Semaglutide, a medication sold under brand names including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, demonstrates a capacity to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke even in the absence of significant weight loss, according to research published today by University College London (UCL).
The study, analyzing data from 17,604 adults aged 45 and over with pre-existing cardiovascular disease, found that the benefits of semaglutide were consistent regardless of a patient’s body mass index (BMI). Participants received either weekly injections of semaglutide or a placebo. Previous analysis of the same data revealed a 20% reduction in major adverse cardiac events among those taking semaglutide. This latest analysis indicates that reduction in risk occurs irrespective of initial weight, with benefits observed in individuals only marginally overweight – those with a BMI of 27, the average for UK adults – as well as those with obesity.
Researchers determined that for every 5kg (approximately 11 pounds) of weight lost, or 5cm (roughly 2 inches) reduction in waist circumference, there was a four percent reduction in the risk of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (heart attack), or non-fatal stroke. A reduction in waist size accounted for approximately one-third of the drug’s protective effect on the heart after two years, according to the UCL study.
“Abdominal fat is more dangerous for our cardiovascular health than overall weight,” stated Professor John Deanfield of the UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science, lead author of the study. “it is not surprising to spot a link between reduction in waist size and cardiovascular benefit.” Still, Professor Deanfield noted that this link explains only two-thirds of the observed heart benefits, suggesting additional mechanisms are at play.
The findings, published in The Lancet, were funded by Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures semaglutide. The study builds on earlier research indicating that semaglutide’s protective effects extend beyond those attributable solely to weight loss. The initial study, published in October 2025, showed a 20% reduction in heart attacks, strokes, and other major cardiac events in the trial group.
Separate research, similarly published in The Lancet, has indicated that semaglutide is not associated with increased neuropsychiatric risks compared to other antidiabetic medications, and may even show potential benefits regarding cognitive deficits and nicotine misuse, though further clinical trials are needed to validate these findings.
As of February 15, 2026, Novo Nordisk has not issued a statement regarding potential changes to prescribing guidelines based on the latest UCL research.
