Weight loss medications like Wegovy are the brand names for drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide, which imitate the body’s glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which regulates hunger. It was first developed to treat diabetes but is now known for its benefits in treating adults with obesity and reducing body mass in substantial ways.<\/p>\n
The trial was published last year and was known as Select, which demonstrated significant weight loss benefits and reduced heart risk<\/a>. Researchers are now exploring additional potential heart benefits beyond weight loss, prompting discussions on the appropriate use and insurance coverage of this medication class.<\/p>\n One cardiologist and scientist from Yale University, Dr. Harlan Krumholz, was cited by CNN as calling the implications of the study “profound” and mentioned another study<\/a> that also confirmed similar benefits. No other drug, he says, has shown such promise in terms of cardiovascular health.<\/p>\n The widespread adoption of Wegovy is evident, with over 25,000 new users weekly<\/a> in the US and millions of Americans currently using GLP-1 receptor agonists. The Select trial, funded by Novo Nordisk, involved over 17,600 participants from 41 countries and showcased the drug’s heart-protective effects.<\/p>\n Ongoing data analysis reveals promising results for individuals on Wegovy for up to four years.<\/p>\n The four main discoveries from the further analysis of the Select trial’s data are:<\/p>\n Participants in a study who used semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, lost an average of 10% of their body weight over 65 weeks. A previous trial showed even greater weight loss with Wegovy over 68 weeks, or around a year and three months. The new analysis pointed out differences in the trials, such as lifestyle interventions for weight loss and prevention of cardiac events, which could explain the small discrepancies.<\/p>\n Nonetheless, the results are clear: the weight loss benefits from semaglutide are long-lasting, and now we know they include benefits for cardiac health.<\/p>\n The Select trial showed that those using Wegovy sustained a 10% average weight loss for up to four years. Other studies, like this one from last December from Eli Lilly<\/a> (a Novo Nordisk competitor,)\u00a0 have shown that people tend to see weight gain after stopping weight loss drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide. Still, those who continued using the drugs maintained their excess weight loss better than those who switched to a placebo in any study.<\/p>\n Even so, of those who were placed in a placebo group, 17% still maintained their weight loss without the drug after the initial 36 weeks. It goes to show just how effective these drugs are.<\/p>\n One curious finding is that the results will vary widely from person to person, even if everyone is almost guaranteed some weight loss.<\/p>\n For example, on Wegovy, 68% of people lost at least 5% of their body weight, with 23% losing at least 15% and 5% losing more than 25%. This shows that individual experiences with weight loss drugs can vary.<\/p>\n The long, four-year study didn’t reveal any surprising or adverse effects either, a comfort for many who still view these drugs as a novelty or “experiment.”<\/p>\n Just like in shorter trials, during this larger one, more people discontinued participation due to side effects compared to those who received a placebo. The main side effects were gastrointestinal disorders, with no new safety concerns identified. Gallbladder disorders were slightly more common in the Wegovy group compared to the placebo group, with 2.8% for those on the drug vs. 2.3% for those on a placebo.<\/p>\n Those side effects are already on the warning labels for the drugs.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Something that’s been a head-scratcher for scientists and physicians throughout the last few years is the cardiovascular benefits from the drug are a result of a reduction in body weight alone, an increase in physical activity, or maybe there’s another mechanism contributing to them. It looks like there is, according to the new analysis.<\/p>\n The results of the Select trial show that the heart benefits of Wegovy are not solely due to weight loss, as even those who didn’t lose weight still experienced a reduction in heart attack risk and problems with blood pressure. GLP-1 medications like Wegovy have cardio-protective effects independent of weight loss, diabetes, and obesity. Pretty remarkable.<\/p>\n1. Benefits of Weight Loss Drug Lasted for More Than A Year.\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
2. The Effects Went On for Four Years.<\/b><\/h2>\n
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<\/h2>\n3. Not Everyone Gets the Same Results<\/b><\/h2>\n
4. Common Side-effects Remain the Same: No Surprises\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
5. It’s Not Just About Weight Loss<\/b><\/h2>\n