Interest in Wegovy (semaglutide injection) for weight loss has been high since its UK launch in 2023. One of the most common questions we get is whether this treatment is specifically for women or if men can take Wegovy too.

The short answer is yes: men are eligible for Wegovy on the same clinical criteria as women. The licence covers adults of either sex, and the clinical trials included men and women.

The key eligibility criteria

Wegovy is licensed by the MHRA, the UK medicines regulator, for adults with a BMI (body mass index) of 30 or over, or 27 or over with at least one weight-related health condition. Private prescribers work to the licence. The NHS applies stricter criteria, set by NICE (TA875):

  • Age: You must be an adult (18 years or over).
  • A weight-related health condition: at least one, such as type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, obstructive sleep apnoea or cardiovascular disease, and
  • Body Mass Index (BMI): 35 or more, or 30 to 34.9 if you also meet the criteria for referral to a specialist weight management service.
  • Lower thresholds, usually 2.5 lower (32.5 or more, or 27.5 to 32.4), apply for people from South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean family backgrounds.
  • Where: prescribed within a specialist weight management service, for a maximum of two years.

Important Takeaway: The eligibility focuses on clinical indicators like BMI and related health conditions, not gender.

Why the focus is on BMI and comorbidities

Wegovy is licensed for adults with a health-related need for weight loss, and recommended by NICE within the criteria above. It's not a cosmetic drug; it's a serious medical treatment for the disease of obesity.

The reason the NHS has strict guidelines is to ensure the medication is given to those who will benefit most and who have the highest clinical need. On the NHS it is prescribed only within specialist weight management services, for up to two years, and always alongside a lifestyle programme.

If you're a man who meets the criteria outlined above, your doctor or specialist team will assess you for suitability. They will take into account your full medical history and current medications.

What to discuss with your provider

If you're a man concerned about your weight and think Wegovy might be an option, the first step is to book an appointment with your GP or a regulated online provider.

  1. Be Prepared: Know your current weight, height (to calculate your BMI), and be ready to discuss any related health problems like high blood pressure or diabetes.
  2. Review History: Be prepared to detail your previous efforts at weight loss, including diets and exercise programmes you have tried.
  3. Ask for Referral: If you meet the criteria, ask your GP about a referral to a local Tier 3 or Tier 4 specialist weight management service. This referral is the crucial step for accessing Wegovy on the NHS.

Ultimately, whether you are male or female, Wegovy is one part of a wider plan for health and weight management. It always requires careful medical supervision.

References:

Department of Health and Social Care. (2023, September 4). Accessing Wegovy for weight loss: Everything you need to know. GOV.UK.

Novo Nordisk. Wegovy: Summary of product characteristics, section 4.1. Electronic medicines compendium (text updated 22 September 2026; accessed 8 October 2026).

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). (2023, March). Semaglutide for managing overweight and obesity (TA875), last updated 4 September 2023.

Wilding, J. P. H., Batterham, R. L., Davies, M., Van Gaal, L. F., Kandler, K., Konakli, K., Lingvay, I., McGowan, B. M., Rosenstock, J., Tran, M. T., Wadden, T. A., & Kushner, R. F. (2021). Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity. The New England Journal of Medicine, 384(11), 989–1002.

NHS England. Weight management injections (accessed 8 October 2026).