Weight loss injections like Wegovy have become increasingly popular. But what if you want the same benefits without the needles? Or perhaps you've been using injections and want a more convenient way to maintain your weight loss?
There's now a tablet option. Wegovy is available as an oral tablet in the US, offering the same active ingredient (semaglutide) in pill form rather than as a weekly injection.
So, how do semaglutide tablets work and what makes them different from weight loss injections? We'll cover everything you need to know.
What is oral semaglutide and how does it work?
Semaglutide is the active ingredient in the weight loss injection Wegovy (as well as Ozempic, which is used for type 2 diabetes). It's a type of medicine called a GLP-1 receptor agonist, which means that it mimics the effects of GLP-1, a natural hormone your gut releases when you eat.
Oral semaglutide is simply semaglutide that's taken as a pill rather than an injection. Because it contains the same active ingredient as Wegovy injections, it works in exactly the same way.
Semaglutide supports weight loss by suppressing your appetite and reducing cravings, slowing digestion so you feel fuller for longer, and helping manage blood sugar levels.
Other weight loss medications work through the same GLP-1 pathway, including Mounjaro and Saxenda. Mounjaro also activates a second hormone called GIP alongside GLP-1. However, unlike semaglutide, Mounjaro and Saxenda are currently only available as injections.
Is there an oral version of Ozempic or Wegovy?
Here's where things can get a little confusing. Ozempic and Wegovy both contain semaglutide as their active ingredient, but they're separate products with different uses.
Ozempic is currently only available as an injector pen, meaning there's no "Ozempic pill" as such.
Wegovy, on the other hand, now has an oral version. Wegovy tablets were approved in the US in December 2025 and come in doses up to 25mg daily. They offer an alternative to weekly injections for people who prefer not to inject, but they're not yet available in the UK.
There's also another oral semaglutide pill called Rybelsus, the first GLP-1 receptor agonist to be developed as a tablet. Approved for type 2 diabetes in the UK (though sometimes used off-label for weight loss), this daily tablet comes in doses up to 14mg.
Can you lose weight with oral semaglutide?
Yes. Clinical trials show that semaglutide tablets can support significant weight loss, with results varying depending on the dose and formulation.
Rybelsus weight loss results:
In a clinical trial called PIONEER 4, people with type 2 diabetes taking the highest standard dose of Rybelsus (14mg) daily for 26 weeks lost 4.4kg on average, approximately 4-5% of their body weight. Those taking a placebo lost just 0.5kg.
The OASIS-1 trial looked at higher-dose oral semaglutide (50mg daily) for weight loss. People taking this dose for 68 weeks lost 15.1% of their starting weight on average. The 50mg dose is not yet approved and is much higher than the standard Rybelsus doses currently available for type 2 diabetes.
Wegovy tablets weight loss results:
In the OASIS 4 trial, people taking Wegovy tablets once daily (along with a reduced calorie diet and exercise) lost 13.6% of their starting weight on average over 64 weeks, compared to 2.4% for those taking a placebo.
For people who stuck with the treatment for the full study, weight loss reached 16.6%.
Are Wegovy tablets as good as Wegovy injections?
There hasn't been a direct head-to-head comparison between Wegovy tablets and injections, but we can look at results from separate studies.
In the OASIS 4 trial, people taking Wegovy tablets (25mg daily) lost 16.6% of their starting weight on average over 64 weeks. In separate studies over 72 weeks, Wegovy injections produced weight loss of 17.5% with the 2.4mg weekly dose and 20.7% with the higher 7.2mg weekly dose.
The choice often comes down to personal preference and availability. Wegovy tablets aren't yet available in the UK, so currently the injection is the only option. However, once approved, you'd be choosing between a once-weekly injection or a daily tablet that must be taken on an empty stomach with a 30-minute wait before eating.
When will oral Wegovy be available in the UK?
Wegovy tablets were approved in the US in December 2025 and launched in January 2026, but they're not yet available in the UK.
UK regulatory approval is expected, but there's no confirmed timeline. If approval goes smoothly, private clinics might start offering oral Wegovy sometime this year.
NHS availability will likely take longer. The NHS typically has higher thresholds and tends to be behind private providers because they need to consider the benefits versus the costs. Since Wegovy injections are already available for weight loss, they'll need to carefully assess whether the tablet version offers enough additional benefit.
What about Rybelsus?
Rybelsus is the only oral semaglutide currently available in the UK. It's licensed for type 2 diabetes and available on the NHS for that use. Some private clinics prescribe it off-label for weight loss.
If you're considering Rybelsus as an alternative to Ozempic, do check in with your provider first. They'll advise on what's best for you personally.
Are there other oral weight loss tablets available in the UK?
If you're looking for weight loss tablets, orlistat is the only licensed option in the UK.
Orlistat works very differently from semaglutide. Rather than suppressing appetite like GLP-1 medications, orlistat reduces the amount of fat you absorb from your food. It blocks enzymes in your digestive system that break down fat, so around 30% of the fat you eat passes through undigested. This creates a calorie deficit of approximately 200 calories per day.
Compared to oral semaglutide, orlistat typically produces more modest weight loss and requires strict adherence to a low-fat diet to avoid digestive side effects.
What other oral weight loss medications are in development?
There may be more weight loss pills on the market within the next few years. Here are two promising options currently in development:
Orforglipron:
Eli Lilly (who make Mounjaro) are developing orforglipron, a once-daily weight loss pill expected to become available in late 2026 or early 2027.
Clinical trials showed that people taking orforglipron lost 12.4% of their body weight over 72 weeks. While that's slightly less than Wegovy tablets, it's still a significant amount of weight loss from a daily pill.
Amycretin:
Novo Nordisk are working on something potentially even more powerful: amycretin, which works on two hormones (GLP-1 and amylin) instead of just one.
Early results are impressive. The oral version produced 13.1% weight loss in just 12 weeks in early-stage trials, while the injectable form achieved 22% weight loss at 36 weeks. If these results hold up in larger studies, amycretin could become one of the most effective weight loss treatments available.
Ready to start your weight loss journey?
While oral Wegovy isn't available in the UK yet, there are effective weight loss treatments you can access now, including Wegovy injections, Mounjaro, and orlistat.
Through our weight loss programme, you’ll get dedicated support from our team of clinicians and coaches: we’re here to help you transform your lifestyle, one step at a time.
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