London, Thanasis Gavos,

The main ingredient in the injectable anti-obesity drug Wegovy reduces the risk of heart attack, heart failure and stroke regardless of how much weight a patient loses while taking it, a study by researchers from University of London UCL has found.

The study also shows that the drug’s recipients maintain significant weight loss for at least four years, with fewer serious side effects compared to those who received a placebo in the study.

After four years, the obese patients lost an average of 10.2% of their initial weight and 7.7cm of their circumference.

In terms of heart health benefits, they were found even in mildly obese patients or those who lost only a little weight.

Researchers and doctors who reviewed the results said the drug appeared to have benefits beyond weight loss, and that Britain’s NHS should consider extending the time the drug is available to obese patients beyond two years. which is in effect today.

Wegovy, like many advertised anti-obesity drugs, is based on the substance semaglutide, which makes the body feel that it is not hungry, thus reducing the calories consumed.

The study was the largest in the field, with 17,604 patients from 41 countries followed for five years. All of them were obese or overweight, none had diabetes, but all had suffered a heart attack, stroke or some serious arterial disease.