Educational guide
Weight loss medication in the UK.
An educational overview of how weight loss medicines are licensed, prescribed and supplied in the UK — and how to make sure any medicine you’re offered is safe and legitimate.
Licensed weight loss medicines
A small number of medicines are licensed in the UK for weight management in adults. They fall into two broad groups:
- Medicines that reduce fat absorption, which work in the gut to stop some of the fat you eat from being absorbed.
- Medicines that act on appetite hormones, such as GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonists.
All are intended to be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Read more in our guide to how weight loss medication works.
Prescription-only medicines
Most weight loss medicines are prescription-only medicines. That means a qualified prescriber must assess you and decide that the medicine is appropriate, and it must be supplied by a registered pharmacy. Completing an assessment doesn’t guarantee a prescription.
NHS and private routes
On the NHS, weight loss medicines are usually offered through specialist weight management services or, increasingly, through primary care, following NICE guidance and local criteria. Private online services can also prescribe, following an assessment.
How to check a provider
- A UK pharmacy should be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC); you can check the online register.
- In England, online services that prescribe should be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
- A legitimate prescriber will ask about your health, medicines and history, and may ask you to verify your details.
Staying safe
The MHRA warns against buying weight loss medicines from unregulated sellers, including social media accounts, beauty salons or websites that don’t require a prescription. Products labelled “for research use only” are not licensed for human use. Unlicensed or fake products may contain the wrong ingredient, the wrong amount, or harmful substances.
Frequently asked questions
Is weight loss medication available on the NHS?
Some medicines are available on the NHS for people who meet NICE criteria and local eligibility rules, usually alongside a weight management programme. Your GP can advise.
Is it legal to buy weight loss injections online?
Only with a valid prescription from a qualified prescriber, supplied by a registered pharmacy. Buying prescription-only medicines without a prescription is unsafe and may be illegal to sell.
Will I need to keep taking it?
This depends on the medicine and on your prescriber’s advice. Many people regain weight after stopping, which is why lifestyle support remains important.
Sources and further reading
- Obesity — treatment — NHS
- Overweight and obesity management (NG246) — NICE
- Semaglutide for managing overweight and obesity (TA875) — NICE
- Tirzepatide for managing overweight and obesity (TA1026) — NICE
- Check the register of pharmacies and pharmacy professionals — General Pharmaceutical Council
- Using the information we provide — Care Quality Commission
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency — GOV.UK
This page is for general education only. It isn’t medical advice, it doesn’t recommend any treatment, and it doesn’t replace a conversation with a qualified healthcare professional about your own circumstances. If you need urgent medical help, call 999 or NHS 111.