Weight Loss Tablets
EXPLAINED
Medically reviewed by Dr Rachel Chander, MBChB, MRCGP, GMC 7149217. Last reviewed: October 2026
At a glance
-
Two once-daily weight-loss tablets are licensed in the UK: oral semaglutide (Wegovy tablets), approved in June 2026, and orforglipron (Foundayo), approved in August 2026.
-
They work through the same GLP-1 pathway as the weekly injections and have the same eligibility criteria.
-
Oral semaglutide is taken on an empty stomach with a small sip of water, then a 30-minute wait; orforglipron can be taken at any time, with or without food.
-
In trials, average weight loss was about 14% with oral semaglutide 25 mg and about 11% with the highest dose of orforglipron.
-
Both are prescription-only. A clinician must assess you before either can be prescribed.
What are weight loss pills?
Weight-loss pills are oral GLP-1 receptor agonists, the tablet form of the same class of medicine used in weight-loss injections. GLP-1 is a natural hormone that helps regulate appetite; these medicines mimic it, so you feel fuller for longer and are less driven to overeat. Two oral GLP-1 tablets are now approved for weight management in the UK:
Oral Wegovy (semaglutide)
MHRA-approved in June 2026, the first GLP-1 tablet licensed in the UK.
Foundayo (orforglipron)
MHRA-approved in August 2026; the first non-peptide oral GLP-1, and the first of its kind approved anywhere in Europe.
Both are once-daily tablets, prescribed privately to eligible adults alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. The main practical difference between them is how they fit into your day.
Foundayo vs oral Wegovy
COMPARING THE TWO WEIGHT LOSS TABLETS
Oral Wegovy (semaglutide)
Form: Once-daily tablet
When to take it: Empty stomach, small sip of plain water, then wait ~30 minutes before eating, drinking or other medicines
Type: Peptide GLP-1
UK approval: MHRA, June 2026
How it's obtained: Private prescription after clinical assessment
Who it's for: BMI 30+, or 27–30 with a weight-related condition
Foundayo (orforglipron)
Form: Once-daily tablet
When to take it: Any time of day, with or without food — no timing or water restrictions
Type: First non-peptide (small-molecule) GLP-1
UK approval: MHRA, August 2026
How it's obtained: Private prescription after clinical assessment
Who it's for: BMI 30+, or 27–30 with a weight-related condition
The difference most people care about is timing. Oral semaglutide must be taken on an empty stomach with only a sip of plain water, then a wait before eating, which some find fiddly to keep up. Foundayo can be taken at any time, with or without food, which is often easier to sustain.
Both work in the same way and both are effective. Injections remain a well-established option too. In your consultation we help you decide which route and which tablet fits your circumstances, preferences and clinical picture.
Who are they licensed for?
In the UK, both tablets are licensed for weight management, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity, in adults with a:
A body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or greater (obesity) or:
A BMI of at least 27 kg/m² but less than 30 kg/m² (overweight) and weight-related health problems such as:
-
Pre-diabetes
-
High blood pressure
-
Raised cholesterol
-
Obstructive sleep apnoea
-
Heart or circulation disease
-
Type 2 diabetes*
*People with type 2 diabetes may be able to have weight management at Calleva Clinic, depending on their other diabetes medicines. We work with your own GP or diabetes team to keep your care joined up. Our assessments are for adults aged 18 to 85 living in England.
How does the treatment work?
Both tablets are taken once daily, starting at a low dose that increases in steps over several months, with a minimum period at each dose, to help your body adjust and reduce side effects. Appetite tends to reduce in the early weeks, with steady, measurable weight change over the following months as the dose rises toward maintenance. Your team reviews you along the way.
Already on a weekly injection? Many patients on a weekly injection can move to a daily tablet. Switching within the same medicine, a weekly semaglutide injection to the semaglutide tablet is often the most straightforward. Moving to Foundayo (orforglipron) is also an option, but because it's a different medicine, treatment restarts at a low dose and builds up gradually. Either way, we'll review you first and agree the safest plan for you.
What the evidence shows
-
Oral semaglutide 25 mg: about 14% average weight loss over 64 weeks (OASIS 4)
-
Orforglipron, highest dose: about 11% over 72 weeks (ATTAIN-1)
-
For comparison, weekly injections averaged about 15–21% in their main trials
These are separate trials with different people and designs, so they can't be compared directly. They are trial results, not Calleva Clinic patient results.
Why Your Results May Differ From The Headline Numbers
Trials Assume Near-Perfect Use
The headline figures reflect people taking the medicine exactly as directed for the full period. In everyday life doses get missed, side effects interrupt treatment, and some people stop — which is why each trial's "real-world" average was lower. In the semaglutide trial, that gap was the difference between roughly 16.6% and 13.6%.
Trial Participants Had Close Support
Everyone in the study received structured diet and activity guidance. The medicine works with those changes, not instead of them - your own lifestyle changes make a real difference to your result.
The Trial Group Weren't Everyone
Participants were closely monitored and don't reflect every patient. Your age, health conditions and circumstances may make your response different.
Side Effects Lead Some To Stop
Digestive symptoms, most often nausea, sometimes vomiting, are common early on and as the dose rises. They're usually mild to moderate and settle, but a minority stop because of them — around 1 in 14 people in the semaglutide trial stopped for this reason.
Averages Hide a Wide Range
Some people lose a great deal; others lose little. An average is not a promise.
Weight Regain After Stopping
These medicines manage weight while you take them; they aren't a one-off cure.
What This Means For You
Rather than quote you a headline percentage, we'll give you a realistic, personalised picture at your assessment, based on your health, your starting point and what's achievable for you. And because your care is GP-led with ongoing remote support, we're here to help you manage side effects and stay the course, the single biggest factor in getting closer to those trial results rather than falling short of them.
Side effects and safety
For both tablets, the most common side effects are mild-to-moderate digestive symptoms, such as nausea, diarrhoea, constipation and indigestion. These are usually most noticeable in the early weeks and as the dose increases.
Less common but serious side effects include pancreatitis (severe stomach pain that may spread to the back) and gallbladder problems. Get urgent medical help for severe or persistent stomach pain.
Use effective contraception while taking either tablet, and do not take them in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
These are prescription-only medicines and must be used under medical supervision. Full information on risks is given at your consultation and in the patient information leaflet. You can report side effects via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
Other options
Tablets are one of several options. Others include weekly injections of semaglutide (Wegovy) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro), NHS specialist weight services, and support with diet and activity alone. See weight-loss medicines explained. Whether any medicine is suitable, and which one, is decided by your clinician after an assessment.
Costs
Our fees are listed on the treatment fee schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources: Wegovy tablets and Foundayo Summaries of Product Characteristics, electronic medicines compendium; OASIS 4 trial of oral semaglutide 25 mg; ATTAIN-1 trial of orforglipron (add the journal references from the SPCs); MHRA advice on GLP-1 medicines, contraception and pregnancy, June 2025.