Free NHS Wegovy jabs made available to 1.2million if you have four health risks

Free NHS Wegovy jabs made available to 1.2million if you have four health risksThe NHS has given the green light for millions of people to access free Wegovy jabs if they fit a specific criteria - as it could help save the lives of those suffering from certain health conditionsCommentsNewsNiamh Kirk Lifestyle Writer08:52, 04 Apr 2026Updated 08:53, 04 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesCertain people may be able to get the jabs on prescription Millions of people may be eligible for free weight-loss injections to help with serious health conditions after the NHS greenlit the use of Wegovy to prevent heart attacks and strokes.‌In a big policy shift, the appetite-suppressing will now be offered to those who are classed as overweight, rather than obese, potentially transforming the lives of 1.2 million people across the UK‌Previously, it was only available on prescription for those with Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35 or over. Under the new NICE guidelines, the threshold has been slashed to allow more people to access the drug for free.‌Wegovy is a GLP-1, similarly to Mounjaro and Ozempic, and contains semaglutide which works to help increase the body feeling full and reduce appetite helping to aid weight loss.The rollout will begin this summer.READ MORE: Millions wrongly classified as overweight or obese by NHS, study suggestsView 2 ImagesMillions of people may be able to access Wegovy jabs on the NHS(Image: Getty Images)‌It also promotes insulin release and lowering blood sugar, and on average people will lose 21 percent of their body weight after 72 weeks on Wegovy.But now, those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 27 or above - and classed as overweight, rather than solely obese, can now be prescribed Wegovy. However they must have also provided they have had a heart attack, stroke or suffer from circulation problems in their legs, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice).Wegovy is a weekly injection, and the dosage is increased as the body becomes adjuste...