The Maximum Dose of Wegovy for Weight Loss — and Why Most People Never Need to Ask

The myth worth correcting: 2.4mg is not the maximum anymore

Many people researching Wegovy still assume 2.4mg is as high as the dose goes. That was true until January 2026, when the MHRA approved 7.2mg as a higher maintenance option, first supplied as three separate 2.4mg pens per week, then formalised on 14 April 2026 as a purpose-built single-dose pen with an auto-dosing mechanism and a covered needle that locks after use. The MHRA's announcement confirms the approval and notes that the 7.2mg pen is licensed for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, it's not approved for the cardiovascular indication or for lower BMI thresholds. If you've been reading about Wegovy's results online and the figures you're seeing don't match what you've heard from your prescriber, it's likely that older sources are still citing the 2.4mg ceiling. Both doses are real; both are licensed. The question is which one is appropriate for you.

It's also worth saying plainly: if you've been on Wegovy for a while and wondering whether moving to a higher dose might help, that's a completely reasonable thing to ask. Our clinical team hears this question regularly.

The titration schedule: why 7.2mg is the end of a long road, not an option on day one

Wegovy's dose schedule exists for a reason. Starting at 0.25mg and stepping up slowly (through 0.5mg, 1.0mg, 1.7mg, and 2.4mg, each held for around four weeks) reduces the likelihood of the gastrointestinal side effects that are most common early in treatment. Nausea, loose stools and indigestion are real experiences for many people, particularly after a dose increase, and they tend to ease as the body adapts. Going straight to a higher dose to accelerate results isn't how the medicine works safely. The full semaglutide titration pathway, including guidance on tolerability at each step, is set out on the NHS semaglutide medicines page. The 7.2mg dose sits at the end of this sequence; for patients who've established themselves on 2.4mg and whose prescriber judges they'd benefit from the higher dose, it becomes an option to consider. If you want to understand how the Wegovy dose relates to weight loss outcomes at each stage of the schedule, that detail is covered in full. Specific dose availability at any given time is confirmed at consultation, no generalist website can tell you what's in the dispensary right now.

For context on how results vary across the dose range, the evidence on maximum weight loss with Wegovy covers the trial data in more depth.

Does the highest dose always produce the best result for you personally?

In clinical trials, higher doses of semaglutide did produce greater average weight reduction, that's the pattern the SURMOUNT and STEP programmes both showed across GLP-1 medicines. At 7.2mg, the average weight loss figure over 72 weeks was around 20.7%. But population averages cover a wide range. Some people achieve significant, sustained weight loss at 1.7mg. Others tolerate 2.4mg well but find 7.2mg harder on the gut. A prescriber's job is to find the dose that works at the level your body accepts, and that is genuinely individual. The maximum dose on the licence is a ceiling, not a prescription. If you're curious how the different doses compare on the evidence, the question of which Wegovy dosage works best gets into that detail. For a more granular look at how Wegovy dosage is structured around weight loss goals, the evidence and practical guidance are set out there. And if you're thinking about private treatment costs at different dose levels, a straightforward overview of how Wegovy is priced in the UK sets out what to expect without oversimplifying.

How a prescriber decides where your dose should sit

Every dose decision in Wegovy treatment involves a clinical review, not just at the start, but before any increase. At nume, a GPhC-registered prescriber reads through your information personally every time; the dose you're on, how you've responded, whether side effects have been present, and whether the clinical picture supports moving higher. That applies equally to someone considering 2.4mg for the first time and to someone asking about 7.2mg after a year on treatment. Wegovy is a prescription-only medicine, and the dose range (from the opening 0.25mg right up to the 7.2mg ceiling) is there to be used with clinical oversight, not navigated independently. If you're starting to think about whether Wegovy could be right for you, our Wegovy treatment page covers eligibility, how private prescribing works, and what to expect from the process. And for a broader look at the weight-loss options available through a clinically supervised route, the treatment overview puts them side by side. When you're ready to talk to a prescriber directly, speaking to our clinical team starts with a free consultation.