Wegovy FAQs: the questions people actually ask before starting

Step 1 — understanding what Wegovy is and how it changes your appetite

Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, copies the action of GLP-1, a hormone your gut releases after eating. By activating GLP-1 receptors, it slows the speed at which your stomach empties and signals to the brain that you have eaten enough. The result for most people is a meaningful reduction in hunger and, often, a shift in how much food they want at a meal. That is not willpower. It is biology working differently.

Wegovy is not the same as Ozempic. Both contain semaglutide, but Ozempic is licensed for type 2 diabetes management, not weight loss. Semaglutide for weight loss in the UK is delivered specifically through Wegovy, the formulation studied and authorised for that purpose by the MHRA. The distinction matters for anyone who has seen Ozempic mentioned in the press and assumed the two products are interchangeable for weight management, they are not, under UK licensing.

The STEP 1 trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, followed adults using semaglutide 2.4mg for 68 weeks and recorded an average body-weight reduction of around 15%. Results vary between individuals, and no outcome can be guaranteed.

Step 2, who qualifies, and what the prescriber is actually checking

The licensed eligibility criteria for Wegovy are a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI of 27 to 29.9 alongside at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, or obstructive sleep apnoea. Lower BMI thresholds can apply for people from certain ethnic backgrounds under UK clinical guidance.

A prescriber is not simply verifying a number on a scale. They are reviewing your full health picture: current medications, relevant medical history, and any conditions that would make Wegovy unsuitable. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, or actively trying to conceive all mean treatment is not recommended. The same applies to people under 18, and those with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2. You can read more about eligibility on the Wegovy eligibility page.

On the NHS, access to Wegovy is through specialist weight management services and remains subject to waiting lists; NICE's recommendation under TA875 sets out the criteria. For people who do not meet the NHS thresholds or prefer not to wait, a regulated private service is the alternative, subject to the same clinical standards.

Step 3, what to expect from side effects and the titration schedule

The dose schedule starts low for a reason. Treatment begins at Wegovy 0.25mg, moving up in stages every four weeks or so to give your body time to adjust and tends to reduce the intensity of side effects. The prescriber sets the pace; the NHS semaglutide medicines page describes what patients can expect at each stage.

Side effects are mostly gastrointestinal: nausea is the most commonly reported, followed by loose stools, constipation, indigestion and burping. For most people these are mild to moderate and settle within a couple of weeks. They tend to return briefly after each dose increase, then fade again. Fatigue, headache and dizziness are reported less often.

A small number of people experience more serious reactions. Severe, persistent stomach pain that radiates toward the back should not be waited out, get medical help promptly, as this can be a sign of pancreatitis, which the MHRA has highlighted as a rare but serious risk for GLP-1 medicines. Any suspected side effect can be reported via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.

If you are using oral contraceptives, tirzepatide (Mounjaro) specifically carries guidance to use an additional method during the first weeks of treatment and after each dose increase; the equivalent evidence for semaglutide is less clear-cut, but it is worth discussing contraception and any HRT with your prescriber before you start. Details of dosing formats available at each stage are on the Wegovy dosing page.

Step 4, buying Wegovy safely and knowing what legitimate access looks like

Wegovy is a prescription-only medicine. That means a prescriber who has assessed your suitability must authorise it, supply from any channel that bypasses that step is unlawful and, more to the point, unsafe. The MHRA has made large seizures of fake weight-loss pens sold through social media and unverified websites; some contained insulin rather than semaglutide. The price of a counterfeit pen is not a saving.

When checking any online pharmacy, the simplest test is the GPhC pharmacy register. Every registered UK pharmacy has a premises number you can look up. Prices that sit well below the market, sellers who do not require a consultation, or platforms advertising discount codes for POMs are all warning signs worth taking seriously. A summary of how to buy Wegovy online safely runs through the steps in full.

For anyone ready to find out whether they are suitable, speaking to a prescriber is the right next move. At nume, consultations are free, and every application is read the same day by a GPhC-registered Independent Prescriber. If you have questions about cost, the treatment options page sets out what is included in a single transparent price, consultation, prescription, free next-working-day delivery and 7-day aftercare, with no subscription attached.

If anything in these FAQs has left a question unanswered, our team is available seven days a week. When you are ready, speak to our prescribers and get a same-day clinical review.