Wegovy Eligibility In The UK

Wegovy (semaglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. These medicines mimic a natural hormone that helps regulate appetite and blood sugar.

Sometimes, this hormone system doesn’t work the way it should. Wegovy supports those signals and helps you feel fuller sooner and for longer.

Wegovy is licensed in the UK for long-term weight management when combined with healthier eating habits, physical activity, and ongoing support¹.

At Medicspot, every member receives coaching, weekly check-ins, and guidance to help build new routines that stick.

Wegovy eligibility in the UK is based on three things:

1. Your BMI
2. Your medical history
3. Whether Wegovy is clinically safe for you

These rules exist to ensure that the people who take Wegovy benefit from it and are protected from unnecessary risk².

Many people reading this will be eligible. If you’ve struggled with your weight for a long time, this could be the moment you finally get clarity.

Wegovy is generally recommended for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, even if no other medical conditions are present.

You may also be eligible with a BMI between 27 and 29.9 if you have a weight related health condition³, such as:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Type 2 diabetes (when safe to combine treatment)
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
• Sleep apnoea

These conditions signal that your weight may be affecting your health, which is why clinicians may consider Wegovy appropriate even at a slightly lower BMI than 30. These BMI criteria reflect private prescribing guidance, which differs from the stricter NHS NICE criteria for NHS-funded treatment.

Medicspot uses an evidence-based approach and always ensures clinical safety. A prescriber reviews your assessment manually and checks your NHS Summary Care Record to ensure Wegovy is safe and appropriate for you.

This section can feel intimidating, so read it slowly. Many people worry they’ll fall into one of these categories, but most don’t.

Wegovy may not be suitable if you have certain medical conditions³. These rules exist to protect you. Wegovy may not be prescribed if you have:

Previous pancreatitis or severe gastric illness

GLP-1 medication can increase the risk of pancreatitis, so a careful review is needed. A previous episode of pancreatitis requires careful assessment, but you may still be eligible.

Type 1 diabetes

Wegovy is not licensed for type 1 diabetes and cannot replace insulin.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding

Wegovy must not be used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. You must use adequate contraception during use to decrease the risk of getting pregnant while taking it

Severe kidney or liver disease

Wegovy can be used if you have a history of mild to moderate kidney or liver disease. In advanced kidney disease (such as stage 4-5 CKD or dialysis) or decompensated liver disease, your clinician may decide it is not suitable.

Eating disorders

If you have an active or recent history or symptoms of anorexia, bulimia, or binge-eating disorder, medication should be managed through specialist services.

Delayed gastric emptying

If you have a condition which means food moves through your bowel slower than usual you are at a higher chance of aspiration (when food goes down into your lungs and causes a chest infection.)

Allergy to semaglutide

This is uncommon but ruled out during the assessment.

These exclusions are not meant to frighten you. They simply ensure that the treatment is medically safe.

Wegovy may not be suitable if you take³:

• Insulin or sulfonylureas (due to low blood sugar risk)
• Certain diabetes medications
• Medicines affected by slowed stomach emptying
• Long-term high-dose steroids
• Some antipsychotics or mood stabilisers
• Some blood thinners 

It is worth noting that if you are taking thyroid medication you can still take Weygovy but it may affect the dose of thyroxine you need. It is important that you get your thyroid blood levels checked regularly, especially around Weygovy dose changes.

Your Medicspot clinician will review your medicines and your NHS Summary Care Record to check for interactions. You won’t need to figure this out alone.

You may still be eligible for Wegovy. Clinicians will look at:

• Your HbA1c
• Risk of hypoglycaemia
• Current diabetes medications
• Any diabetes-related complications

Wegovy is not licensed for type 1 diabetes. If you’re unsure which category you fall into, your clinician will clarify it during assessment.

The process is simple, but safe. You complete an assessment, and a clinician reviews:

• Your BMI
• Medical history
• Symptoms
• Medications
• Pregnancy, breast feeding and contraceptive status
• Risk factors
• Past diagnoses

We always check your NHS Summary Care Record (SCR) to confirm medication safety.

Wegovy is only licensed for adults aged 18 or older in the UK.

Some people reading this page may feel disappointed by how limited NHS access is. The NHS typically prescribes Wegovy only when:

• BMI is 35+, and
• You have at least one weight-related condition, and
• You attend a specialist weight-management service

In some cases, people from certain minority groups with a BMI of 30-34.9 and very high cardiovascular risk may also be eligible through specialist NHS services.

If you don’t meet those criteria, private treatment may be the only route. Medicspot provides a clinically supervised alternative without long waiting times.

If Wegovy isn’t safe or appropriate for you, you won’t be left without support. Your prescriber will suggest alternatives, which may include:

• Other GLP-1 medications like Mounjaro
• Non-GLP-1 medications (if safe)
• Behavioural change coaching
• Referral to NHS services

People often assume “not eligible” means “nothing will work.” That is not true. There are always next steps.

Many people arrive at this page carrying years of effort, disappointment, or self-blame.

You may have been told to “just eat less,” “try harder,” or “find more motivation” – as though willpower alone could override biology, hormones, stress, life circumstances, or the way your body responds to hunger.

Wegovy is not an easy way out. It’s an evidence-based medical treatment that helps your body work with you instead of against you. And reviewing your eligibility allows us to check that treatment is safe, appropriate, and likely to help you succeed.

If you’re eligible, you won’t be doing this alone. Medication is only one part of the journey. Our clinicians review every case carefully, and your health coach will support you with the routines, habits, and mindset that make long-term change possible.

If you’re not eligible, that’s ok too. We’ll guide you through safer alternatives and help you understand your next step.

¹ NHS. Who can take weight loss medicines. Last accessed November 2025. [https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/obesity/treatment]

² NICE Guidance. NG246 – Obesity: identification, assessment and management. Last accessed November 2025. [https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng246]

³ EMC. Wegovy Semaglutide Product Information. Last accessed November 2025.
[https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/13799/smpc]

NHS England. Weight-management medicines (GLP-1 receptor agonists) for obesity. Last accessed October 2025. [https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/prevention/obesity/medicines-for-obesity/]

Diabetes UK. Wegovy and GLP-1 medications – how they help with weight loss.
Last accessed October 2025. [https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about-diabetes/looking-after-diabetes/treatments/tablets-and-medication/glp-1/semaglutide/wegovy]

This article is for general information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. Medic Spot Limited has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but makes no warranty as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. In the event of an emergency, please call 999 for immediate assistance.

There is no guarantee of a specific weight loss medication being prescribed. Clinicians will review your online questionnaire and will recommend the most appropriate weight loss treatments for you based on your answers. In some cases the clinicians may contact you for additional information. See our Terms of Service for more information.