Wegovy (Semaglutide) is best known for weight loss, but recent studies show Wegovy can also reduce the risk of serious heart problems such as a heart attack, stroke, and even death from heart disease.
Wegovy is a trusted GLP-1 weight loss medication containing the ingredient Semaglutide, which has been around since 2017. Research on GLP-1 medications have been ongoing for over 20 years with the most recent studies published showing positive outcomes for people who already have heart disease.
If you are overweight or obese, your heart and blood vessels are under more strain. This increases your risks of high blood pressure, “bad” cholesterol, diabetes, heart attacks, and stroke. If you were to visit your GP, they may recommend you lose weight to reduce your risk.
Benefits of Wegovy on heart health: What the clinical research says
The link between obesity and heart health
Obesity as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease
Obesity is widely recognised as a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Individuals with a higher body mass index (BMI) face substantially elevated risks of developing heart conditions. Obesity contributes to heart disease not just by body fat itself, but through the effects it has on metabolism, cholesterol levels, blood pressure and vascular health.
How excess weight affects heart function
When someone carries excess weight, especially visceral fat around the abdomen, the heart has to work harder to supply oxygen and nutrients to a larger body mass. Over time, the strain can contribute to structural and functional changes in the heart, such as hypertrophy (thickening of the heart muscle) or reduced efficiency. Excess fat tissue also becomes biochemically active: it releases pro‑inflammatory cytokines (e.g. IL‑6, CRP) that promote inflammation, insulin resistance, and vascular damage.
Impact of obesity on blood pressure and blood vessels
Obesity affects the circulatory system in several ways. Carrying extra fat means the heart has to pump more blood, which puts extra strain on it and can raise blood pressure. It’s also linked to higher levels of bad cholesterol, which can build up in the arteries and restrict blood flow. Over time, this can damage blood vessels and increase the risk of heart problems like blockages or stiffness.
Connection between weight reduction and improved heart outcomes
Losing weight can reverse or improve many of the risk factors that link obesity to heart disease. A sustained calorie deficit, combined with dietary improvements and regular exercise, is foundational to weight loss. As body weight falls, blood pressure often decreases, cholesterol profiles improve, insulin sensitivity increases, and inflammation lessens. Ultimately, these changes reduce strain on the heart and vascular system and lower the risk of adverse cardiovascular events.
Recent research results about Wegovy's heart benefits
Reduced major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE)
In the SELECT trial, over 17,600 adults who were overweight or obese and had existing cardiovascular disease (but without diabetes) were followed for around 3–4 years. The study compared Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly) plus usual care vs placebo plus usual care. The “primary outcome” was a combination of heart attack, stroke, or death from heart disease (what doctors call a “major adverse cardiovascular event,” or MACE).
The result? The Wegovy group had 6.5% of people experience a primary event, versus 8.0% in the placebo group — a 20% relative risk reduction.
The benefits appeared across different patient groups (men vs women, older vs younger) and even among people who also had heart failure.
What this means: For people living with heart disease and struggling with excess weight, adding Wegovy may lower the risk of:
- Heart attacks
Wegovy reduced the number of non-fatal heart attacks in the trial — suggesting it may help prevent future heart attacks, even in those already on other heart medications.
- Strokes
There was also a reduction in the risk of stroke. This is likely due to improvements in weight, blood pressure, inflammation, and blood sugar control — all of which affect stroke risk.
- Heart-related deaths
Importantly, fewer people in the Wegovy group died from cardiovascular causes, suggesting that Wegovy may not just help you live healthier — but live longer.
Other benefits and findings
- A recent review (metanalysis) found that semaglutide was associated with lower risks of heart attacks, angina (episodes of chest pain), and even some heart rhythm problems like atrial fibrillation.
- In the SELECT trial, Wegovy also showed modest benefits for kidney health — fewer people had worsening kidney outcomes.
- In those with heart failure, Wegovy still helped reduce major events and improved symptoms and quality of life.
How Wegovy might help your heart
Wegovy’s heart protective effects likely come from a mix of changes, not just weight loss. These include:
Blood pressure improvements
Losing weight means lower blood pressure, lower workload and less strain on the heart. Wegovy has been shown to help lower blood pressure in many patients. Clinical trials show small but meaningful reductions in both systolic (top number) and diastolic (bottom number) blood pressure. In the STEP 1 trial, for example, people who took Wegovy saw their systolic blood pressure drop by an average of about 6 mmHg, which can make a big difference over time in reducing cardiovascular risk.
The improvements in blood pressure are mostly due to the weight loss caused by Wegovy. As fat mass decreases, the blood vessels become less compressed, the heart pumps more efficiently, and there’s a reduction in the hormones that contribute to high blood pressure. In addition, Wegovy may have some direct effects on the body’s nervous system and kidney function that help lower blood pressure beyond weight loss alone.
If you're living with high blood pressure and struggling with weight, medications like Wegovy may offer a double benefit—helping you shed pounds while also improving your heart health.
Better blood glucose control
Wegovy improves how your body uses insulin, lowers inflammation, and helps manage cholesterol and blood glucose levels — all of which protect your heart.
Wegovy slows down how quickly food leaves your stomach, which means glucose enters your bloodstream more gradually. It also helps your pancreas release the right amount of insulin when needed, while reducing the amount of glucose your liver produces. Together, these effects help keep blood glucose levels more stable throughout the day, reducing spikes after meals and improving overall glucose control.
Direct effects
Some research shows that GLP-1 medicines, like Semaglutide, may also directly help your blood vessels stay healthy by reducing stress and making fatty build-up in the arteries more stable.
Reduced stress on organs
Wegovy may help reduce fat around important organs like the heart, lower inflammation in the body, and decrease harmful types of fat in key areas.
Weight Loss as a tool for Improving heart health
It’s not just about losing weight. Wegovy also helps your body in other ways that support heart health, like reducing harmful fat and lowering inflammation.
When you reduce excess weight, especially around your middle, your heart doesn't have to work as hard. Weight loss can help lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, and reduce harmful inflammation in the body — all key factors in preventing heart disease.
Reducing waist circumference is especially important because fat stored around the abdomen (visceral fat) is closely linked to heart risks. A smaller waistline often means less fat around your organs — and that's great news for your heart.
Lowering your Body Mass Index (BMI) by even a small amount can lead to big improvements in heart health. Studies show that even a 5–10% reduction in weight can reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
The goal isn’t just to lose weight quickly — it’s to keep it off. Sustainable weight loss helps keep your heart strong and healthy in the long run, lowering the chances of future heart problems and supporting better overall wellbeing.
What you should understand
- Wegovy is the first weight loss drug approved for heart protection.
- Currently, in the UK, Wegovy is still only prescribed for weight management and is not prescribed for heart health alone.
- The heart benefits are in addition to, not a replacement for, standard treatments like blood pressure or cholesterol medicines.
- Evidence shows these benefits are strongest in people who already have heart disease. If you don’t, it’s unclear if the same protection applies.
References
- Novo Nordisk. Semaglutide Effects on Cardiovascular Outcomes in People With Overweight or Obesity (SELECT). American College of Cardiology summary. (online) American College of Cardiology
- Lincoff A, et al. International trial: weekly semaglutide (2.4 mg) reduced cardiovascular events by 20% in adults with overweight/obesity without diabetes. Cleveland Clinic News. Cleveland Clinic
- Medscape. Semaglutide “A New Pathway” to CVD Risk Reduction: SELECT. Medscape
- PubMed: Semaglutide in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction and Obesity (prespecified analysis from SELECT) PubMed
- PubMed: Semaglutide effects on safety and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with overweight or obesity: a systematic review and metaanalysis PubMed
- European Journal of Medical Research: Effect of semaglutide on arrhythmic, major cardiovascular, and renal outcomes in patients with overweight or obesity: a systematic review and metaanalysis BioMed Central
- JACC: SELECT Outcomes by Sex — semaglutide effects in female vs male subgroups JACC
- Wiley / ECI: Glucagonlike peptide1 receptor agonist semaglutide reduces atrial fibrillation incidence: a metaanalysis Wiley Online Library
