Can weight loss drugs prevent heart attacks? Know what US FDA approval means

Why is the trial and approval significant?

Clinically speaking, obesity is a major risk factor for heart disease and while no weight loss is possible with a pill, admittedly it gives the first necessary push to people keen to move closer to their goal. Once the initial stubborn kilos are shed, they have to sustain the weight loss with strict lifestyle discipline regarding a calorie-restricted diet and increased physical exercise. Also, older weight loss drugs didn’t show corresponding benefits to heart health. And since Wegovy does this statistically, it can be used as a mainline anti-obesity therapy and not just as a cosmetic wonder drug.

I believe that cardiovascular disease, particularly when associated with obesity, can be a number one killer and any therapy that addresses this risk is a life-saver.

So how does Semaglutide protect heart health?

In the trial, Semaglutide didn’t affect total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol or blood pressure. But on an average, patients lost about 10 per cent of their body weight, which in turn reduced these risks. More research is needed for a direct correlation between the drug itself and heart health.

Semaglutide belongs to a class of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. It mimics the actions of the incretin hormone GLP-1 that is released by the gut after eating. This stimulates insulin production, decreases glucagon production and slows gastric emptying. All of these functions work together to lower blood sugar levels, which decreases the strain on the cardiovascular system. And by increasing satiety, it blunts your hunger pangs and tendency to overeat, impacting calories and weight.

By accelerating weight loss and weight control, Semaglutide controls other risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as blood pressure, cholesterol and inflammation. It is known that inflammation can constrict blood vessels in the heart, trigger plaque deposition and damage walls enough in the arteries to rupture and form blood clots, leading to heart attacks and strokes.

What does it mean for you?

For Indians, injectable Semaglutide will take some time to be widely accessible as some clinical trials are ongoing. But we expect them to be available in the country within a couple of years. At the moment, you can get these injectables at a pharmacy that sells imported brands at an unbelievably high price or from people travelling abroad and bringing them in. We do have Liraglutide, which has proven to have a positive impact on cardiac and renal safety outcomes among patients in clinical trials, making it an effective choice of treatment for patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. But even if you are among the privileged few to access the drug, you must consult a doctor and have it on prescription. Without a medical analysis of your health condition, you cannot jump on to a regime just because others are having it.

Besides, weight loss from Semaglutide persists as long as one remains on the medication. Weight loss is a multi-pillared approach and you must be as rigorous about this than just relying on a miracle drug.