Wegovy

Wegovy is a brand of semaglutide supplied as a once-weekly injection in a pre-filled FlexTouch pen. It is a prescription-only medicine, licensed in the UK for weight management in adults alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. The same active ingredient is used at lower doses in some type 2 diabetes treatments, but Wegovy is dosed specifically for weight management.

Semaglutide imitates GLP-1, a hormone your gut releases after a meal. It slows how quickly food leaves the stomach and acts on the parts of the brain that regulate appetite, so hunger is less insistent and you feel satisfied on less food. Unlike tirzepatide, which acts on two receptors, semaglutide works through GLP-1 alone - a single-target medicine with a long track record behind it.

One injection a week, on the same day each week, with or without food. Inject into the fatty tissue of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm and change the spot each week. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember provided your next scheduled dose is still more than two days away; if it is closer than that, skip the missed dose entirely rather than doubling up. Store pens in the fridge before first use. Full instructions come with your order.

In the manufacturer's main weight-management trial programme, adults on the full 2.4mg dose lost around 15% of their body weight on average over roughly 16 months, alongside diet and activity changes. That figure is an average - individual outcomes ranged widely, and a minority saw little change. Progress is usually steady rather than dramatic, and the early weeks on starter doses are about building tolerance rather than losing weight. Treat any promise of a specific figure with suspicion.

Digestive effects are the common ones: nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation, indigestion and burping. They are usually mild to moderate, tend to appear or worsen in the days after a dose increase, and often ease as you adjust. Smaller meals, going easy on fatty or rich food and staying hydrated all help. Less commonly, gallbladder problems and pancreatitis can occur - severe, persistent stomach pain spreading to your back needs urgent medical attention. Tell your prescriber what else you take, including anything for diabetes.

Treatment is generally considered for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 and above alongside a weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, sleep apnoea or type 2 diabetes. It is not suitable in pregnancy, while breastfeeding or when trying to conceive, and some medical histories and medicines rule it out or need extra care. A prescriber makes that judgement from your consultation answers - the calculator on this page is only a rough guide.

This is treatment for a long-term condition rather than a fixed course. Appetite generally returns once the medicine stops, and trial data show most people regain a substantial share of the weight they lost within a year of stopping. Some stay on it long term, some reduce to a lower maintenance dose, and some plan a supported stop with diet and activity changes to hold their weight. Make that decision with your prescriber rather than alone.