition. Decisions about how long to continue, whether to reduce the dose, or how to stop should be made with your prescriber. See Wegovy maintenance and stopping and long-term GLP-1 use.

Lifestyle alongside treatment

Wegovy is licensed for use alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, and the trials included lifestyle support. While appetite is reduced, it helps to focus on:

• Protein at each meal to help preserve muscle.
• Fibre and fluids to reduce constipation.
• Smaller, slower meals to reduce nausea.
• Strength training alongside general activity.

See what to eat on GLP-1 medication and preserving muscle on GLP-1 treatment.

When to speak to a professional

Speak to your GP, pharmacist or a regulated prescriber if you are considering Wegovy, so that they can assess whether it is suitable and safe for you. Tell them about all your medical conditions and medicines, especially diabetes medicines such as insulin or sulfonylureas, and whether you are pregnant or planning pregnancy.

During treatment, contact your prescriber if:

• Side effects stop you eating or drinking normally.
• You are not losing weight as expected, or you are losing weight very quickly.
• You notice changes in your mood, or thoughts of self-harm.
• You have vision changes and you have diabetes.

Seek urgent medical help (NHS 111, or 999 / A&E in an emergency) if you have:

• Severe, persistent abdominal pain, which may spread to your back, with or without vomiting. This can be a sign of pancreatitis.
• Pain in the upper right abdomen, fever or yellowing of the skin or eyes, which can suggest gallbladder problems.
• Signs of severe dehydration, such as dizziness, confusion or passing very little urine.
• Signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips or throat, or difficulty breathing.

Prescribing decisions, including dose changes and how long to continue, belong to your prescriber.