Researchers say weight loss drugs like Ozempic can help with heart health as well as long-term weight loss. NurPhoto/Getty ImagesResearchers say a new study has found that GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic lead to long-term weight loss and slimmer waistlines, with about half of study participants also having a significantly lower BMI score. It was pointed out that the amount could be reduced to . They added that the drug semaglutide also appears to promote improvements in overall cardiovascular health.
Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist found in drugs such as Ozempic, Libersus, and Wigovy, has been shown to have dramatic effects on people with obesity and other weight management issues. Two new studies have found this.
A study published in Nature Medicine involved 17,000 non-diabetic adults who were classified as overweight or obese.
In the study, researchers found that taking the semaglutide-based drug reduced average body weight by 10% and waistline measurements by more than 7 centimeters (2.7 inches) over four years.
“The introduction of GLP-1 has changed weight loss strategies compared to traditional weight loss approaches,” said Luke Twelves, medical director at Lindas Health, a clinical research company who was not involved in the study. told Medical News Today. “This study adds further data to our understanding of the potential role of GLP-1 and strengthens the rationale for incorporating GLP-1 early in the treatment pathway.”
The study, led by Dr. Donna Ryan of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in New Orleans, also found that more than half of the participants fell below at least one BMI category after taking semaglutide for two years (16% and (compared to) in the placebo group), 12% achieved a healthy BMI (compared to 1% in the placebo group).
“Sustained weight loss of this magnitude is rarely observed in clinical trials of other weight loss interventions,” says Michelle, a preventive cardiology dietitian at EntirelyNourished.com who was not involved in the study. Dr. Ruthenstein, CDN, told Medical News Today.
She added: “Waist circumference was measured because it specifically targets abdominal weight, which is closely linked to inflammation and heart disease risk.”
Although not involved in the study, Antoni Adamlović, medical director and co-founder of the weight loss program Tb2.health, told Medical News Today that the study showed that GLP-1 drugs were more effective than other common weight loss drugs. It has been shown to be significantly more effective. medicine. Other weight loss drugs, such as phentermine and naltrexone/bupropion, lead to weight loss of 3% to 7% of body weight on average.
A related study by researchers at University College London found that GLP-1 drugs, which are used not only for weight loss but also for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, improve cardiovascular outcomes, regardless of the amount of weight loss or starting weight. It has been reported that it also appears to benefit the system. .
Although the study, which has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, did not involve patients with diabetes, “semaglutide is likely to have similar results among patients with diabetes,” Rosenstein said. “This is because semaglutide primarily works by mimicking the actions of the body's natural incretin hormone, GLP-1, to slow food absorption, increase satiety, and control blood sugar metabolism.”
Researchers said positive results were seen across all genders, races, ages, regions, and body sizes when compared to the placebo effect.
“Our long-term analysis of semaglutide demonstrates that clinically relevant weight loss can be sustained for up to four years in a geographically and ethnically diverse population of overweight and obese but nondiabetic adults.” Ryan said in a press statement. “The extent of weight loss in such a large and diverse population suggests that it may impact the public health burden of multiple obesity-related diseases. Our trial focuses on cardiovascular events. However, many other chronic conditions, such as several types of cancer, osteoarthritis, and anxiety and depression, would also benefit from effective weight management.
John Deanfield, a professor of cardiology at University College London who led the study, said the findings show that semaglutide “in addition to reducing unhealthy body fat, has other effects that lower cardiovascular risk.” He added that this suggests that there is.
“These alternative mechanisms may include direct effects on the heart muscle, blood vessels, or a combination of one or more of these, as well as positive effects on blood sugar, blood pressure, and inflammation,” he said. Ta.
Side effects of semaglutide treatment include gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea, as well as an increased risk of developing gallbladder stones. However, the researchers said negative symptoms were actually lower in the semaglutide group than in the placebo group.
The findings were presented at the European Obesity Congress in May 2024.
This data comes from the ongoing Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes (SELECT) study trial, which began in 2018. In 2023, a study based on data from the SELECT trial in a similar population found that taking semaglutide for more than three years reduced the risk of heart attack and stroke. , deaths from cardiovascular disease will be reduced by 20%.
Adamlovicz said further studies showing the effects of GLP-1 treatment beyond four years would be beneficial to “see whether the weight loss and cardiovascular effects persist in the long term.” Stated.
“Follow-up studies focusing on specific heart-healthy diets and moderate-intensity exercise in conjunction with the use of semaglutide and tirzepatide may also be helpful,” he said.
