Mounjaro®
Starting from £179.99/mo
Start journey Learn moreThe evidence, the practicalities, and how the UK prescribing picture shapes the choice
The key question: what does the evidence actually show?
Wegovy and Saxenda both work by activating GLP-1 receptors, gut-hormone pathways involved in appetite regulation and the rate at which your stomach empties. The mechanism is shared, but the outcomes are not identical.
The STEP 1 trial (68 weeks, published in the New England Journal of Medicine) reported around 15% average body-weight reduction with semaglutide 2.4mg alongside lifestyle changes. Comparable liraglutide 3mg trials produced average reductions closer to 5–8% over similar timeframes. If you want to dig into whether Wegovy is better than Saxenda across those trial results, we cover the evidence in detail on that page. A direct comparison published in the SCALE programme and subsequent meta-analyses consistently shows the semaglutide arm pulling ahead.
NICE's appraisal of semaglutide (TA875) acknowledged this evidence base. No equivalent NICE TA exists for liraglutide in weight management, it was never appraised through the same formal technology-appraisal process, which is one reason you won't find it recommended for NHS weight-management services in the same way.
The short version: the clinical evidence favours Wegovy for magnitude of weight loss. That said, individual responses vary considerably, and a prescriber will weigh up which medicine is appropriate for you specifically.
The practical gap: injection frequency, storage, and daily routine
This is where many people make their mind up, and it's worth being direct about it. Saxenda requires a daily injection. Wegovy requires one injection a week. For most people, the lower dosing burden matters, both for adherence and for the psychological weight of managing treatment long-term.
Both medicines are subcutaneous injections stored in the fridge. With Wegovy, you're opening the fridge door once a week rather than every morning before breakfast. If you travel frequently or your routine is unpredictable, the weekly rhythm is meaningfully simpler.
The titration schedules also differ: Wegovy is stepped up through 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1.0mg, 1.7mg to the 2.4mg maintenance dose over approximately 16–20 weeks, per your prescriber's direction. Saxenda involves daily dose increases across a shorter initial ladder. Either way, the pace of titration is guided by the prescribing clinician, the Mounjaro and Wegovy SmPCs on the eMC contain the exact schedules for reference. Practical guidance on getting the most from weekly semaglutide is covered on our tips for Wegovy success page.
UK licensing, availability, and where Saxenda fits now
Both medicines are licensed for weight management in the UK in adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above with at least one weight-related condition. That's the licensed baseline; eligibility involves a fuller clinical picture.
There is, however, a significant practical difference in the current UK landscape. Saxenda (liraglutide) is a licensed medicine, but nume does not dispense it for weight loss. The pages on our site that cover weight-management treatment are focused on the medicines our GPhC-registered prescribers actually prescribe: Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide), both of which hold current UK marketing authorisations and active supply. If your search brought you here because you're deciding what to pursue, those are the two routes worth exploring, you can read a fuller comparison of the Saxenda versus Wegovy evidence or look at how Wegovy sits alongside the wider range of weight-loss treatments we can prescribe.
The NHS picture matters here too. NICE's semaglutide recommendation (TA875) is tied to specialist weight management services; Saxenda has no equivalent NICE TA. For most people accessing treatment privately, Wegovy is the more established clinical choice, and Mounjaro's own NICE appraisal (TA1026, December 2024) found it produced greater average weight loss than semaglutide 2.4mg head-to-head in the SURMOUNT-5 trial. That's a separate comparison, covered in detail on our what's better than Wegovy page.
Putting the comparison in a table
| Wegovy (semaglutide) | Saxenda (liraglutide) | |
|---|---|---|
| Injection frequency | Once weekly | Once daily |
| UK weight-management licence | Yes (BMI ≥30, or ≥27 + comorbidity) | Yes (BMI ≥30, or ≥27 + comorbidity) |
| Average weight loss in trials | ~15% at 2.4mg (STEP 1, 68 weeks) [NEJM] | ~5–8% at 3mg in comparable trials |
| NICE technology appraisal | TA875 (specialist services, max 2 years) | None |
| Storage | Refrigerated; weekly use | Refrigerated; daily use |
| Dispensed by nume for weight loss | Yes | No |
Which of the licensed options suits your situation is a clinical decision our prescribers work through with you, and our page on how Wegovy compares to Ozempic for weight loss is worth reading if semaglutide is on your shortlist. Our page covering what's better, Saxenda or Wegovy, is also a useful starting point before you speak to a prescriber. Speak to our prescribers through a free consultation to understand what's appropriate for you specifically.
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