Semaglutide (Wegovy) Posted or Updated on 13 Feb 2024

Semaglutide (Wegovy) launched in the UK on 4 September and is available on the NHS as an option for weight management in line with NICE guidance.

Wegovy cannot be prescribed outside of specialist weight management services.

Patients are eligible for treatment within a specialist weight management service if they have at least one weight-related comorbidity, such as hypertension or cardiovascular disease, and either a BMI of at least 35 or a BMI of 30 to 34.9, provided they meet the criteria for referral to specialist weight management services, including that conventional treatment has been unsuccessful.

People from some minority ethnic family backgrounds have lower BMI thresholds for eligibility. This means they might qualify at a slightly lower BMI compared to others.

Wegovy is for those dealing with obesity and weight-related problems, not for people who just want to lose some weight.

If you feel you meet the above criteria for referral to weight management services and would like to discuss this further, please make a routine appointment with a GP to discuss.