The weight-loss drug semaglutide — best known under the brand name Wegovy — significantly lowers the risk of heart attacks and strokes, even in patients who do not lose much weight, according to a major international study published in The Lancet.
Researchers from University College London analysed data from more than 17,600 adults across 41 countries who were overweight or obese. Half received weekly semaglutide injections, while the others were given a placebo. The study found that those taking semaglutide had a 20% lower risk of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attack, stroke, or heart-related death — regardless of the amount of weight lost.
However, a reduction in waist size, a measure of abdominal fat, was linked to greater heart benefits, accounting for about one-third of the overall cardiovascular improvement.
Lead author Prof John Deanfield said abdominal fat poses a particular danger to heart health but noted that semaglutide’s protective effects go beyond weight loss. “It’s labelled as a weight-loss jab, but its benefits for the heart are not directly related to the amount of weight lost,” he explained.
Deanfield added that the findings challenge current prescribing limits, arguing that even people with moderate BMI levels could benefit from the drug. However, he cautioned that the potential side effects must be carefully considered, especially if semaglutide is used more widely in the future.
