NHS Ozempic eligibility criteria
To get an NHS Ozempic prescription, you must meet the criteria set out in NICE guidance (NG28) for managing type 2 diabetes.1
- You’re living with type 2 diabetes that isn’t well controlled by diet, exercise, and other diabetes medications
- Your HbA1c (a measure of your average blood sugar over the past 2 to 3 months) stays at 53 mmol/mol (7.0%) or above despite treatment with metformin or other diabetes medications
- You either can’t take metformin, or your blood sugar is still too high despite taking it
Ozempic isn’t suitable for everyone. Your prescriber will check that you don’t have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2, and that you haven’t had pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).2
Living with obesity or being above a healthy weight doesn’t qualify you for Ozempic on the NHS on its own. The prescription has to be for improving blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes.
How Ozempic works to support type 2 diabetes
Ozempic mimics a gut hormone called GLP-1, which prompts the body to release more insulin after eating, reduces appetite, and slows how quickly food leaves the stomach.4
In the SUSTAIN trials, which involved more than 8,000 adults with type 2 diabetes, Ozempic lowered HbA1c by about 1.5% and led to weight loss of up to 6 kg over 30 to 56 weeks.4
The UK licence allows doses of up to 2 mg per week, administered as a once-weekly injection.2
Why you can’t get Ozempic for weight loss on the NHS
Ozempic is only approved in the UK for treating type 2 diabetes, so prescribing it purely for weight loss would be off-label, and the NHS follows the licensed indication.2
Between 2022 and early 2025, the UK experienced significant shortages of GLP-1 medications, driven in part by demand for off-label weight-loss prescribing.
In May 2023, the Department of Health and Social Care issued a national patient safety alert advising prescribers not to start new patients on Ozempic for weight management to protect supply for people living with type 2 diabetes.
The acute shortages were reported to have been resolved in early 2025, but the guidance to reserve Ozempic for its licensed use in type 2 diabetes still stands.
If you want a semaglutide injection for weight loss, the licensed route is Wegovy, which contains the same drug at higher doses and is approved specifically for weight management.
Our Wegovy and Ozempic comparison explains why both contain semaglutide but have different UK licences and doses.
Private alternatives: Wegovy and Mounjaro
If you don’t qualify for NHS Ozempic but want a weight-loss injection, the two licensed options in the UK are Wegovy and Mounjaro.
| Medication |
Drug and maximum dose |
UK approval |
Average weight loss at the top dose |
| Ozempic |
Semaglutide, up to 2 mg a week |
Type 2 diabetes only |
Not licensed for weight loss |
| Wegovy |
Semaglutide, up to 7.2 mg a week |
Weight management |
20.7% (STEP UP, 7.2 mg) |
| Mounjaro |
Tirzepatide, up to 15 mg a week |
Type 2 diabetes and weight management |
22.5% (SURMOUNT-1, 15 mg) |
Wegovy (semaglutide)
Wegovy contains the same drug as Ozempic (semaglutide) but is licensed for weight management and is administered at higher doses.5
The MHRA approved a higher 7.2 mg dose of Wegovy in January 2026, which is now the licensed top dose.
In the STEP UP trial, people taking Wegovy 7.2 mg lost an average of 20.7% of their body weight over 72 weeks.6
Mounjaro (tirzepatide)
Mounjaro contains tirzepatide, which mimics two appetite hormones, GLP-1 and GIP, rather than one. That dual action likely explains its slightly higher average weight loss than Wegovy’s.8
In the SURMOUNT-1 trial, people taking Mounjaro 15 mg lost an average of 22.5% of their body weight over 72 weeks, around 1 to 2 percentage points more than Wegovy 7.2 mg.6,8
Private eligibility is wider than NHS eligibility
What a medication is licensed for and who the NHS will fund are two different things.
Under their UK licences, Wegovy and Mounjaro can be prescribed privately to adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above with at least one weight-related condition such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep apnoea.5,7
Our guide to Wegovy on the NHS explains the eligibility criteria and how specialist weight-management services prescribe it.
NHS vs private pathways
A small but growing number of people can now get Wegovy or Mounjaro on the NHS, but the criteria are stricter than for a private prescription.
Wegovy is available through NHS specialist weight-management services under NICE guidance (TA875), usually for people with a BMI of 35 or above and at least one weight-related condition, and it’s funded for up to 2 years.5
Second Nature runs one of these specialist services, and the section on our tier 3 service explains how to get referred.
Mounjaro is being rolled out on the NHS under NICE guidance (TA1026), with GP prescribing in England starting from 23rd June 2025.7
The rollout is phased over up to 12 years, starting with an estimated 220,000 people with the highest clinical need, so most eligible people won’t be able to access it through their GP straight away.7
Our guide to getting Mounjaro on the NHS covers the pathway and what to ask your GP.
| Aspect |
NHS pathway |
Private pathway |
| Eligibility |
Ozempic for type 2 diabetes; Wegovy or Mounjaro usually for a BMI of 35 or above with a weight-related condition, through specialist services or the phased GP rollout |
Wegovy or Mounjaro for a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above with a weight-related condition (varies by provider) |
| Assessment |
GP or specialist diabetes or weight-management team |
Online or in-person consultation with a prescriber |
| Waiting time |
Variable; specialist weight-management waits can run from several months to over a year |
Often 1 to 2 weeks |
| Medication cost |
£9.90 per prescription item, or free if you’re exempt |
Around £150 to £375 a month, depending on the medication and dose |
| Follow-up care |
NHS diabetes or weight-management team reviews |
Varies by provider, often monthly check-ins |
Private services differ in how much support they include. Some offer medication with basic clinical oversight, while others, including Second Nature, combine the medication with structured habit-change support from registered dietitians and other healthcare professionals.
Second Nature has worked with the NHS since 2017, and our private programme combines Wegovy or Mounjaro with habit support designed to help you avoid weight regain. Take our 3-minute eligibility quiz, and a clinician will review your answers.
Our guide to Wegovy private prescriptions explains eligibility, provider checks, and current UK prices.
Getting Wegovy free through Second Nature’s NHS tier 3 service
Second Nature runs an NHS specialist (tier 3) weight-management service. The NHS funds it, so there’s no cost to you and no prescription charge.
We prescribe Wegovy if it’s suitable for you. We don’t prescribe Ozempic.
We take GP referrals from 28 NHS areas in England. If we take referrals in your area and you meet its criteria, you can ask your GP to refer you to us under Right to Choose.
Right to Choose lets you choose a provider for certain NHS services if your GP agrees the referral is suitable and the provider has an NHS contract that allows it to accept these referrals.11
Our tier 3 eligibility checker shows whether you’re likely to qualify, and our referral guide explains what to say to your GP.
Buying weight-loss medication online safely
Legitimate UK online prescribers are regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and, for clinics, the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Before you buy any prescription medication online, check that the pharmacy:9
- Is registered with the GPhC, which you can confirm on the register at pharmacyregulation.org
- Has a UK address
- Requires a valid prescription before dispensing
- Offers a consultation with a UK-registered healthcare professional
Warning signs of an illegitimate seller include:
- Offering prescription-only medication without a prescription
- Prices far below those of registered pharmacies
- No medical assessment or consultation
- Shipping from outside the UK
- No registration with UK regulators
In January 2026, the GPhC published updated guidance on prescribing weight-loss medication online, so reputable providers now carry out a fuller clinical assessment rather than relying on a simple online questionnaire.9
The EU common logo no longer applies to pharmacies in Great Britain after Brexit, so you no longer need to look for it.
Instead, look for the GPhC’s voluntary internet pharmacy logo and check the pharmacy directly on the GPhC register.
Take home message
Ozempic is only available on the NHS for people living with type 2 diabetes that isn’t well controlled by other treatments.
Because it isn’t licensed for weight loss in the UK, it isn’t prescribed for weight management on the NHS or by reputable private providers.
If your goal is weight loss, the two licensed injections are Wegovy (higher-dose semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide).
Both drugs are available privately for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above with a weight-related condition, and a smaller group can access them on the NHS through specialist services or the phased Mounjaro rollout.
In England, if we take referrals in your area and you meet its criteria, you can ask your GP to refer you to Second Nature’s NHS tier 3 service under Right to Choose, where we prescribe Wegovy if it’s suitable, at no cost to you.
If you’re considering a private prescription, use a GPhC-registered provider that offers a proper clinical assessment and ongoing care, rather than a website that dispenses medication without one.
These medications work best alongside changes to how you eat and move.
We recommend eating a diet based on whole foods that contains enough protein, fibre, fat, and complex carbohydrates and limits ultra-processed foods.
Our private programme combines Wegovy or Mounjaro with the balanced-plate approach and one-to-one support from registered dietitians.
In our published evaluation of our private semaglutide-supported programme, members who kept an active subscription for 12 months had an average weight loss of 19.1%.10
Of the members with 12-month data, 77.7% lost at least 10% of their starting weight.10
Second Nature's Mounjaro and Wegovy programmes
Second Nature provides Mounjaro or Wegovy as part of our Mounjaro and Wegovy weight-loss programmes.
Why choose Second Nature over other medication providers, assuming you're eligible?
Because peace of mind matters.
We've had the privilege of working with the NHS for over eight years, helping people across the UK take meaningful steps toward a healthier, happier life.
Our programmes are designed to meet people where they are, whether that means support with weight loss through compassionate one-to-one health coaching, or access to the latest weight-loss medications (like Mounjaro and Wegovy) delivered alongside expert care from a multidisciplinary team of doctors, psychologists, dietitians, and personal trainers.
At the heart of everything we do is a simple belief: real, lasting change comes from building better habits, not relying on quick fixes. We're here to support that change every step of the way.
With over a decade of experience, thousands of lives changed, and a long-standing record of delivering programmes used by the NHS, we believe we're the UK's most trusted weight-loss programme.
We hope to offer you something invaluable: peace of mind, and the support you need to take that first step.
Frequently asked questions
Why can’t I get Ozempic for weight loss on the NHS?
Ozempic is licensed in the UK only to treat type 2 diabetes, and the NHS prescribes it for that purpose, not for weight loss.2
Supply shortages between 2022 and early 2025 reinforced this, with official guidance advising that Ozempic be reserved for people living with type 2 diabetes.
If you want a semaglutide injection for weight loss, Wegovy is the licensed version.
Is Wegovy the same as Ozempic?
Wegovy and Ozempic contain the same drug, semaglutide, but they’re licensed for different things and given at different doses.5
Wegovy is approved for weight management and can be increased to 7.2 mg per week, whereas Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes and can be increased to 2 mg per week.
They’re made by the same company, Novo Nordisk, and you wouldn’t take both at once.
Can I get Ozempic on the NHS for type 2 diabetes?
Yes, if your type 2 diabetes isn’t well controlled by diet, exercise, and other diabetes medications, and you meet the criteria in NICE guidance NG28.1
This is usually discussed at a routine diabetes review with your GP or diabetes team, rather than through a separate waiting list.
Can I get Ozempic for free?
You may be able to get Ozempic free on the NHS if you’re living with type 2 diabetes and meet the prescribing criteria.
People in England who take diabetes medication can apply for a medical exemption certificate, which makes their prescriptions free.
Otherwise, the standard prescription charge in England is £9.90 per item, and prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.12
The NHS doesn’t prescribe Ozempic for weight loss. If you want a free weight-loss injection, you may be able to get Wegovy through an NHS specialist weight-management service, including Second Nature’s tier 3 service, which is free with no prescription charge.
Can my GP prescribe Ozempic privately for weight loss?
Some GPs who also work privately can issue private prescriptions, but most won’t prescribe Ozempic for weight loss because it isn’t licensed for that.
In practice, private prescribers instead offer Wegovy or Mounjaro for weight management, as these are the licensed options.
Is it safe to buy Ozempic online in the UK?
It’s only safe to buy any GLP-1 medication online from a GPhC-registered pharmacy that requires a prescription and a proper medical assessment.9
The MHRA warns against buying from unregulated websites, which may sell counterfeit or contaminated products. You can check a pharmacy on the GPhC register at pharmacyregulation.org.
What’s the difference between Ozempic and Mounjaro?
Ozempic contains semaglutide, which mimics one appetite hormone, GLP-1. Mounjaro contains tirzepatide, which mimics two hormones, GLP-1 and GIP.8
In trials, Mounjaro produced greater average weight loss, likely because of its dual-hormone action. Both are once-a-week injections with different dosing and side-effect profiles.
How much does private weight-loss medication cost in 2026?
Wegovy typically costs £150-£300 per month, depending on the dose, and Mounjaro costs £150 per month at the lowest dose, rising to £300-£375 per month at the 15 mg dose.
Mounjaro’s prices rose after Eli Lilly increased its UK list price in September 2025, making Wegovy more affordable for many people.
Can I get Wegovy or Mounjaro on the NHS?
Some people can. Wegovy is available through NHS specialist weight-management services for up to 2 years under NICE guidance TA875, usually for a BMI of 35 or above with a weight-related condition.5
Mounjaro is being rolled out through GPs in England under NICE guidance TA1026, but the rollout is phased over up to 12 years and starts with those who have the greatest clinical need.7
Are weight-loss injections addictive?
Weight-loss injections aren’t inherently addictive.
However, as they reduce hunger and quieten food noise, it may feel challenging to come off them in the future if you haven’t developed the habits to manage hunger naturally.
In that situation, some people may feel dependent on the medication to manage their weight.
But obesity is a chronic condition, and many people may need to be on these medications for the long term to help them manage it.
