2024-09-01 18:38:30
The drugs Wegovy and Ozempic are used as weight loss aids. But new studies show that they can apparently do even more.
They help with obesity and type 2 diabetes: weight loss injections such as Ozempic and Wegovy are considered the new miracle weapons for obesity. But new studies show that this does not seem to be all. As several British media outlets report, semaglutide, the main ingredient in the drugs, could also slow down the biological aging process.
The drug has “far-reaching benefits that go beyond what we originally imagined,” said Professor Harlan Krumholz of the Yale School of Medicine after the publication of several new studies at the world’s largest cardiology conference ESC in London.
The drug could therefore be used to treat a wide range of diseases associated with heart failure, arthritis, Alzheimer’s and even cancer. “It wouldn’t surprise me if improving people’s health in this way actually slows down the aging process,” said Krumholz. The drugs are about to revolutionize cardiovascular care.
The new data was published in a number of medical journals, including the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. For the studies, more than 17,600 people aged 45 or older were treated with either semaglutide or a placebo for three years. The participants were obese or overweight and had cardiovascular disease but no diabetes.
Those taking the drug were less likely to die from all causes, including cardiovascular disease and Covid-19, the researchers said. People taking the drug for weight loss were just as likely to get Covid but less likely to die from it.
Regardless of gender, the drug reduced the risk of adverse cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure and cardiac arrhythmias; this effect was observed disproportionately often in women. It also improved the symptoms of heart failure and reduced inflammation levels in the body – regardless of whether the participants lost weight or not.
Dr. Benjamin Scirica, lead author of one of the studies and a professor of cardiovascular medicine at Harvard Medical School, said the results “confirm that overweight and obesity increase the risk of death from many causes.” But semaglutide therapy could change that.
The prescription drug suppresses appetite and is available under the brand names Wegovy for obesity and Ozempic for diabetes. It is given as an injection and mimics the hormone GLP-1, making people feel more full and less hungry.
Experts have warned in the past that the drug is not a quick fix or a replacement for a healthy diet and exercise, and should only be taken under medical supervision. As with any medication, there can be side effects and risks – the most common being nausea, upset stomach and bloating.