The Wegovy data sheet, read plainly

You've read 'GLP-1 receptor agonist', here is what that actually means for weight loss

Picture the hormones your gut releases when you eat. GLP-1 is one of them: it signals to your brain that you are full, slows how fast food leaves your stomach, and influences blood-sugar regulation. Semaglutide mimics that signal continuously, which is why people taking Wegovy typically feel satisfied on smaller amounts of food without consciously trying to eat less.

One misconception worth setting down gently: Wegovy is not a metabolism booster. It does not raise the rate at which your body burns calories at rest. The weight reduction comes from appetite regulation and the downstream calorie gap that follows, which is exactly what the clinical trial data reflect. Our semaglutide fact sheet covers the mechanism in more depth if you want to read further.

Because the medicine slows gastric emptying, it also affects how quickly oral medicines are absorbed. That is directly relevant if you take an oral contraceptive pill: NHS guidance currently notes this interaction for tirzepatide specifically, but it is worth raising with your prescriber for any time-sensitive oral medicine you rely on. The SmPC on the Electronic Medicines Compendium lists every contraindication and drug interaction in full.

What the data sheet says about who Wegovy is licensed for, and where the NHS criteria sit

The UK product licence covers adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 to 29.9 with at least one weight-related condition such as hypertension, high cholesterol, obstructive sleep apnoea, prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. Lower BMI thresholds apply for some ethnic backgrounds under UK clinical guidance. A BMI number on its own never determines suitability; your prescriber reviews the full picture, including other medicines you take and your medical history.

On the NHS, access is more restricted. NICE's appraisal of semaglutide (TA875) recommends it only within specialist weight management services, for a maximum of two years, and for adults with a BMI of 35 or above plus at least one weight-related comorbidity. Waiting lists for those services are commonly long. That is the gap a regulated private service fills, when Wegovy became available in the UK through private routes is a separate question the data on that page answers directly.

Wegovy is not licensed for anyone under 18, and is not recommended during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or while actively trying to conceive. History of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2 syndrome is a contraindication; a personal or family history of pancreatitis warrants prescriber discussion before starting.

Side effects the data sheet flags, and the one safety update worth knowing

The gastrointestinal profile is consistent across clinical studies: nausea leads, followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation and indigestion. These are not rare, they are expected, especially in the first weeks and after each dose increase. Most people find them manageable; eating smaller portions, avoiding very fatty meals and staying hydrated all help. They tend to settle as the body adjusts.

Beyond the GI symptoms, the safety data includes injection-site reactions, fatigue, headache and dizziness. Gallbladder problems (gallstones and inflammation) are listed as known risks; rapid weight loss in general raises gallbladder risk, so Wegovy is not uniquely unusual here, but it is worth being aware of.

The MHRA issued a Drug Safety Update in January 2026 highlighting acute pancreatitis across the GLP-1 class. Severe stomach pain that radiates to the back, with or without vomiting, warrants urgent medical attention rather than waiting to see if it passes. Suspected side effects can be reported directly at the MHRA Yellow Card scheme, which also accepts reports about suspect sellers. For a fuller look at the evidence on outcomes, the Wegovy weight-loss data page walks through the STEP trial results in detail.

The 7.2mg approval and what it adds to the picture

In April 2026 the MHRA approved a dedicated single-dose 7.2mg Wegovy pen (one pre-set weekly injection) for adults with a BMI of 30 or above. That upper-end dose is not a separate product so much as a higher rung on the same titration path, starting still at 0.25mg and moving up under prescriber guidance. Trial data at 7.2mg reported an average weight reduction of around 20.7% over 72 weeks, which narrows the gap with tirzepatide 15mg results considerably. Whether that dose format is clinically appropriate for you is a decision made at consultation, not at the pharmacy.

The Wegovy information sheet on our site covers storage, administration and what to do if a dose is missed, practical detail that the data sheet summarises but that is worth reading in full before your first pen arrives. If you have noticed changes in your feet since starting treatment, our page on Wegovy and feet explains what the evidence says and when it is worth mentioning to your prescriber. And if you are comparing Wegovy against other licensed options, the treatment overview page sets them side by side without the commercial noise.

For anyone ready to discuss whether Wegovy fits their situation, speaking to our prescribers through a free consultation is the next step. A GPhC-registered Independent Prescriber reviews every submission the same day, your answers go to a clinician, not an automated queue.