Is Semaglutide Licensed for Weight Loss in the UK?

Does the semaglutide licence cover weight loss, or only diabetes?

The answer depends entirely on which brand you are talking about. Semaglutide is the active molecule; the licence granted to it differs product by product. Wegovy (made by Novo Nordisk) is specifically authorised in the UK for weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI of 27 to 29.9 where at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or obstructive sleep apnoea is present. That authorisation covers both the injection and, since 11 June 2026, the once-daily tablet.

Ozempic is also semaglutide, made by the same manufacturer, but its UK licence covers type 2 diabetes. It is not authorised for weight management, and a prescriber issuing it for that purpose would be acting outside the product's licence. The full detail of Wegovy's UK licence is worth reading if you want to understand exactly what the authorisation permits. The NHS medicines information for semaglutide, available on the NHS website, explains the difference clearly and is a useful first reference.

The practical upshot: if you are looking for semaglutide to support weight loss, you need Wegovy specifically, and you need it prescribed after a proper clinical assessment, not obtained from an unverified source.

Which adults does the Wegovy weight-loss licence actually cover?

The licensed eligibility criteria for Wegovy injection and tablets are set out in the Summary of Product Characteristics approved by the MHRA. For the injection, adults qualify with a BMI of 30 or above, or from 27 upwards if they have at least one weight-related comorbidity. The tablet, approved in June 2026, shares the same thresholds. Lower BMI thresholds apply for some ethnic backgrounds under UK clinical guidance, reflecting differences in cardiometabolic risk at a given BMI.

Meeting those numbers is the starting point, not the finish line. A prescriber also considers your medical history, current medicines, contraindications and overall clinical picture. Certain conditions (a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, a history of pancreatitis, or pregnancy) mean semaglutide is not appropriate regardless of BMI. Treatment is also not licensed for anyone under 18, and it is not recommended during breastfeeding or for those trying to conceive.

If you want to explore whether you might be suitable, our semaglutide for weight loss page covers the clinical picture in more depth, and the weight-loss treatment overview sets out all the options available through our pharmacy.

What does NICE say about prescribing semaglutide for weight loss on the NHS?

A medicine holding a licence and a medicine being routinely available on the NHS are two separate things. NICE appraised Wegovy injection in Technology Appraisal 875, recommending it for use within specialist weight management services, for a maximum of two years, in adults with a BMI of 35 or above and at least one weight-related comorbidity. Ethnic-background adjustments reduce that threshold. NHS waiting lists for specialist services are, in many areas, lengthy.

Oral semaglutide (Wegovy tablets) does not yet have a NICE appraisal; until one is completed the tablet is available only through private prescription. That makes access through a regulated private pharmacy the realistic route for most people who want treatment now, whatever form of semaglutide they are considering. You can read the NICE appraisal of semaglutide (TA875) to see the full recommendation wording.

It is also worth knowing that NICE recommendations set out when the NHS will fund treatment, they do not restrict what a private prescriber can legally issue within the terms of the product licence. Private prescription and NHS commissioning follow different rules.

How does semaglutide work, and what does trial evidence say about weight loss?

Semaglutide works as a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It mimics a gut hormone released after eating, acting on receptors in the brain and gut to reduce appetite, slow gastric emptying and increase the feeling of fullness. The result, over weeks and months, is that most people find it easier to eat less without the constant effort that calorie restriction usually demands.

The injection at 2.4mg weekly was studied in the STEP 1 trial (68 weeks, alongside lifestyle changes) where participants lost an average of around 15% of their body weight. The 7.2mg weekly dose, approved by the MHRA in January 2026 and available via a dedicated single-dose pen from April 2026, showed approximately 20.7% average weight loss over 72 weeks in trial data, narrowing the gap with tirzepatide results. The oral tablet at 25mg maintenance dose was studied in the OASIS 4 trial: an average of around 13.6% weight loss over 64 weeks regardless of adherence, rising to roughly 17% among participants who stayed fully adherent throughout.

These are averages from controlled trials, not guarantees for any individual. Results depend on adherence, lifestyle changes alongside treatment, and factors specific to each person. For a broader look at how semaglutide fits the weight-loss landscape, the semaglutide overview page is a good starting point, and researchers who want to dig into the academic literature behind these results will find our guide to semaglutide on Google Scholar a useful companion to the comparison between semaglutide and liraglutide if you have come across both options.

If you are considering treatment, speaking to a prescriber is the right next step. At nume, a named clinician reads your consultation the same day, no algorithm, no automated decision. Your medicine, if approved, is dispatched promptly and arrives via DPD in plain, unbranded packaging with a tracking notification to your phone. Speak to our prescribers through our free consultation page.