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 SEMAGLUTIDE PROTECTS THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM





Forget everything you thought you knew about weight loss medications. A sweeping new study from University College London suggests that semaglutide — the drug behind Ozempic and Wegovy — does much more than help people shed pounds. Even for patients who barely lost any weight, the risk of heart attack and stroke still dropped by a dramatic 20%. The secret? It appears that this medicine is working its magic deep inside the body, altering factors such as inflammation, blood pressure, and the health of blood vessels — benefits that extend far beyond the bathroom scale.

Massive Study, Big Surprises

The research, published in The Lancet and backed by Novo Nordisk, tracked more than 17,000 adults with cardiovascular disease who were overweight or obese. Half of the participants received weekly semaglutide injections, while the other half received a placebo. The result: Both groups experienced a significant difference, with those on semaglutide being much less likely to develop heart problems. And, crucially, this wasn't just true for those with very high BMIs. Even people with an average BMI (27, about the UK average) got the same heart-protective benefit.

Is Waist Size Everything? Not Quite

So, was shrinking the waistline the secret sauce? Not really. The team found that losing inches around the waist explained about a third of the heart protection observed after two years on semaglutide. But that still left two-thirds of the benefit unaccounted for by weight loss alone.

Professor John Dean Field, who led the project, put it bluntly: "Abdominal fat is bad for your heart, so it makes sense eliminating it improves and protects heart health. But most of what we're seeing here isn't explained by weight loss at all — this is a drug that directly fights heart disease and other problems that come with aging."

Rethinking How We Use These Drugs

These findings could completely change the way semaglutide and other drugs like it are used. Right now, they're mostly reserved for people with the highest BMIs or for those trying desperately to lose weight. Professor John Dean Field thinks that's too narrow. "You don't need to lose a ton of weight or have a sky-high BMI to benefit your heart with this medication. If the goal is to cut down heart disease, it doesn't make sense to limit the medicine just because there's not severe obesity.

Of course, there's still a need for caution. Widespread use means ensuring that the risks — and potential side effects — are clearly understood, especially now that many different people could be eligible.

A Whole New Class of Heart Drugs?

While this research focused on semaglutide, the team believes that other medications that act through the same hormone pathway (the so-called GLP-1 system) may also help the heart. How? They appear to improve the health of the inner walls of blood vessels, reduce inflammation, help control blood pressure, and lower unhealthy fats in the blood.

All the world's data from the SELECT trial, the world's most extensive study of its kind for people with excess weight but without diabetes. Over 17,000 people participated, providing researchers with an unprecedented opportunity to observe these effects firsthand.

Semaglutide: From Blood Sugar Helper to Heart Saver

Semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, was initially approved for the management of type 2 diabetes. But its star has quickly risen. Today, it powers both Wegovy and Ozempic. Validated by the SELECT trial results, UK authorities now allow Wegovy to be prescribed for individuals with cardiovascular disease — even though they aren't seeking weight loss.

On the NHS, access to Wegovy is still primarily available through specialist clinics, with a focus on weight management. Another GLP-1 drug, Mounjaro, can be prescribed by general practitioners for people with very high BMIs and a cluster of other health conditions.

One limitation: Most participants were male and white; therefore, the researchers emphasize the importance of conducting future studies that include a much wider range of participants. It's the only way to know how broadly these benefits apply.

Professor Deanfield and his team first previewed some of these groundbreaking results at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) last year. Now, with this publication, the conversation about GLP-1 drugs — and who they might help — may never be the same.

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