Dear People’s Pharmacy: My highly experienced cardiologist said that for many patients, including myself, losing weight improves many heart health issues. It really doesn’t matter how weight loss occurs unless it’s the result of illness.
If taking GLP-1 medications like Semaglutide lead to weight loss, is the loss itself likely not improve your heart health? Even if it’s an indirect effect, I think it will be displayed as an improvement for some users. What do you think?
A. The results of the inclusion study were published more than a year ago (New England Journal of Medicine, November 11, 2023). This was a placebo-controlled study of over 17,000 people at high risk for heart problems. Those who used semaglutide for more than three years were significantly less likely to suffer from cardiovascular causes, heart attacks, or death.
A recent review and meta-analysis of the semaglutide study found that this drug can significantly reduce the risk of hospitalization due to heart failure and death due to cardiovascular causes (International Obesity, January 2025). As your cardiologist suggests, losing weight can help with heart health.
This reader reports that a similar drug, Zepbound (Tilzepatide), is a “…miracle drug.” I’m taking my blood pressure medication off. I have been sleeping for years. I didn’t want alcohol and lost 20 pounds in 2.5 months. “Before people take any of these medications, they should let themselves know about potential side effects and benefits. Reducing alcohol craving is an advantage, but vision loss from Naion (non-arterial pre-ischemic optic nerve damage) is a rare, yet confusing side effect.
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