You may have heard of the weight loss medication Wegovy, but what exactly is it, and what does semaglutide have to do with it? 

Well, we’re here to answer all of your questions. Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Wegovy, and Wegovy was approved to treat obesity in adults in 2023.

What is semaglutide?

Before it was used to help with weight loss, semaglutide was first prescribed to people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes to lower their blood sugar levels. 

Semaglutide is available under three different brand names:

• Ozempic 
• Rybelsus 
• Wegovy 

Ozempic and Wegovy are administered by injection, whereas Rybelsus comes in tablet form. Only Wegovy is approved as an obesity treatment.

How does semaglutide work?

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that mimics your body’s naturally occurring hormone GLP-1. It works by interacting with the hormones created in your pancreas (insulin and glycogen).

They help promote insulin secretion in the pancreas while slowing down glucogen production.

Semaglutide is a long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist, which means it works in your body for longer, and you’ll need to take this medication less often than you would if it was a short-acting GLP-1 such as liraglutide. This is why Wegovy injections only need to be administered once a week, compared to Saxedna, which is taken once daily.

How does Wegovy (semaglutide) work for weight loss?

As we’ve just mentioned, semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist; it works to help you lose weight by targeting the area of the brain that regulates your appetite, which may help you eat less. Of course, eating less food typically means fewer calories! 

It also slows down gastric emptying, leaving you feeling fuller for longer.

However, it’s important to remember that although semaglutide can help with weight loss, it must be used alongside a healthy, balanced diet and exercise to achieve the best results. 

Wegovy is only prescribed for weight loss to adults with a BMI of 30 and above or a BMI of 27 and a weight-related health condition, for example, cardiovascular disease or high cholesterol.

How does semaglutide treat diabetes?

If you have type 2 diabetes, it means one of two things: your body isn’t creating enough insulin, or the insulin that it’s making isn’t as effective as it should be. Semaglutide helps to treat diabetes by producing more insulin when your body needs it. However, it isn’t an effective treatment for people with type 1 diabetes.

By increasing insulin production, semaglutide helps diabetics manage their blood sugar levels more effectively, reducing the risk of complications. 

Obesity can put you at risk of type 2 diabetes. Therefore, semaglutide has the potential to prevent diabetes in patients with a high BMI.

Is semaglutide safe?

Semaglutide is generally a safe and effective treatment for both obesity and type 2 diabetes. However, that doesn’t mean it’s safe for everyone to take. It’s a prescription medication, which means it comes with certain risks and potential side effects. Most of the side effects of semaglutide are gastro-intestinal related due to how it works in your body. 

Before semaglutide was approved as a treatment, it had to undergo testing before it was approved and given a licence for use. 

Semaglutide has a low risk of any severe adverse reactions, making it a safe option when it comes to diabetes and weight loss management. 

What is the difference between Wegovy and Ozempic (semaglutide brand names)?

Although Wegovy and Ozempic contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide, they treat different health issues. 

Firstly, Ozempic is only approved as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. It’s prescribed in lower doses than Wegovy. You will only be prescribed Ozempic if you’re diabetic. Wegovy is also available in five different strengths, whereas Ozempic is available in three. 

On the other hand, Wegovy is approved to treat obesity. The medication is only available on prescription. Until recently, patients could only access Wegovy through a private prescriber, like ourselves. However, it’s now available to those who fit the strict criteria on the NHS. 

Even though Wegovy and Ozempic contain the same active ingredient, Ozempic shouldn’t be used as a weight loss treatment, and Wegovy shouldn’t be used to treat diabetes; this is because the dosage schedule of the medications and their strengths are different depending on what you are treating. 

Is Mounjaro semaglutide?

Although Mounjaro is also a GLP-1 receptor agonist, it doesn’t contain semaglutide. The active ingredient in Mounjaro is tirzepatide. 

Tirzepatide works very similarly to semaglutide, but not only is it a GLP-1 receptor agonist, it’s also a GIP receptor agonist; this means that Mounjaro is a dual receptor agonist. Both GIP-1’s and GIP’s affect your digestive system, complementing one another. 

Mounjaro was first available in early 2024 as a weight loss treatment. Following in the footsteps of Wegovy, eligible patients can soon access it on the NHS, which is expected to start in March 2025. 

Can I buy semaglutide?

Currently, the only semaglutide you can buy for weight loss is Wegovy. It can’t be purchased over the counter (OTC) as it’s a prescription-only medication. 

Semaglutide can be bought from myBMI upon successful completion of a consultation with one of our prescribers. Our prescribers will ask you some questions about your health, weight, lifestyle and medications you are taking. 

However, new regulations issued by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) mean that prescribers cannot decide solely based on the answers you provided in your questionnaire. Your height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) must now be verified. The updates have been implemented to ensure that people can’t provide inaccurate information to obtain medications that may be unsuitable for them. 

Now that you know semaglutide is the active ingredient in Wegovy, you might consider it a weight loss option. 

Our site offers plenty of advice on Wegovy and other weight loss treatments, helping you make the most of your weight loss journey.