Strict criteria Brits need to fit in order to be eligible for Wegovy from NHS
Warning: This article contains discussion of eating disorders which some readers may find distressing
Any Brits wanting to get a Wegovy prescription through the NHS will have to make sure they fit the right criteria first.
Weight loss drugs are being hailed as some of the most important medical advances in recent times, but there aren't enough doses going around for everyone who fancies dropping a dress size or reclaiming a loop on their belt to have them.
Wegovy became available on the NHS back in September 2023, but it recently got a major competitor in the form of Mounjaro.
Advert
Of course, in the case of these weight loss drugs it's very much a case of the more the merrier, as there aren't enough doses to satisfy all interests and the recent Mounjaro rollout across the NHS has warned that people will have to meet some strict criteria.
While there is the option of going private and just buying these drugs without a prescription it's much cheaper and safer if you get them prescribed by a medical professional who can determine whether you really need to be taking them or not.
What is Wegovy?
It's a weight loss drug developed by Novo Nordisk based on the active ingredient of semaglutide, which has the thumbs up from the ladies and gentlemen in white coats.
It's not to be confused with Ozempic, another semaglutide-based drug from Novo Nordisk that people have been using for weight loss but isn't actually prescribed for that.
Basically, if you want a weight loss jab that contains semaglutide and comes from Novo Nordisk, you're better off thinking Wegovy rather than Ozempic.
Wegovy works by mimicking something called GLP-1, a naturally occurring hormone which helps tell your brain that you feel full and have had enough to eat.
The idea is that with your reduced appetite you'll eat less and with a lower calorie intake you should lose weight.
Of course, the jabs by themselves aren't just a magic drug to shed weight, if you want a healthier lifestyle then heed the words of Dr Giles Yeo MBE of the University of Cambridge, who told LADbible: "It doesn't improve your diet. It doesn't do anything else.
"You do need to take the opportunity, particularly as now you don't feel hungry when you exercise, or don't feel as hungry to exercise."
How do you get a prescription?
It'll be up to your GP to refer you to the NHS specialist weight management service, so you'll have to get that from your doctor if you want a prescription.
However, you'll need to make sure you fit the guidelines laid down by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) which spells out who it's supposed to be for.
Having weight loss drugs prescribed to you isn't the sort of thing that will just happen because you fancy shedding a few lbs.
Instead, you'll need to have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35 or over and a weight-related health condition such as cardiovascular disease or high blood pressure.
NICE says that in some exceptional circumstances the BMI requirements can drop down to 30, and people from some ethnic minority groups may be eligible at lower levels.
If you get through this process, then you can prescribed Wegovy via the NHS.
If you've been affected by any of the issues in this article and would like to speak with someone in confidence, call the BEAT Eating Disorders helpline on 0808 801 0677. Helplines are open 3pm-8pm Monday to Friday. Alternatively, you can try the one-to-one webchat.
Joe Harker