Obesity medications linked to improved cardiovascular health

New generation obesity medications, specifically GLP-1 receptor agonists, are providing significant benefits for cardiovascular health beyond simple weight loss. Associate Professor Dr. M. Erkam Sencar, an endocrinology and metabolism specialist at Medicana Health Group, noted that these drugs mimic the GLP-1 hormone naturally produced by the body to control appetite and blood sugar.

These medications assist in insulin secretion following meals, reduce appetite, and increase the feeling of fullness by slowing gastric emptying. According to the SELECT study involving over 17,000 participants, weekly semaglutide use reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events—such as heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death—by approximately 20 percent in individuals who were overweight or obese and had cardiovascular disease but did not have diabetes.