New research shows weight-loss drug reduces heart attack risks not just waistline

According to a new study, the weight loss drug semaglutide could have wider benefits regardless of how many kilograms people lose.

The new research primarily suggests that shrinking waist size-a sign of less belly fat-was linked to better heart outcomes.

However, the study findings were published in The Lancet and suggest that these drugs could have extensive advantages for patients beyond weight loss, and consequently their use should not be restricted to obese patients.

The researchers have scrutinized the additional benefits of semaglutide, which is the crucial element of the weight-loss Wegovy.

In this connection, the selected trial, led by University College London (UCL), analyzed whether people who took the drug went on to suffer a “major adverse cardiac event”, which included heart diseases, heart attacks, and strokes.

Data was analyzed on 17,604 people aged 45 and over who were overweight or obese.

It has been observed that half of the people participating in the study, which took part particularly across 41 countries, were given weekly injections of semaglutide.

On the other hand, the other half were given a dummy drug known as a placebo.

The prior data analysis showed that semaglutide mitigated the risk of major adverse cardiac events by 20%.

It has been observed that the benefits were evident regardless of how much weight people lost while taking the drug.

The study results published in The Lancet showed that an estimated 33% of the observed benefit on major adverse cardiovascular events was mediated through waist circumference reduction.”

In this connection, the lead author, Prof John Deanfield, of UCL’s Institute of Cardiovascular Science, said, “Abdominal fat is more dangerous for our cardiovascular health than overall weight and therefore it is not surprising to see a link between reduction in waist size and cardiovascular benefit.”

The study suggests that the weight loss drug semaglutide provides cardiovascular protection, and that you don’t need a high BMI to gain this benefit; restricting the drug with the highest scores doesn't make sense.