Wegovy and other weight-loss medicines: what's actually different

The biggest misconception: Ozempic is not Wegovy, and that distinction matters

A question our prescribers hear most weeks is some version of: 'Can I just get Ozempic for weight loss?' The confusion is understandable. Both contain semaglutide. But Ozempic is licensed in the UK for type 2 diabetes, not weight management. Prescribing it off-label for weight loss sits outside current UK guidance, and the MHRA is clear that these medicines are not assessed for cosmetic or quick weight loss.

Wegovy is the weight-management formulation, same active molecule, different licensed dose and approved indication. The maintenance dose for Wegovy injection is 2.4mg weekly; Ozempic tops out at 1mg or 2mg for diabetes control. If you see a clinic offering 'Ozempic for weight loss' without addressing this distinction, that's worth scrutinising. The names used to describe semaglutide products multiply the confusion, so getting them straight matters.

Rybelsus is oral semaglutide too, but again, licensed only for type 2 diabetes (at 3mg, 7mg and 14mg). The weight-loss oral version, Wegovy tablets (1.5mg escalating to 25mg), is a separate licensed product approved by the MHRA in June 2026. Same molecule; four completely different products with four different licensed roles. If you are unsure what semaglutide is called across its various formulations, our guide to the other names for semaglutide covers each one clearly. Knowing which is which isn't pedantry, it's patient safety.

How Wegovy and Mounjaro differ from each other in practice

Both are weekly injections, both slow gastric emptying and reduce appetite, both require a prescription following clinical assessment. The mechanism is where they split. Wegovy activates one receptor (GLP-1). Mounjaro activates two: GLP-1 and GIP. That dual action is why Mounjaro's trial results tend to sit higher, in the SURMOUNT-1 trial, average weight reduction at the top dose reached around 20–21% over 72 weeks, as published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Wegovy's STEP 1 trial recorded approximately 15% at 2.4mg; the newer 7.2mg dose narrowed that gap, with trials reporting around 20.7% at 72 weeks.

NICE has appraised both and recommends them under different criteria. Wegovy's recommendation (TA875) is tied to specialist weight management services for a maximum of two years. Tirzepatide's appraisal (NICE TA1026) opened a route into primary care from April 2026. Neither approval is a blank prescription, eligibility thresholds apply, and NHS waiting lists remain long for both. You can read more about how Wegovy sits alongside the wider field of weight-loss medicines if you want a fuller comparison.

For most people, the right medicine is a clinical question, not a product-research one. A prescriber weighs your BMI, your comorbidities, your current medications and your medical history before recommending anything. Preferences matter too, some people strongly prefer a tablet; others are fine with a weekly injection. Neither preference is wrong.

What this means when you're looking for private treatment

Private clinics can prescribe Wegovy or Mounjaro outside NHS criteria, subject to clinical assessment. The licensed eligibility for both covers adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above alongside at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or type 2 diabetes. Lower BMI thresholds apply for some ethnic backgrounds under UK guidance.

On pricing (and this is an honest answer to a question people reasonably ask) private weight-loss treatment varies considerably between providers. If you want context on what legitimate Wegovy treatment typically costs in the UK private market, the cost context page lays that out plainly. Worth knowing: any legitimate price includes a prescription issued following a clinical assessment, not just the medicine itself.

At nume, consultations are reviewed the same day by a real GPhC-registered prescriber, a person, not an automated system. That includes checking for interactions, contraindications and whether the right medicine for you is Wegovy or something else entirely. If you want to explore the full picture of semaglutide before speaking to anyone, the semaglutide overview covers the pharmacology and evidence in depth.

One practical note: dosing schedules, missed-injection guidance and any changes to your titration should always come from your prescriber and the Patient Information Leaflet, not from comparisons read online. If you're considering changing how frequently you inject, that's a conversation for your clinical team first.