How Ozempic works

Ozempic contains semaglutide — the exact same active ingredient found in Wegovy. It works as a GLP-1 receptor agonist, mimicking the gut hormone GLP-1 to regulate blood sugar, reduce appetite, and slow gastric emptying.

The key difference is the licence and dosing. Ozempic's maximum dose is 2mg, while Wegovy goes up to 7.2mg. Ozempic was developed and approved specifically for improving blood sugar control in people with Type 2 diabetes. The weight loss observed in diabetes patients was a secondary finding that led Novo Nordisk to develop Wegovy as a dedicated weight management product at higher doses.

Why people confuse Ozempic and Wegovy

Ozempic gained enormous public attention — partly through social media and celebrity use — as a "weight loss drug." However, in the UK, prescribing Ozempic for weight loss is off-label (meaning the prescriber takes on additional clinical responsibility, as it's outside the MHRA-approved indication). This off-label demand has also contributed to supply shortages affecting people with Type 2 diabetes who need the medication for its intended purpose.¹

If your goal is weight management rather than diabetes treatment, Wegovy is the appropriate licensed product to discuss with your prescriber.

Dosing

Ozempic doses: 0.25mg (starting) → 0.5mg → 1mg → 2mg (maximum). This is considerably lower than Wegovy's maximum of 7.2mg, which partly explains the difference in weight loss outcomes.

Side effects

Side effects are very similar to Wegovy (same active ingredient): nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, stomach pain. Serious risks include pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, and — specific to diabetes use — potential worsening of diabetic retinopathy (eye disease).¹

View full side effects breakdown →

Key clinical trials

SUSTAIN programme: A series of trials demonstrating semaglutide's efficacy for Type 2 diabetes management. Weight loss in these trials was typically 12–15% — significant but lower than Wegovy's dedicated weight loss trials at higher doses.²