Comparing Saxenda and Wegovy for weight loss in the UK

Picture the decision you're actually facing

You've done some reading. You've seen Saxenda mentioned alongside Wegovy and you're trying to work out how these two medicines compare — whether one is simply a newer version of the other, or whether the differences are meaningful. That's a fair question, and it deserves a straight answer.

Saxenda is liraglutide, made by Novo Nordisk. It activates a single gut-hormone receptor (GLP-1) to slow gastric emptying, reduce appetite and support weight loss. It has been available in the UK for weight management since 2015 and requires a daily subcutaneous injection, titrated up from 0.6mg to a 3mg maintenance dose over several weeks. Wegovy is also made by Novo Nordisk but contains a different molecule (semaglutide) injected just once a week, rising to a 2.4mg maintenance dose (or, following MHRA approval in early 2026, up to 7.2mg for eligible adults). The NHS tirzepatide and semaglutide medicines page explains the GLP-1 mechanism shared by both, but the difference in dosing frequency alone changes how people engage with treatment day to day. For many, moving from a daily to a weekly injection is a meaningful shift.

There is also a newer option to be aware of. Semaglutide is now available as an oral tablet (Wegovy tablets, approved by the MHRA in June 2026) for those who prefer not to inject at all, a development worth knowing about when weighing up your choices.

What the trial data says about results, and why Saxenda is rarely the starting point now

The clinical evidence consistently favours Wegovy on average weight loss. The STEP 1 trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, reported an average body-weight reduction of around 15% over 68 weeks at the 2.4mg semaglutide dose, in adults with obesity without type 2 diabetes, alongside lifestyle changes. Liraglutide (Saxenda), in its pivotal SCALE trial, produced around 8% average loss over 56 weeks at 3mg. Those aren't small numbers on either side, but the gap between them is substantial enough that NICE took note.

NICE reviewed Saxenda for NHS weight management and concluded it was not cost-effective for recommendation. Wegovy, by contrast, received a positive NICE appraisal (TA875) published in 2023, recommending semaglutide within specialist weight management services for up to two years, subject to eligibility criteria. You can read NICE's full recommendation for semaglutide (TA875) to understand the exact conditions and thresholds.

In practical terms, this means that on the NHS the comparison between Saxenda and Wegovy has largely been settled in Wegovy's favour. Saxenda remains a licensed medicine but is now rarely the first choice in new treatment plans. If you're exploring how Wegovy compares across the current licensed options, the shift away from liraglutide is one of the clearer trends in UK weight management over the past two years.

Side effects, eligibility and what these medicines have in common

Because both liraglutide and semaglutide act on the GLP-1 receptor, their side-effect profiles overlap considerably. Nausea, constipation, diarrhoea and indigestion are the most commonly reported effects with both, typically most pronounced in the early weeks or after a dose increase, and settling for many people as the body adjusts. Injection-site reactions, fatigue and headache can also occur. Neither medicine is suitable during pregnancy, breastfeeding or when actively trying to conceive, and neither is licensed for use under the age of 18.

The licensed eligibility threshold for weight management is similar for both: adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI from 27 upwards alongside at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure or obstructive sleep apnoea. Lower BMI thresholds apply for certain ethnic backgrounds under UK guidance. That said, a prescriber's assessment goes well beyond BMI alone, medical history, existing medicines, and individual circumstances all shape the clinical picture.

One practical note: the question of whether Wegovy or Saxenda is the better fit for a specific person isn't one a comparison page can resolve. It's a clinical conversation. If you'd like to understand the cost side of Wegovy specifically, our Wegovy price comparison page covers what private treatment typically costs and what to look for in a provider.

What IS licensed for weight loss in the UK, and what nume doesn't dispense

This is worth being clear about. Saxenda is not a medicine nume dispenses for weight management. The weight-loss treatments available through nume are Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide), both of which are currently licensed in the UK for weight management and hold NICE recommendations, TA875 for semaglutide and TA1026 for tirzepatide, the latter published in December 2024.

Mounjaro is worth mentioning in this context because it is the only dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist licensed for weight management in the UK, and it produced greater average weight loss than semaglutide 2.4mg in the SURMOUNT-5 head-to-head trial published in 2025. If you're reading this page partly to understand where Wegovy sits relative to older injectables, it's useful to know that the licensed landscape has moved on considerably since Saxenda arrived.

Consultations at nume are reviewed the same day by a GPhC-registered Independent Prescriber, not software. If approved as clinically suitable, your treatment is dispatched the same day (for orders placed by 12pm, Monday to Friday) and arrives the following working day via DPD in plain, unbranded packaging, you'll get a tracking link so you know exactly when to expect it. You can read more about how nume works if you'd like the full picture before deciding whether to proceed. When you're ready, check your eligibility to start a free consultation with our prescribers.