The Wegovy questions people actually ask — answered plainly

Step 1, Before you start: what Wegovy actually is and how it differs from similar medicines

Plenty of people arrive at this topic having heard several brand names in the same conversation. Worth clearing up: Wegovy and Ozempic both contain semaglutide, but they are licensed for different purposes. Ozempic is licensed for type 2 diabetes. Wegovy is licensed for weight management. Rybelsus is an oral tablet form of semaglutide, but its strengths (3mg, 7mg, 14mg) are the diabetes formulation, not the weight-loss tablet. The full semaglutide picture covers these distinctions if you want the detail.

Wegovy is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It mimics a gut hormone that signals fullness to the brain, slows gastric emptying, and reduces the drive to eat. It does not suppress appetite by stimulating the central nervous system the way older weight-loss medicines did. The STEP 1 trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found an average body-weight reduction of around 15% over 68 weeks at the 2.4mg maintenance dose, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased activity. In January 2026 the MHRA approved a 7.2mg dose, and on 14 April 2026 a dedicated single-dose 7.2mg pen was cleared, trials at that level reported around 20.7% average weight loss over 72 weeks, narrowing the gap with tirzepatide.

One misconception worth letting go: people sometimes assume Wegovy and Mounjaro are essentially the same thing. They share a broad mechanism but Mounjaro (tirzepatide) activates two receptors, GIP and GLP-1, while Wegovy activates one. The clinical evidence places them differently, which is one of the things a prescriber weighs up. You can read more on the Wegovy treatment page if you want to compare them properly.

Step 2, Who it suits: the eligibility picture and what can rule someone out

The licensed criteria in the UK are a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 to 29.9 alongside at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnoea, or osteoarthritis. Lower BMI thresholds apply for some ethnic backgrounds under UK guidance. Having a BMI that meets the threshold is necessary, but it does not guarantee a prescription: the prescriber reviews the whole clinical picture.

Wegovy is not recommended during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or when actively trying to conceive. It is not licensed for under-18s. People with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2, or a history of pancreatitis should discuss this carefully with a prescriber before considering it. A full list of contraindications is in the patient information leaflet; the NHS semaglutide medicines page summarises the key ones in plain language.

On the NHS, access to Wegovy runs through specialist weight management services under NICE guidance (TA875) and waiting lists are commonly long. Private treatment through a regulated online pharmacy is the route many people take while they wait, or if they do not meet the NHS criteria. If you want to understand how the weight-loss treatment options compare across routes, that page lays it out without jargon.

Step 3, What to expect once treatment begins: side effects and the things that catch people off-guard

The most commonly reported side effects are gastrointestinal: nausea, loose stools, constipation, indigestion, and burping feature regularly in trial data. For most people they are most noticeable in the first week or two after starting, or after a dose increase, then settle as the body adjusts. Eating smaller portions, avoiding rich or fatty foods, and staying well hydrated helps. If you want a closer look at why the digestive symptoms happen, how Wegovy affects digestion explains the mechanism clearly.

Less common but worth knowing: there is a small, infrequent risk of acute pancreatitis. The MHRA issued a Drug Safety Update in January 2026 highlighting this for GLP-1 medicines as a class. Seek urgent medical help for severe, persistent abdominal pain that radiates to the back, particularly with vomiting. Indigestion on Wegovy covers what is normal versus what needs prompt attention.

People using oral contraceptives should know that their absorption may be slightly affected by the slowed gastric emptying that comes with GLP-1 treatment, the guidance is to use an additional non-oral method during the first four weeks and after dose increases. This is covered in NHS England's guidance on weight management injections. And if you are booked for surgery, tell your anaesthetist you are taking Wegovy; the altered stomach-emptying timing is relevant for general anaesthesia. None of this is reason to avoid treatment, but they are the details a good clinical review will cover with you. You can read more about where to inject Wegovy and the practical side of starting treatment separately.

Step 4, How to access Wegovy safely and what to look for in a provider

Wegovy is a prescription-only medicine. The only legal route to it in the UK is a prescription following a proper clinical assessment. Any seller offering it without that process is operating outside the law, and the MHRA has warned repeatedly about counterfeit pens seized from online sellers, some containing the wrong substance entirely. If a price looks strikingly low or a supplier is not registered on the GPhC register, that is a clear signal to step back.

You can check any online pharmacy instantly at the GPhC's pharmacy register. At nume, our GPhC-registered pharmacy (registration number 9012878) reviews every consultation with a named, qualified prescriber on the day it arrives. The cost of Wegovy as a private treatment varies by dose and provider; an honest account of what the market looks like, and what to watch for in headline prices that exclude consultation fees or aftercare, is on our guide to buying Wegovy online.

If you have more questions before starting, our frequently asked questions page covers the service in detail, and the clinical team profile for our lead prescriber is there if you want to know who is reviewing consultations. When you are ready, the place to begin is a free consultation with our prescribers.