Wegovy: Weight loss medication

Wegovy weight loss treatment is an injectable medication. It can only be prescribed if you are obese or overweight and have a weight related health condition. This means your BMI must be 30 or over. Alternatively, you must have a BMI of 27 or over if you have a weight related health condition. It contains the active ingredient semaglutide. This can also be used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Semaglutide is a manmade version of a hormone that our body creates naturally called glucagon-like peptide-1. Usually, this is released into your bloodstream after eating and can regulate your blood sugar levels.

Wegovy works to replicate this hormone, which can affect the parts of your brain in control of appetite and hunger. When taken once a week, Wegovy can make you feel more satisfied after eating and leaves you feeling fuller for longer. This means you are less likely to eat over your calorie intake for the day and will reduce snacking. It can also make it easier to stick to a weight loss plan.

Wegovy should be used alongside increased exercise and a reduced calorie meal plan.

Wegovy is similar to Saxenda because they both act in the body like the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 and are injected, but there are differences. The active ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide and the active ingredient in Saxenda is liraglutide.

They both help with weight loss as they leave you feeling fuller for longer but Saxenda must be taken every day whilst Wegovy is taken once a week. Saxenda is also available through our online doctor service and can be prescribed to you, if you are suitable for it.

Wegovy has only recently become a licensed medication in the UK. Due to this, the price is not currently known. You can request other weight loss treatments like Saxenda through our online doctor service, with prices starting from just £44.

Saxenda, which is a similar medication to Wegovy currently costs £55 for a 1 pen pack. If you purchase it in bulk, the price goes down to £46 a pen.

Yes, Wegovy contains the active ingredient semaglutide, which is a prescription medication. Wegovy can only be prescribed to you if you are suitable for it. This means your doctor must make sure that your BMI is over 30. If you have a weight related health condition, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure (hypertension), or type 2 diabetes, your BMI must be 27 or more to get Wegovy. Your doctor will also check that Wegovy is safe for you to use based on your other health conditions and other medications that you are taking.

Wegovy should be available through our online doctor service soon, but no date has been confirmed as of yet. If you are struggling with weight loss in the meantime, you can find out more about our other weight loss treatments through our website.

Note: we’ve just been advised by the manufacturer of Wegovy, Novo Nordisk, that their new weight loss treatment will not be available this summer. Novo Nordisk is working to launch the new treatment in the UK as soon as possible. We will keep you informed on the timing as more information becomes available. In the meantime, there are other products available within our online doctor weight loss service.