What is Wegovy?
Wegovy is a once-weekly injection licensed in the UK for weight management in adults with obesity (a BMI of 30 or above), or with overweight (a BMI of 27 or above) and at least one weight-related health condition. It is used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity.
Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It copies a natural gut hormone that acts on the parts of the brain that control appetite and hunger. Wegovy is a higher-dose version of semaglutide, which is also used at lower doses to treat type 2 diabetes.
How does Wegovy work?
Wegovy slows the emptying of the stomach and promotes a feeling of fullness by acting on the brain. This helps you eat less and makes it easier to stick to a lower-calorie diet.
In the STEP 1 trial, adults with obesity or overweight who did not have diabetes lost on average 14.9% of their body weight over 68 weeks on Wegovy, compared with 2.4% on placebo.
In the STEP 2 trial, adults who also had type 2 diabetes lost on average 9.6% on Wegovy, compared with 3.4% on placebo.
Results vary from person to person. The most common side effects are digestive, such as nausea, diarrhoea and constipation. Read our guide to the side effects of Wegovy.
Who can get Wegovy in the UK?
On the NHS, NICE recommends Wegovy (technology appraisal TA875) for adults who have at least one weight-related health condition and a BMI of 35 or more, or a BMI of 30 to 34.9 and who meet NICE's referral criteria. Lower BMI thresholds apply for some ethnic backgrounds. It is for up to two years, through a specialist weight management service.
Privately, a UK-registered clinician decides whether Wegovy is suitable for you based on your BMI, health history and any other medicines you take.
Obesity in the UK
Obesity is a common issue in the UK, with 1 in 4 adults in the UK being obese and 1 in 5 children aged 10-11.
The most widely used method to check if you're a healthy weight is known as body mass index (BMI). Your BMI is a measure of whether you're a healthy weight for your height.
You can use our BMI calculator to work out your score.
For most adults, a BMI of:
- 18.5 to 24.9 means you're a healthy weight
- 25 to 29.9 means you're overweight
- 30 to 39.9 means you're obese
- 40 or above means you're severely obese
How do I get Wegovy in the UK?
Wegovy is licensed in the UK and is one of the treatments PrivateDoc can prescribe if a UK-registered clinician decides it is suitable for you. You can see all of our options on the weight loss page or read how Wegovy treatment works.
The consultation is free and you only pay if a prescription is approved.
To find out whether Wegovy is right for you, start a free online consultation.
