Foundayo: what is the new weight-loss pill?
There’s a lot of talk about weight-loss pills at the moment, and it can be difficult to know what’s what. If you’ve heard the name Foundayo and wondered how it works, here’s a straightforward explanation.
At Shape⁸, we want you to feel comfortable asking questions and understanding your options, without having to make sense of lots of medical jargon.
- What is Foundayo?
Foundayo is a daily prescription tablet containing a medicine called orforglipron. It was approved in the UK in August 2026 for weight management and type 2 diabetes.
It works on a hormone pathway called GLP-1, which helps control appetite. This can help you feel fuller, feel less hungry and experience fewer food cravings.
It is taken alongside changes to eating habits and physical activity, with support from a healthcare professional.
- Is it Mounjaro in a pill?
This is an easy mix-up, but they contain different medicines.
Foundayo contains orforglipron. Mounjaro contains tirzepatide and is given as an injection. They work in related ways, but you cannot simply swap one for the other or compare their doses.
If you’re already having treatment, speak to your prescriber before making any changes.
- How do you take it?
Foundayo is taken once a day. It can be taken with or without food, without the fasting instructions that apply to some other tablets.
Your prescriber will explain your starting dose and when it should change. Always follow those instructions rather than increasing it yourself.
- Who might it be suitable for?
For weight management, Foundayo is approved for adults with:
A BMI of 30 or above.
A BMI of at least 27 but below 30, with a weight-related health condition.
BMI is a measure based on your height and weight. It is part of the assessment, but your medical history, other medicines and overall health matter too.
Being within the BMI range does not automatically mean this particular treatment is right for you.
- How much weight could you lose?
Everyone responds differently.
In a study lasting 72 weeks, people without diabetes taking the highest dose lost around 11% of their starting weight on average when the analysis included people who stopped treatment. A separate analysis estimating results with continued treatment found an average of around 12%.
People in the study also received support with diet and physical activity.
These figures describe an average over more than a year. They are not a promise of what any one person will lose, or how quickly they will lose it.
- What about side effects?
Being a tablet does not mean it is free from side effects.
These can include feeling sick, being sick, constipation, diarrhoea, indigestion and tummy pain. Speak to your prescriber if you are struggling, particularly if vomiting or diarrhoea makes it difficult to stay hydrated.
Severe tummy pain that does not go away, especially if it spreads to your back, needs urgent medical attention because it could be a sign of pancreatitis.
Foundayo should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. It can also affect the contraceptive pill. The patient leaflet advises considering extra barrier protection, such as condoms, or a non-oral method for 30 days after starting and after each dose increase. Your prescriber can explain what this means for you.
Let them know about any other medicines you take and any planned surgery. Foundayo should not be combined with another GLP-1 medicine.
- How much are Foundayo tablets?
At Shape8, Foundayo tablets are available from £99. A quick, online consultation will see if you are eligible for Foundayo.
- What is the dosage of Foundayo?
Similar to injectable weight loss medication, Foundayo is available in a range of strengths. New patients start at the lowest dose and , if side effects are well tolerated, the strength can be increased. This system of titration aims to achieve the best results with the least side effects. Doses available are:
- 0.8mg
- 2.5mg
- 5.5mg
- 9.0mg
- 14.5mg
- 17.2mg
- Is it available through the NHS?
UK approval and NHS availability are different things. At the time of the MHRA’s August 2026 announcement, Foundayo was not available through the NHS. Stock and access can also vary between providers.
At Shape⁸, we know that starting a conversation about your weight can feel like a big step. You deserve clear information, time to ask questions and an honest discussion about what might suit you.
There is no need to have all the answers before you ask for support.
This article is general information and does not replace advice from your own healthcare professional.
Sources:
MHRA: UK authorisation of Foundayo
Foundayo: UK patient information leaflet
Lilly: Foundayo and ATTAIN-1 trial results
FDA: Foundayo safety information
