Anti-obesity medications like Wegovy® may lower risks of heart disease.
Anti-obesity medications like GLP-1 RAs (glucagon-like peptide receptor agonists) — the class of medications that include type 2 diabetes drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic® — are now being touted for their ability to help with heart health.
Now, in addition to asking your healthcare provider questions about the role of semaglutide in weight loss and type 2 diabetes control, patients are now asking, “does semaglutide lower cholesterol?,” “does semaglutide prevent heart disease?,” and “does semaglutide affect blood pressure?” A clinical trial known as SELECT (Semaglutide Effects on Cardiovascular Outcomes in People with Overweight or Obesity) found that Wegovy can offer significant reductions in the risk of cardiovascular events in adults with obesity and a pre-existing cardiovascular condition who do not have type 2 diabetes. Following the SELECT clinical trial, the FDA has now approved the use of Wegovy in non-diabetic adults with obesity and a cardiovascular condition. So, how does semaglutide help heart health?
GLP-1 RAs and Cardiovascular Health
Although researchers are not exactly sure how semaglutide helps heart health, it is suggested that it’s because semaglutide is so effective at helping patients lose weight — and the loss of excess body weight improves cardiovascular health. In the SELECT trial, patients lost on average, about 10 percent of their body weight. Weight loss has been consistently shown to help patients lower their cholesterol and triglycerides, lower blood pressure, and lower their overall risk of a cardiovascular event. If you are taking blood pressure medication, it is important to ask your healthcare provider if you can take semaglutide with high blood pressure medication.
Like all medications, semaglutide does have side effects. Taking semaglutide and experiencing heart palpitations can happen because the medication may increase your heart rate, even at rest. If you experience heart palpitations, be sure to contact your healthcare provider right away.
Other common side effects include gastrointestinal events like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. Because semaglutide reduces your appetite, it is important to make sure you are following a nutritionally sound diet that includes lean protein, fiber, fruits, and vegetables. It is important to meet your daily recommended allowances for macronutrients (e.g., protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates) and micronutrients (e.g., vitamins and minerals) to offset the reduction in calories consume. Your healthcare provider can help you build a nutritionally dense diet.
In addition to following a healthy eating plan, people taking GLP-1 medications could supplement their diet with Biocare, a scientifically formulated beverage designed specifically to help manage semaglutide GI side effects*. Biocare also contains high quality whey protein to help preserve lean muscle mass (which is often lost during the rapid weight loss associated with anti-obesity medications), soluble prebiotic fiber (which promotes gut health and reduces the incidence of diarrhea and constipation), as well as macronutrients and micronutrients to ensure daily nutritional requirements are met.
Prior to starting any weight loss program, whether it includes anti-obesity medication or not, be sure to consult with your healthcare provider to make sure your desired weight loss strategy is right for you.
