Wegovy – Weight Loss

Wegovy is a brand name for Semaglutide, a GLP-1 analogue. It is a weight loss drug manufactured by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk.

NICE issued guidelines this year recommending Wegovy to people with a particular BMI (usually 30kg/m2 and over) and at least one weight-related health condition.

NICE recommends that Wegovy be prescribed to people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes as an option for weight management within a weight management service. This will depend on a person’s circumstances and factors, such as their current treatment plan and risk of side effects.

Wegovy is now available in the UK but, at present, not in the Isle of Man

On 4 September 2023, Novo Nordisk announced that a limited supply of Wegovy will become available to people in specialist NHS weight management services who meet the NICE eligibility criteria or privately through a registered healthcare professional.

People prescribed Wegovy within these specialist NHS services will also receive dietary advice and exercise support.

Wegovy cannot yet be prescribed outside of specialist weight management services. Still, in June 2023, the Department of Health announced a two-year pilot to tackle obesity, which will explore how Wegovy can be prescribed outside of these services, which are essentially hospital-based.

The government says the NICE recommendations mean that around 35,000 people will have access to Wegovy. Still, to make it available to more people who could be eligible, the pilot will explore how GPs could safely offer Wegovy and how the NHS can provide support in the community or digitally.

Wegovy, Saxenda and Orlistat are the only medications licensed and approved for weight loss in the UK.

Unfortunately, at present, there are no Tier 3 weight management services on the Isle of Man – although I do hope that this is in the pipeline.

GLP-1 RA supply issues latest

There have been supply issues of glucagon-like peptide receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) this year.

Novo Nordisk says it expects supply to be “constrained for the foreseeable future”, which is why a proportion of available collection will be allocated for use only within the NHS.

Novo said it is closely monitoring demand for Wegovy.

Drugs such as Wegovy are an essential and valid weight management tool for those with or at risk of type 2 diabetes.

What are the differences between the different Semaglutide brand names?

Semaglutide is also licensed under Ozempic and Rybelsus, recommended by NICE and available on the NHS for managing blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

• Ozempic and Rybelsus are recommended to manage blood glucose in people with type 2 diabetes
• Wegovy is recommended for weight management in people with or without type 2 diabetes.

Wegovy and weight loss

Wegovy can lead to weight loss because it suppresses appetite, so you eat less. It mimics the action of a gut hormone called GLP-1, which is released after eating and slows down the movement of food in your gut so you stay full for longer. We have witnessed excellent results.

The amount of weight you lose on Wegovy would depend on your circumstances, the support you receive and how long you are on the medication.

In a significant study, the STEP 1 clinical trial, people on the maximum dose lost 12% more of their body weight than those not on the medication. Crucially, both groups received advice to reduce their calorie intake and increase their physical activity levels, which shows the importance of making those changes to get the best out of any weight loss medications.

Like other weight loss medications, there is evidence of weight regain when people stop using Wegovy, so it is important to continue to receive support in changing your diet and physical activity levels.

Does Wegovy have side effects?

Nausea is a common side effect when first starting Wegovy, while other side effects can include constipation and diarrhoea.

If you have diabetic eye disease (retinopathy) and are using insulin, then Wegovy may worsen your vision, which may require treatment. Tell your doctor if you have diabetic eye disease or experience eye problems during treatment with this medication.

For patients, I’ve included the PIL here – Patient Information Leaflet

You will see the guidelines that we should follow and the dosage given

It is important that a person takes individual advice from their healthcare team before starting a new prescription of Wegovy and reports any side effects.

Wegovy is available privately, but again specific criteria apply along with a weight management and healthy living programme.