Weight-loss tablets in the UK: what is available in 2026?

News about new weight-loss tablets can make it difficult to know what is available, what is approved, and what is still under review. These terms do not mean the same thing.

As of 2 September 2026, the UK has an established oral weight-management medicine and a newly approved GLP-1 tablet. Other medicines that appear in news reports can still be in clinical trials or regulatory review.

What tablets are established in the UK?

Orlistat is an established medicine for weight management. It reduces the amount of fat that the body absorbs from food. A prescription strength is available, and lower-strength products can be supplied by a pharmacy if they are suitable.

Orlistat is used with a balanced, calorie-controlled diet and physical activity. Common side effects affect the bowel. They can include oily stools, an urgent need to open the bowels, wind, and diarrhoea.

Orlistat can interact with some medicines and can affect how the body absorbs some vitamins. A pharmacist or prescriber must check that it is suitable for you.

What changed in June 2026?

On 11 June 2026, the MHRA approved a daily semaglutide tablet for weight loss and weight management. It was the first GLP-1 tablet approved for this purpose in the UK.

The approval covers adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or a BMI from 27 to below 30 with at least one weight-related health condition. A clinician must still decide whether the treatment is suitable for an individual person.

The tablet is used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. The dose increases in stages. The patient information leaflet explains how to take it because food, drink, and timing can affect its use.

The MHRA stated that the tablet was not available through the NHS at the time of approval. NHS use needs a separate assessment and recommendation from NICE. Approval by the MHRA does not guarantee immediate NHS or private supply.

What does “approved” mean?

MHRA approval means that the regulator has assessed the medicine for safety, quality, and effectiveness for its authorised use. It does not mean that:

the medicine is suitable for every person who wants to lose weight
it is immediately available from every pharmacy
the NHS will supply it
it has no side effects
a person can buy it without a prescription and consultation

Availability can change after an approval. Check a current official source instead of relying on an old news article or a social media post.

What about tablets that are still coming?

Some oral medicines are in development or regulatory review. A trial result, company announcement, or waiting list is not the same as UK approval.

The MHRA, Advertising Standards Authority, and General Pharmaceutical Council warned providers in June 2026 not to promote unlicensed pipeline products or prescription-only weight-loss medicines to the public. Be cautious if a website asks you to pay, join a presale list, or choose a future medicine before it has the necessary approval.

This article will not list speculative launch dates. Regulators can request more evidence, restrict an authorised use, or refuse an application.

How do you choose a safe option?

A clinician must assess your BMI, health conditions, current medicines, and treatment goals. They must also discuss side effects and pregnancy where relevant.

Do not assume that a tablet is safer or easier than an injection. The active medicine, how you take it, interactions, and your health all affect the decision.

Use a registered pharmacy. Prescription-only treatment must follow a proper consultation. Avoid sellers on social media and websites that guarantee treatment without medical checks.

Sources

Sources accessed on 2 September 2026. Regulatory status and availability can change.