When most people think about Wegovy, weight loss is the first thing that comes to mind. This prescription medication has helped millions of people achieve significant weight reduction.
But here’s what many don’t realise: the benefits of semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy) extend far beyond the number on your scale.
Recent research has uncovered a range of additional health benefits that make semaglutide much more than just a weight loss drug.
Semaglutide belongs to a class of medications called GLP-1 receptor agonists. Think of GLP-1 as a natural hormone your body produces after you eat.
When you take Wegovy, the semaglutide mimics this hormone and sends signals to your brain that help you feel full sooner and stay satisfied longer. It also slows down how quickly food moves through your stomach, so you naturally eat less without feeling deprived.
Because semaglutide affects multiple systems in your body, not just your appetite, it creates ripple effects that benefit your health in ways scientists are still discovering. The same mechanisms that help with weight loss also influence your cardiovascular system, blood sugar levels, and even brain function.
One of the most impressive discoveries about semaglutide is its powerful effect on heart health. Large-scale studies have shown that this medication doesn’t just help you lose weight – it actively protects your cardiovascular system.
Researchers believe semaglutide directly supports the cardiovascular system through anti-inflammatory effects and improved blood vessel function.
In people without diabetes who used semaglutide for weight loss, the medication reduced major heart problems by 20% compared to those taking a placebo. This includes serious events like heart attacks, heart failure, strokes, cardiovascular diseases and even death.
To put this in perspective, a major heart event was prevented for 1 in every 67 people treated.
The numbers are even more impressive for people with diabetes. Studies show semaglutide can reduce major cardiovascular events by up to 26%, and even the oral form of semaglutide showed a 14% reduction in heart problems.
The discovery that semaglutide has the ability to curb alcohol cravings and reduce substance use has opened up entirely new possibilities for treating addiction alongside weight management.
Researchers believe this happens because semaglutide affects dopamine release, which is like the brain’s reward system – the same pathways that drive cravings for food, alcohol, and other substances. By dampening these reward signals, the medication makes it easier to resist urges and break addictive patterns.
Clinical trials show that people taking semaglutide experienced a 46% reduction in peak breath alcohol concentration and a 39% reduction in weekly alcohol craving. The medication also led to cuts in drinks per drinking day and heavy drinking episodes.
Even more impressive, semaglutide users had a 36% lower risk of alcohol use disorder-related hospitalisations and a 50-56% reduced risk for developing or returning to alcohol use disorder over 12 months.
Studies have also found that semaglutide can help with nicotine addiction, with participants showing a 10% reduction in cigarette use. Large database studies have also shown promising results for cannabis use disorder reduction.
While semaglutide is often prescribed specifically to lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes, its glucose-lowering effects are impressive even for those taking it primarily for weight loss.
Semaglutide also helps restore the pancreas’s ability to produce insulin properly. In people with type 2 diabetes, the insulin-producing cells (called beta cells) in the pancreas become damaged and struggle to respond when blood sugar rises. Semaglutide helps repair this beta cell function, returning the natural insulin response to levels similar to those without diabetes.
Studies show significant improvements in long-term blood sugar control, measured by a test called HbA1c that shows your average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months. Semaglutide consistently reduces HbA1c by 1.0-2.7%, with greater improvements in patients who started with higher blood sugar levels. In the SUSTAIN 1 trial, 49% of patients achieved healthy target blood sugar levels.
Semaglutide also directly tackles insulin resistance. Studies show a 27-46% reduction in insulin resistance, with 34-94% of the improvement down to better insulin sensitivity beyond what you’d expect from weight loss alone.
Recent research has uncovered a fascinating connection between semaglutide and brain health, revealing that this medication may help protect against cognitive decline and reduce the risk of dementia.
The medication appears to work in several ways to protect the brain. It promotes beneficial changes in brain immune cells and increases oxytocin levels, a hormone crucial for social behaviour and cognitive function. Semaglutide also enhances the brain’s ability to use glucose for energy, particularly in memory-forming regions like the hippocampus.
An analysis of 1.09 million type 2 diabetes patients revealed a 40-70% reduced risk of first-time Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis compared to other diabetes medications over a 3-year follow-up period.
Oxford University’s analysis of over 60,000 diabetes patients on semaglutide showed lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia symptoms compared to other diabetes medications, with no increased risk of neuropsychiatric side effects.
For women struggling with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and irregular periods, semaglutide offers hope for hormone regulation. PCOS often causes weight gain and disrupted menstrual cycles, creating a frustrating cycle that’s difficult to break.
A Natural Cycles survey of 1,754 GLP-1 medication users revealed that 43% of PCOS patients reported positive menstrual cycle changes, with the most common improvement being more predictable periods.
Studies show that 78% of obese PCOS patients achieved significant weight loss on low-dose semaglutide, leading to 80% normalisation of menstrual cycles among those who responded well to treatment over 3-6 months. This can also lead to equal improvements in menstrual regularity, liver fat reduction and hormonal regulation compared to lifestyle changes alone.
Researchers believe semaglutide works against cancer by improving gut barrier function and reducing harmful bacteria in the digestive system, which reduces inflammation throughout the body and decreases cancer risk. It also improves insulin sensitivity and reduces high insulin levels, making it harder for tumour cells to grow and multiply.
Studies have found a 44% lower colorectal cancer risk with GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide versus insulin in non-obese patients, and a 50% risk reduction in obese and overweight patients.
The cancer protection extends far beyond just colorectal cancer, with a risk reduction in 10 of 13 obesity-associated cancers compared to insulin treatment, including:
If you’re considering Wegovy or other weight loss injections like Mounjaro or Saxenda for weight management, these additional health benefits make the medications even more valuable for your overall well-being.
At Click2Pharmacy’s online weight loss clinic, we provide safe and convenient access to prescription weight loss medications. Our simple online process makes it easy to get the treatment you need with complete discretion and professional medical support.
Ready to explore how these medications could improve your health? Start your consultation today to learn more about our weight loss treatments and start your journey towards better health.
