The weight-loss drug semaglutide—best known as the active ingredient in Wegovy—reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke regardless of how much weight a person loses, according to a major global study published in The Lancet.
Researchers from University College London (UCL) analysed data from 17,604 adults aged 45 and over across 41 countries who were either overweight or obese. Half received weekly semaglutide injections, while the others were given a placebo.
The study found that semaglutide cut the risk of major cardiovascular events by 20%, even for participants who lost little or no weight. The results suggest that the drug benefits the heart through mechanisms beyond weight loss alone.
However, the researchers noted that a reduction in waist size—a marker of decreased abdominal fat—was linked to better heart outcomes, accounting for about one-third of the overall cardiovascular benefit.
Lead author Prof John Deanfield said the findings “reframe what we think this medication is doing.” He added:
“It’s labelled as a weight-loss jab, but its heart benefits are not directly tied to the amount of weight lost. Semaglutide appears to directly affect heart disease and other age-related conditions.”
Deanfield said the results suggest semaglutide should not be reserved only for the most obese patients: “You don’t have to lose a lot of weight—or even have a high BMI—to see cardiovascular benefits.”
The authors cautioned that while the drug shows promise for broader use, potential side effects must be carefully monitored, especially as eligibility expands to more patients.
