Is Wegovy only prescribed for weight loss — or is it licensed for more?

Does the cardiovascular licence change who can get Wegovy on prescription?

Partly, yes. The weight-management licence requires a BMI of 30 or above (or 27 or above with a qualifying condition such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes). The cardiovascular indication has a different qualifying picture: it applies to adults who already have established cardiovascular disease and who are also living with obesity or overweight. So a person with a BMI of 27 and a history of heart attack might qualify under the cardiovascular licence even if their BMI alone wouldn't comfortably place them in the weight-management bracket.

This matters because the trial underpinning that cardiovascular approval (the SELECT study) showed semaglutide 2.4 mg reduced the combined risk of cardiovascular death, non-fatal heart attack and non-fatal stroke by around 20% over roughly three years in participants who had not been diagnosed with diabetes. That finding shifted the conversation about what this medicine actually does. Weight loss was part of the mechanism, but the cardiovascular benefit appeared to extend beyond what weight change alone explained. The NHS semaglutide information page covers the authorised indications in plain English.

It is worth being clear about one common misconception: some people assume the cardiovascular licence makes Wegovy easier to obtain privately or on the NHS. It doesn't change the prescription threshold in that way. A prescriber still has to determine which licensed indication, if any, applies to you specifically, and the clinical criteria for each are distinct.

What is the 2026 MASH liver approval, and does it affect private access?

MASH stands for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, a progressive inflammatory liver disease closely linked to obesity and metabolic syndrome. It can advance to cirrhosis if untreated, and until 2026 no medicine held a UK licence specifically for it. On 3 July 2026, the MHRA conditionally approved Wegovy for adults with MASH and moderate-to-advanced fibrosis, a conditional approval meaning additional evidence will continue to be gathered.

For most people reading this, the MASH indication is unlikely to be directly relevant to a private prescription request. Diagnosing MASH with confidence requires liver biopsy or specialist imaging; it is not something that can be assessed during a standard online consultation. If liver disease is a concern for you, that conversation starts with your GP and usually a hepatologist. What the approval does signal is that semaglutide's mechanisms (reducing liver fat, inflammation and insulin resistance) are clinically meaningful beyond appetite suppression and weight reduction.

For those interested in Wegovy specifically for weight management, the evidence on Wegovy's weight-loss results remains the most relevant starting point.

Is Wegovy the same as Ozempic, and does that affect what it's prescribed for?

Both contain semaglutide, but they are not interchangeable under UK licensing rules. Ozempic is licensed for type 2 diabetes management, not weight loss. Wegovy is licensed for weight management and, now, the cardiovascular and MASH indications described above. The dose differs too: Wegovy titrates up to 2.4 mg weekly as a weight-management maintenance dose, while Ozempic's licensed diabetes doses are different.

This distinction matters because prescribers are bound by licensed indications. Ozempic cannot lawfully be prescribed for weight loss as a licensed use, and Wegovy is not a diabetes treatment. If you have type 2 diabetes and your doctor has recommended semaglutide, the appropriate medicine and dose are determined by that clinical picture. The semaglutide overview unpacks the difference between the two brands in more detail. For a sense of how private weight-management treatment through a regulated online pharmacy is structured, the Wegovy cost page explains what a legitimate private prescription typically includes, one transparent price covering consultation, prescription and delivery, with nothing added later.

Semaglutide, under whatever brand, is a prescription-only medicine, a fact that applies to all three of Wegovy's licensed uses equally. The NICE appraisal of semaglutide for weight management (TA875) outlines the specific NHS criteria; NICE TA875 is publicly available and makes clear the conditions under which NHS access is recommended.

So who actually decides which licence applies to you?

A prescriber does, on the basis of your full clinical picture. An online consultation collects the relevant information (BMI, medical history, current medications, cardiovascular history, relevant diagnoses) and a GPhC-registered prescriber reviews it. That review determines not only whether Wegovy is clinically appropriate but which indication is being addressed and at what starting dose. No algorithm makes that call at nume; a named clinician reads your answers on the same day you submit them.

Most people enquiring about Wegovy privately are doing so for weight management, and that remains by far the most common route. If you have cardiovascular disease or complex metabolic conditions, it is worth raising those with your GP alongside any private enquiry, because multi-indication situations benefit from joined-up care. The practical guide to using Wegovy covers what happens once treatment begins, and you can read about stopping Wegovy safely if that is on your mind. Men considering treatment can find information specific to their situation on the Wegovy weight loss for men page. When you are ready to find out whether you are suitable, starting a free consultation is the next step.