In a recent study by UT Southwestern, a weight-loss medication known as liraglutide has been found to offer significant benefits for heart health.
This comes as great news for individuals who are overweight or have obesity, especially those at high risk for heart-related issues.
When combined with lifestyle changes, taking liraglutide daily has been shown to significantly reduce two types of fat associated with heart problems: visceral fat, commonly known as belly fat, and ectopic fat.
Visceral fat is the fat stored deep in the abdominal area, surrounding vital organs like the liver, pancreas, and intestines.
Ectopic fat, on the other hand, accumulates in places where fat is not typically found in large amounts, including the liver, muscles, heart, and pancreas. Both types of fat are known contributors to chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
The study involved 185 participants who received a daily injection of liraglutide over a period of 40 weeks.
Remarkably, the effects of liraglutide in reducing fat were found to be twice as significant in abdominal tissues and six times greater in the liver compared to its impact on overall body weight.
This was true for participants with or without pre-diabetes, indicating that liraglutide could be beneficial for a wide range of individuals.
Moreover, the medication also helped lower blood sugar levels and reduce inflammation in those without diabetes, further underscoring its potential benefits beyond weight loss.
These findings are particularly important considering the high prevalence of obesity, which affects approximately one in every four adults and one in every five youths.
Obesity is a leading risk factor for heart disease and mortality, primarily due to the accumulation of harmful visceral and ectopic fats.
Despite the challenges in identifying those at the highest risk, this study suggests that liraglutide, alongside diet and exercise, could be an effective treatment option.
The study’s implications extend beyond just weight loss; they highlight a possible mechanism through which liraglutide benefits heart health.
It also demonstrates the drug’s effectiveness in individuals without diabetes, suggesting that its impact on heart health could be broad and significant.
This research, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology and led by Parag Joshi and his team, opens new doors for treating and managing obesity and its associated risks.
As the fight against obesity and its complications continues, liraglutide could play a crucial role in helping individuals achieve not only a healthier weight but also a healthier heart.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that vitamin K helps cut heart disease risk by a third, and a year of exercise reversed worrisome heart failure.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about supplements that could help prevent heart disease, stroke, and results showing this food ingredient may strongly increase heart disease death risk.
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