Is Ozempic available on the NHS for weight loss?

Weight loss isn't straightforward and doing it alone can be isolating and unmotivating and a little extra support can make all the difference in reaching your target body weight.

Weight loss medications can be helpful for some; helping to regulate appetite, reduce calorie consumption and dull cravings. But, what's the deal with accessing weight loss medicines?

If you're here, you're likely wondering if Ozempic is available for weight loss treatment through the NHS. We've created this guide to answer everything you need to know about weight loss injections and how to access them. Let's dive in.

What is Ozempic?

Ozempic is a medication that was originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes but has more recently been used for weight loss management. The active ingredient in Ozempic is semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist.

It works by targeting the area of the brain that is responsible for regulating appetite, while also helping to slow down digestion and keep you feeling fuller for longer.

How does Ozempic encourage weight loss?

Ozempic works by mimicking GLP-1, a natural hormone produced by the body after eating. This hormone is tasked with helping you feel full after consuming food [1]. GLP-1 also helps to maintain blood sugar levels by regulating insulin secretion after you eat and actively lowers blood sugar levels if too high.

In practical terms, Ozempic works to slow the rate at which your stomach empties, which keeps you feeling full and satiated for longer after consuming smaller amounts of food. This usually results in you eating and snacking less throughout the day, lowering your calorie consumption.  

Ozempic works by focusing on the brain's appetite-regulating receptors, helping to reset your body's natural "set point" — the weight it biologically aims to sustain. This shift plays a key role in promoting long-term, sustainable weight loss.

Is Ozempic available on the NHS?

Ozempic is available on the NHS but only to treat type 2 diabetes [2]. The official guidance is that this medication should only be prescribed for those with type 2 diabetes and not solely for weight loss.

While this might be disappointing news, there is an upside: while you can't access Ozempic, there are other weight loss injections available including Wegovy.

How do you qualify for NHS weight loss injections?

Weight loss medication, Wegovy, is available on the NHS for those living with obesity and weight-related health problems. Saxenda, with the active ingredient liraglutide, is the other weight loss medication available on the NHS.

However, there are eligibility criteria for accessing Wegovy through the NHS, based on your body mass index (BMI).

According to the NHS England, the BMI requirements are:

• 35 or more, or 32.5 or more if you're of Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean origin
• 30 to 34.9, or 27.5 to 32.4 if you're of Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean origin, and you meet other criteria to be treated by a specialist weight management service [3]

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommendations state that Wegovy should always be prescribed alongside diet and physical activity support. The BMI guidelines also include a weight-related health condition, like high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease [2].

Can you access Wegovy privately?

Wegovy is available through private prescription but must be accessed through a specialist weight management service, like Juniper, that can offer guidance on lifestyle, nutrition and exercise and prescribe weight loss injections.

In fact, Juniper offers both Wegovy and Mounjaro as part of our Weight Reset Programme.

Wegovy for weight loss

Wegovy is a GLP-1 weight loss medication and contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic, semaglutide. Wegovy mimics the GLP-1 hormone to reduce appetite and cravings to keep you feeling fuller for longer.

And, weight loss results on this medication are impressive. A study from 2021 looked at 1,961 obese and overweight adults who were randomly assigned semaglutide injections or a placebo. After 68 weeks, those on a higher dose of GLP-1 medication, lost an average of 15.3kg, while the placebo group lost an average of 2.6kg [4].

Mounjaro for weight loss

Mounjaro, on the other hand, contains the active ingredient tirzepatide and acts on both the GLP-1 hormone as well as another hormone pathway called glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). The combined effects of GLP-1 and GIP work to regulate your appetite, encourage fat loss and block fat gain.

The dual-action nature of Mounjaro is incredibly powerful and according to recent clinical trials, Mounjaro is the most effective weight loss treatment available right now. A clinical trial from 2022 of over 2,500 patients found an average of up to 20.9% body weight loss in patients on GLP-1/GIP after 72 weeks [5].

Losing weight with Juniper

Juniper offers a holistic weight loss programme that focuses on 3 key areas.

• A biological reset: We prescribe weight loss injections that target the receptors in the brain that control your appetite. These medications help lower your body's 'set point', which is the weight it fights to maintain on a biological level. This helps you lose weight.
• A behavioural reset: Our clinicians, health coaches and community supports you every step of the way. During the programme, you'll learn sustainable nutritional, exercise and lifestyle choices, while tracking your progress to help you form long-term habits that stick. Your specialist weight management clinician will teach you how to maintain a healthy diet, what exercise works for you and other long-term strategies that go beyond medication.
• Our community: Research shows that people in group communities achieve greater weight loss than those who do it alone. That's why we're here — we're dedicated to helping women make lifestyle changes that are often difficult to achieve on their own.