What is the recommended duration for staying on Wegovy?

The duration is guided by your response, tolerability, and local commissioning policy. Services typically build in review points — for example, at six months and at later milestones — to check progress and decide on continuation. Some pathways set a maximum course length; others allow ongoing use if agreed benchmarks are met within specialist care. Your team will set expectations clearly at the start so you know how and when decisions will be made.

Why duration is not the same for everyone

Wegovy is not prescribed for a fixed, identical length of time for all adults. The decision about how long to continue depends on how well someone responds, whether they tolerate the medicine comfortably, and the framework set by local commissioning. This means that two people could start treatment at the same time but have different endpoints depending on their outcomes and health needs. The idea is to make sure the medicine is used only while it is providing clear benefit, with reviews built in to keep treatment appropriate.

Review points built into NHS pathways

NHS services follow NICE guidance, which recommends structured review points. A common checkpoint is at six months, when clinicians assess whether someone has achieved meaningful weight reduction and whether side effects are manageable. If progress is in line with expectations—often measured as at least 5% weight loss from baseline by three months on the maximum tolerated dose—treatment usually continues. Later reviews, such as at one or two years, are also common to ensure that benefits are sustained. These milestones give both the prescriber and the individual clarity about whether the journey is on track.

Maximum course length in some areas

Some NHS commissioning bodies set maximum time limits for treatment, such as a two-year course. The reasoning is that resources should be focused on those who respond best and that long-term outcomes depend on sustained lifestyle changes alongside medicine. Other areas allow longer-term use if benchmarks are met, recognising that some people benefit from ongoing support to maintain progress. Scotland’s Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) and Wales’s All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWTTC) apply similar continuation principles, though exact timelines may differ. The local service will explain the specific rules that apply in your area.

What research tells us about longer use

Clinical trials provide evidence for staying on treatment beyond the first year. The STEP 5 study followed participants for two years and showed that people who continued semaglutide maintained weight loss of around 15% of starting body weight. Those who stopped regained a significant proportion of their weight within a year. This suggests that ongoing treatment can help preserve results, while discontinuation often leads to partial rebound. NHS services balance this evidence against commissioning limits, aiming to provide treatment for long enough to deliver meaningful, lasting benefits without unnecessary continuation.

Individual factors that influence duration

Response and tolerability vary widely. Some people achieve major reductions in the first year and then transition into maintenance with lifestyle support, while others continue to benefit from ongoing treatment. If side effects remain troublesome despite adjustments, stopping earlier may be advised. Other health conditions, such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease, may also influence how long Wegovy is prescribed, since semaglutide now has an expanded licence for cardiovascular risk reduction in higher-risk groups. Clinical teams individualise the decision, weighing benefits, risks, and the wider context of someone’s health.

How it fits into NHS care

Wegovy is designed for supervised, structured use, not indefinite prescribing without review. NHS services build in checkpoints at six months and beyond, sometimes with maximum course lengths, to decide whether continuation makes sense. Research shows that long-term use can maintain weight loss, but stopping often leads to some regain, so decisions are made carefully, balancing evidence with local commissioning rules. How it fits into NHS care is by making sure treatment is offered for as long as it is safe, effective, and beneficial, with clear milestones and shared decisions guiding the journey.