Who can use the Wegovy pill in the UK?

Who the licence covers

The UK tablet licence covers adults with a starting BMI of 30 kg/m² or above, or a BMI from 27 to below 30 with at least one weight-related health condition. You take the tablets alongside a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity.

These are starting criteria in the product information. Meeting them gives no right to an NHS prescription, and you cannot judge your own eligibility from them. Being above a threshold does not guarantee benefit. Safety and effectiveness of the tablets have not been shown in people under 18.

History your prescriber needs

Tell your prescriber about past pancreatitis, significant digestive disease, kidney or liver problems, diabetes medicines and diabetic eye disease. The tablet label has specific cautions and limits for some of these groups. A long list of conditions calls for a personal review, with no automatic yes or no.

Discuss pregnancy plans and breastfeeding. If you take several medicines each morning, a pharmacist can help you fit the fasting and spacing instructions around them. If you cannot follow the routine reliably, raise this openly as a practical suitability issue.

Why honest answers help you

Give the reason you changed past treatments, as well as the names of medicines you tried. Stopping a medicine because of cost differs from stopping because of severe vomiting, an allergic reaction or confirmed pancreatitis. Give the dates of recent doses and explain any gaps.

Tell the prescriber about any history of eating disorders, large unplanned weight loss, difficulty getting enough food, alcohol use and symptoms nobody has investigated. These details shape the support or tests you need. Never hide them to pass an online assessment.

Eligibility and NHS funding are separate

A licensed use describes the group of people for whom a treatment may be prescribed. NHS recommendations and local pathways can be narrower and change over time. Private providers set their own clinical policies, which sit apart from the national licence.

If you are turned down, ask for the clinical reason and the next step. This might be a different treatment, a GP assessment, specialist input or more information. Giving different answers to several providers puts you at risk and breaks up your care.

A safe assessment also looks at what follow-up you can realistically get. If you struggle to get advice, understand the instructions or attend monitoring, you may need extra support. Your care plan should cover these needs. They are no personal failing, and no reason to prescribe without a proper plan.

Questions for your appointment

Ask which part of your history supports the prescription and which risks need monitoring. If your BMI has already fallen on another treatment, ask how your previous weight, current health and maintenance plan will be recorded.