How to Get Approved for Wegovy: What the Process Actually Involves

The biggest myth: approval is mainly about hitting a BMI number

Most people who ask how to get approved for Wegovy assume the process is a simple BMI check. It is not, and starting from that assumption leads to confusion when an application is declined or when a prescriber asks questions that feel unexpected.

The licensed eligibility for Wegovy covers adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI of 27 to 29.9 alongside at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes or obstructive sleep apnoea. Lower thresholds apply for some ethnic backgrounds under NICE's appraisal of semaglutide for weight management (TA875). But meeting those numbers is the starting point, not the finish line.

A prescriber also looks at your medical history, any medicines you currently take, and whether there are contraindications, conditions or circumstances that make Wegovy unsuitable regardless of BMI. A history of certain thyroid cancers or a condition called MEN2, for example, rules it out. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, or actively trying to conceive means treatment is not recommended. Under-18s are outside the licensed indication. The prescriber's job is to weigh the whole picture, not tick a single box. You can explore what that picture looks like in more detail on the Wegovy treatment overview.

Worth knowing: eligibility on the NHS is considerably narrower than private eligibility, and the two are often conflated online. The section below covers both clearly.

NHS approval versus a private prescription: what the difference means in practice

On the NHS, Wegovy is available through specialist weight management services under NICE guidance. Access criteria are strict: typically a BMI of 35 or above alongside at least one weight-related comorbidity, within a multidisciplinary programme, for a maximum of two years. Waiting lists for those services are often long, and not every part of the country has equal provision. If you want to understand whether NHS access is an option for you, this guide looks at how to get Wegovy on the NHS.

A private prescription through a GPhC-registered pharmacy follows the same clinical standards but without the referral queue or the commissioning restrictions. If you are considering this route, our page on how to get Wegovy walks through what the process involves from start to finish. There is no GP referral required, no waiting list, and no geographical lottery.

At nume, that consultation is free. A prescriber from our clinical team reviews your submission the same day, including a live video check to confirm your weight and identity. If approved, your treatment leaves our GPhC-registered pharmacy the same day for next-working-day delivery. For a broader look at how private weight-loss treatment works, our weight-loss treatment page sets out the options.

How to verify the pharmacy you choose, and what fake pens look like

Any UK pharmacy dispensing prescription medicines must be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council. You can check any pharmacy's registration on the GPhC's public register at pharmacyregulation.org, nume's premises registration number is 9012878. If a pharmacy is not listed, do not use it.

The MHRA has issued repeated warnings about counterfeit weight-loss pens sold online and through social media. Fake pens have in some cases contained insulin rather than the labelled medicine, with serious consequences. In October 2025 the MHRA raided the first known UK site manufacturing counterfeit tirzepatide pens. Sellers offering these medicines without a prescription, at prices far below the private market, or through social media accounts are red flags. The MHRA's Yellow Card scheme lets you report both suspected side effects and suspect sellers.

A legitimate route always includes a clinical assessment before a prescription is issued. There are no shortcuts that are also safe. If you have questions about a particular seller or want to understand what a regulated process looks like, our FAQs cover the most common queries.

Starting the process at nume

The steps are straightforward. Complete the free online consultation, it covers your health history, current medicines, BMI and lifestyle. Our guide on how to get on Wegovy for weight loss is a good place to read up before you begin, covering what to expect from the consultation and what happens next. Your pen arrives the next working day in plain packaging, and many people find it easy to slot into a morning routine, stored in the fridge door, taken weekly on the same day each week.

If you want to read about the dosing schedule before you start, this page explains the Wegovy dose progression in plain terms. For anyone who prefers to start by speaking to the team rather than completing a form, our contact page has the details. When you are ready, the consultation itself is at joinnume.co.uk/pages/weight-loss-treatments, no commitment required to check your eligibility.