How Wegovy Supports Heart Health: Benefits Beyond Weight Loss

Since Wegovy launched in September 2023, thousands of patients in the UK have used it to help them manage their weight. In the process, many have reported unexpected benefits – improved energy, clearer skin and better concentration, to name a few.

Now we can add improved heart health to the list of positive Wegovy results that go beyond simply losing body weight.

Recent trials have found Wegovy, which has the active ingredient semaglutide, has a positive effect on heart health. This research has led regulators approving the medication for preventing heart-related diseases in overweight and obese patients.

Here, we dig into the latest research to explain how Wegovy benefits the heart – and what this could mean for your weight management treatment.

Wegovy’s Heart Benefits

A 2023 global study found that Wegovy reduced the chances of experiencing a “repeat cardiovascular event” by 20%. This means that you’re 20% less likely to have a heart attack or stroke if you’ve had one previously.

The SELECT trial was funded by Novo Nordisk, the maker of Wegovy. It included more than 17,600 patients from 41 countries.  

A 2025 analysis of the trial data also found the risk of heart attack, stroke or death dropped within the first months of treatment. This suggests that Wegovy itself has a positive effect on heart health, not just the weight loss it can cause.

The proven ability of Wegovy to improve heart health sets it apart from other weight loss medications. 

Wegovy belongs to a group of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Other GLP-1 medications, like Mounjaro (tirzepatide) or Saxenda (liraglutide), have not been found to prevent serious heart problems.

Global Approval for Heart Health in Overweight Patients

Following the results of the SELECT trial, regulators worldwide approved Wegovy to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in overweight and obese people. This made Wegovy the first weight loss drug to be approved for such a use.

• March 2024: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Wegovy to reduce the risk of obese or overweight patients suffering serious heart problems. Patients should use it “alongside a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity.”

• July 2024: The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) made a similar announcement.

• Dec 2024: Australia’s medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), followed suit.

Can I Get Wegovy for Heart Problems in the UK?

At the moment, you cannot get a prescription for Wegovy to prevent heart problems alone. 

However, if you’re deciding between weight loss treatments, Wegovy’s benefits on heart health could help you decide. If you have heart disease, or you’ve had a heart attack or stroke before, you might find Wegovy is the better option for you.

If you’re struggling to choose the medication right for you, get in touch with our Patient Care team. They’ll tell you the risks and benefits of each medication. And they can give you a more personalised recommendation, based on your current health, medical history and lifestyle.

Other Benefits of Wegovy (That Aren’t Weight Loss)

As well as supporting heart health and weight loss, you might want to choose Wegovy for a number of other reasons. 

When deciding between Mounjaro and Wegovy, many patients choose Mounjaro simply because it’s more effective for weight loss. Trials have found patients lose 20% of their starting weight on Mounjaro after 72 weeks of treatment. Whereas, on Wegovy, patients lose around 15-17% of their starting weight.

However, there are other important factors to consider. This includes how well you tolerate the medication, how easy it is to use and how well it suits your lifestyle. 

Remember we’re here to help you make an informed decision. If you have any questions about our treatment options and their benefits, please get in touch.

Wegovy Doesn’t Affect the Oral Contraceptive Pill

Unlike other GLP-1s, Wegovy doesn’t affect the oral hormonal contraceptive pill. 

The MHRA recently warned women that Mounjaro “may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives in those who are overweight.” Experts don’t know exactly why this is. But it’s thought Mounjaro prevents your body from absorbing the hormones in the contraceptives. 

Patients on Mounjaro who use oral hormonal contraception should also use barrier methox ds, like condoms. They should use them for the first month of treatment and for one month each time you change their dose.

Wegovy may be the safer choice if you’re using the pill.

The Pens are Easier to Use Than Mounjaro’s

Each Wegovy pen comes with four doses and you only need to prime it once. You do this the first time you use the pen.

If you use Mounjaro, however, you need to prime your pen each time you want to inject a dose. 

This might not seem important. But many patients forget to prime their Mounjaro pen. In fact, it’s the main reason why Mounjaro pens burst and break. So it’s something to keep in mind when choosing your medication.

It Has a Simpler Titration Schedule

Some patients prefer Wegovy’s titration schedule – which increases from 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg in five steps – to Mounjaro’s. On Mounjaro’s dosage schedule, you increase your dose in six steps, from 2.5 mg to 15 mg.

As well as having fewer steps, some users find that the smaller dose increases of Wegovy help reduce side effects. It’s common for side effects to be worse when you start treatment and when moving up a dose. So Wegovy could be a better choice if you’re concerned about side effects when beginning treatment or moving up doses.

However, Wegovy still comes with a risk of side effects and each user will react to the medication differently. The most common side effects are headaches, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, abdominal pain and fatigue. 

Although these common side effects are usually mild and manageable. In clinical trials, only 5.3% of patients stopped Wegovy due to side effects.

It Helps Maintain Weight Loss Long-Term

The SELECT study also found that patients using Wegovy were successful at maintaining their weight loss in the long-term. The research found weight loss “was sustained for up to four years.”

Losing weight is just one part of your journey on GLP-1 treatment. Maintaining your success is just as important. Many patients worry about keeping the weight off in the long-term. But the results show that Wegovy can help patients successfully maintain their weight.

What’s Next? How to Choose the Right Medication

At Simple, we’re here to help you throughout your weight loss journey – from choosing the right treatment to maintaining your success.

If you are thinking about Wegovy for heart health, or if you are unsure about treatments, contact our team for help. You call us on 0141 774 5023. 

Once you’ve made your decision, fill in an assessment online. Our clinicians review these answers carefully, to make sure it’s safe for you to use the medication.

Key Takeaways

• Wegovy Reduces Heart Risk. A major clinical trial showed Wegovy (semaglutide) lowers the risk of repeat heart attacks and strokes by 20%.

• Wegovy is the First Weight Loss Drug Approved for Heart Protection: Regulators in the US, UK, and Australia have approved Wegovy for cutting serious heart risks in obese and overweight individuals.

• Currently Not Prescribed for Heart Health Alone: Wegovy in the UK is still prescribed primarily for weight management. It’s not prescribed solely for preventing heart issues.

• Wegovy Has Additional Benefits: Unlike some alternatives, semaglutide injections don’t interfere with the oral contraceptive pill. Some patients find it easier to use.

• You Might Be Able to Tolerate Wegovy Better: Wegovy’s gradual five-step dosage increase may cause fewer side effects than Mounjaro. This makes it a preferred option for users sensitive to side effects. 

References

A. Michael Lincoff, Kirstine Brown‐Frandsen, Colhoun, H.M., Deanfield, J., Emerson, S.S., Sille Esbjerg, Søren Hardt‐Lindberg, G. Kees Hovingh, Kahn, S.E., Kushner, R.F., Ildiko Lingvay, Tuğçe Kalaycı Oral, Marie Mide Michelsen, Plutzky, J., Tornøe, C.W. and Ryan, D.H. (2023). Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Obesity without Diabetes. The New England Journal of Medicine, [online] 389(24). doi: https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa2307563 

‌Jastreboff, A.M., Aronne, L.J., Ahmad, N.N., Wharton, S., Connery, L., Alves, B., Kiyosue, A., Zhang, S., Liu, B., Bunck, M.C. and Stefanski, A. (2022). Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity. New England Journal of Medicine, [online] 387(3). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa2206038 

Wilding, J.P.H., Batterham, R.L. and Calanna, S. (2021). Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. The New England Journal of Medicine, [online] 384(11), pp.989–1002. doi: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183

and, M. (2025). Women on ‘skinny jabs’ must use effective contraception, MHRA urges in latest guidance. [online] GOV.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/women-on-skinny-jabs-must-use-effective-contraception-mhra-urges-in-latest-guidance

Ryan, D.H., Lingvay, I., Deanfield, J., Kahn, S.E., Barros, E., Burguera, B., Colhoun, H.M., Cercato, C., Dicker, D., Horn, D.B., Hovingh, G.K., Jeppesen, O.K., Kokkinos, A., Lincoff, A.M., Meyhöfer, S.M., Oral, T.K., Plutzky, J., van Beek, A.P., Wilding, J.P.H. and Kushner, R.F. (2024). Long-term weight loss effects of semaglutide in obesity without diabetes in the SELECT trial. Nature Medicine, [online] 30(30), pp.1–9. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-02996-7

Authorship

Updated 24/06/2025