It has been hailed as a game‑changing moment for slimmers. Earlier this month, a new pill form of Wegovy – the blockbuster weight‑loss jab – was approved for use in the UK.
It contains semaglutide, the same appetite‑suppressing ingredient used in the injection – part of a new wave of treatments, alongside Mounjaro, that have transformed weight loss.
Take‑up of the Wegovy pill, as it’s known, is expected to be monumental, with recent polling suggesting that twice as many patients would be willing to take a weight‑loss tablet as the injections. Already, online pharmacies that plan to sell the drug say they have waiting lists topping 100,000 patients.
In the US, where the Wegovy pill has been available since January, patients have reported remarkable improvements.
One, Rebecca Walker, 47, from Nevada, told The Mail on Sunday she had lost more than 15lb in just two months by taking the medicine.
The mother of two had previously been a passionate runner but, after the menopause, found that she lacked the energy to exercise and slowly gained weight.
‘I knew I needed to do something but I didn’t want to take an injection,’ she says. ‘I wasn’t comfortable sticking myself. I would if I had a serious medical condition, but all I wanted to do was lose a bit of weight.’
Rebecca, a graphic designer, began taking the Wegovy pill in April and says that it has changed her life.
David Clarke, 40, from New York, started on the tablet three weeks ago and has already lost 5lb
Online pharmacies in the UK say they have waiting lists topping 100,000 patients who want to get their hands on the Wegovy pill
‘I quickly started to notice a difference,’ she says. ‘I started losing weight, I could fit into my clothes again and my energy went back up. I’m running again now.’
David Clarke, 40, from New York, started on the tablet three weeks ago and has already lost 5lb. The communications worker says he has struggled with his weight since the age of eight.
‘Since starting the pill, the food noise inside my head has really quietened,’ he says. ‘I used to think about food all the time – especially cakes, candy, cookies and ice cream. The pill has shut a lot of that down, and I’m still on a relatively low dose.’
However, experts say the Wegovy pill is not as simple to take as it might sound.
They warn that if patients fail to follow the correct steps, it can have little or no effect.
To answer your questions about the Wegovy pill, we turned to leading weight‑loss experts. Read on to learn more…
Question: I’ve heard the Wegovy pill has been approved – where can I get it?
Over the next few weeks the Wegovy pill will be rolled out at private clinics – but not on the NHS.
The daily tablet will be available to patients with a BMI of 30 or above – the same requirement as for the Wegovy injection.
Patients with a BMI of between 27 and 30 who also have a weight-related condition, such as heart disease, high blood pressure or sleep apnoea, may also be eligible for the pill.
Both of the drugs mimic a hormone in the body called GLP-1 – which triggers the sensation of feeling full.
Those already taking the highest dose of Wegovy injections (2.4mg) can switch straight to the highest dose of the Wegovy pill (25mg).
It was reported last week that major high street brands including Morrisons, Boots and Superdrug will stock the weight-loss medicine – along with online pharmacies such as Numan and Hims & Hers.
However, it is still unclear when the Wegovy pill will be available on the NHS.
It is understood that Wegovy manufacturer Novo Nordisk plans to meet with the UK Government to discuss rolling it out on the NHS. The price is thought to be the sticking point.
Question: I was put off by the cost of the jabs – will the pills be more affordable?
The Wegovy pill will almost certainly be cheaper than the injections, experts say.
Private clinics planning to offer the drug will be able to set their own prices, meaning that costs will vary depending on where patients buy it.
The price will also depend on the dose, with higher strengths costing more.
In the US, where Novo Nordisk publishes advisory prices for its medicines, a month’s supply of the highest 25mg dose costs about £225, compared with around £260 a month for injections, a saving of roughly £40.
Experts say the lower cost is largely because pills are cheaper to produce than injections.
However, this may not be true across the board.
In the past week, some UK providers have begun listing prices. Chemist4U, for example, is offering the 25mg Wegovy pill for £199 a month – the same price it charges for the injections.
Even so, specialists point out that the pill is likely to be significantly cheaper than rival jab Mounjaro, which typically costs around £300 a month. ‘The arrival of the Wegovy pill is good news for many, as it should prove a more affordable option,’ says Professor David Strain, a weight-loss expert at the University of Exeter.
‘Although ultimately it would be better if it were available on the NHS, so everyone who needs it can access it.’
Patients in the US say the lower price is a key reason they opted for the pill. ‘The cost of the injections was just too high for me,’ says Rebecca Walker, who bought the drug from Hims & Hers.
‘I can actually afford to stick with the pills.’
Question: I’ve heard that weight‑loss pills are less effective than injections. Is that true?
Yes, but not by much. Studies suggest that patients taking the Wegovy pill lose on average about 14 per cent of their body weight. Those on injections tend to lose about 15 per cent – that’s a difference of just one percentage point.
‘Patients tend to find the pills are less intense than the Wegovy jabs to start,’ says Dr Craig Primack, head of weight loss at Hims & Hers.
‘But once you’re taking the highest dose, it has practically the same effect.’
However, this still makes the tablet less powerful than rival jab Mounjaro, which is associated with average weight loss of around 20 per cent.
‘The pills are going to be less effective,’ says Dr Madusha Peiris, a weight‑ loss expert at Queen Mary University of London.
‘The weight loss will be less intensive and may take a bit longer. But that could suit some patients – not everyone wants to lose a large amount of weight as quickly as possible.’
Experts say that the drug’s effectiveness also depends on how it is taken.
According to Novo Nordisk, the Wegovy pill must be taken with a small glass of water after an eight‑hour fast. Patients must then avoid eating for a further 30 minutes while it is absorbed.
‘The drug will only work if people follow these instructions,’ says Prof Strain. ‘If there is food in the gut when you swallow the pill, less of the drug will be absorbed and it won’t have the same appetite‑suppressing effect.’
However, patients already taking the tablet say the routine is relatively easy to stick to.
‘The first thing I do when I wake up is take my pill,’ says David Clarke. ‘Then I set a 30‑minute timer on my phone. I’ll walk my dog around the block, and by the time I’m back the alarm goes off and I can have breakfast and coffee.’
Question: I was worried about horrible side effects – is the pill easier on the body?
The weight‑loss pills have broadly the same side effects as the injections, although some patients say that they are milder.
According to studies, the most commonly reported problems include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, bloating and heartburn, as well as fatigue and dizziness (see panel, left).
These symptoms typically occur when patients first start taking the drug, or when their dose is increased. In most cases, they ease after a few weeks.
In rare cases, the Wegovy pill can trigger pancreatitis – inflammation of the pancreas that, if left untreated, can be serious. ‘It contains the same drug as the Wegovy injection, so the side effects are going to be the same,’ says Dr Primack.
However, experts say that, anecdotally, symptoms may be less severe in some patients taking the tablet form.
‘For the first couple of days I had an upset stomach,’ says Rebecca Walker. ‘But it wasn’t anything to worry about.’
Question: I know of people who didn’t lose weight on these drugs – what can I do to ‘supercharge’ the pills?
Experts say diet is key to getting the best results from the Wegovy pill, particularly for those who eventually want to come off it.
While, for many, weight‑loss drugs can be life‑changing, some patients fail to see any meaningful results.
Studies suggest that around one in five people do not lose a significant amount of weight, and as many as 85 per cent hit a plateau where progress slows or stops altogether.
Research also shows that two‑thirds of patients regain most of the weight they had lost once they stop taking the drugs – meaning that many remain on them long‑term.
For these reasons, experts stress the importance of improving diet while on the treatment.
‘Many patients start these drugs and don’t change anything about their habits,’ says Dr Peiris. ‘They might eat less, but when they do they choose fatty, highly processed foods like ice cream.
‘Being on these drugs is the ideal time to overhaul your diet, when you have more control over your appetite.’
Dr Peiris says that two of the most important nutrients are protein and fibre.
‘Protein helps maintain muscle, which is crucial during weight loss,’ she says. ‘But research suggests natural sources, such as vegetables, pulses and lean meat like chicken, are better than highly processed protein from shakes or snack bars.
‘Fibre, meanwhile, is found in vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds and pulses. A high‑fibre diet helps people feel fuller for longer and reduces the risk of overeating, which is especially important when coming off these drugs.’
She adds: ‘There is also growing evidence that foods rich in certain fatty acids, such as omega‑3, may help the body produce more of the GLP‑1 hormone that these drugs mimic.
‘Good sources include salmon, other oily fish and nuts such as walnuts and pecans.’
Patients say patience is also key to getting the best results.
‘It wasn’t like a magic pill that instantly fixed my relationship with food,’ says David Clarke. ‘But over time I’ve noticed that my cravings have faded. For the first time, I feel like I have a normal appetite.
‘It’s such a relief not to be thinking about food all the time – but I know I still need to stick with it and make healthy choices.’
Not everyone finds the pills easy, or loses weight quickly
Rosa Hart, a nurse from Kentucky in the US, has been taking the Wegovy pill for five weeks, after previously losing three and a half stone on the injection in 2023.
The 37-year-old switched in search of a cheaper option, saving about £30 a month. ‘If I need to take it long-term, it’s more affordable, especially as I can taper to a lower dose,’ she says.
Rosa Hart has lost weight using injections, but switched to the pill to save costs
Her experience has been mixed. ‘In the first two weeks I had mind‑blowing fatigue – I felt constantly tired and my legs were heavy. Then, for about a week, I didn’t feel motivated to do things I usually enjoy.’
These side effects have since worn off.
Rosa started on a low 1.5mg dose and moved up to 4mg last week. She takes the pill first thing in the morning. ‘It’s easy to remember on weekdays – weekends are harder when my routine changes and I want coffee earlier,’ she says.
She currently weighs 15st 12lb and hopes to reach 11st 6lb. ‘Diabetes and high blood pressure run in my family, so my main goal is staying healthy,’ she adds.
So far, she has not lost weight. ‘I even gained 2lb last week,’ she says. ‘But people say that weight loss can take time at lower doses.’
Her advice is simple: ‘Be patient – and make sure you’re eating enough protein so you don’t lose muscle.’
