A recent study by researchers at UT Southwestern has found that the weight-loss drug liraglutide could offer significant benefits for heart health, particularly in people who are overweight or obese and at high risk for heart problems.
By reducing specific types of harmful fat, liraglutide might help lower the risk of chronic diseases, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Liraglutide is commonly prescribed for weight loss and is taken as a once-daily injection. The study focused on its effects in people with obesity or who were overweight, including those with pre-diabetes or other heart risk factors.
Over 40 weeks, 185 participants received liraglutide alongside lifestyle interventions, such as diet and exercise. The results were promising.
Two Types of Harmful Fat Targeted
The drug significantly reduced two types of fat linked to heart problems:
- Visceral fat: This fat is stored deep within the abdominal cavity, surrounding important organs like the liver, pancreas, and intestines. High levels of visceral fat are closely linked to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.
- Ectopic fat: This refers to fat stored in places that typically contain little fat, such as the liver, heart, and pancreas. Excess ectopic fat can interfere with the normal functioning of these organs, increasing the risk of disease.
The study showed that liraglutide’s effects were particularly strong. Fat reduction in the abdominal area was twice as significant as overall body weight loss, and the liver experienced six times more fat reduction. These benefits were consistent for participants with or without pre-diabetes.
More Than Just Fat Loss
In addition to reducing fat, liraglutide improved blood sugar levels and reduced inflammation in participants without diabetes. These effects may help explain why the drug has been linked to better heart health in previous studies.
The findings suggest that liraglutide could help reduce the risk of chronic conditions in overweight and obese people, even those who do not have diabetes.
This expands the potential uses of the drug beyond just weight loss, offering a way to target heart health risks more effectively.
The Bigger Picture of Obesity and Heart Health
Obesity is a growing health challenge worldwide, affecting about 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 5 children. It is a major risk factor for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other serious conditions.
One of the main challenges in treating obesity is identifying those at the highest risk of complications, such as excessive visceral or ectopic fat, so they can receive targeted interventions.
While lifestyle changes like diet and exercise remain the cornerstone of weight management, many people struggle to achieve lasting results.
Medications like liraglutide could provide an additional tool for reducing health risks, especially for individuals who have difficulty losing weight through lifestyle changes alone.
A Path to Better Heart Health
This study, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology and led by Dr. Parag Joshi, provides new insights into how liraglutide works and its potential for improving heart health.
By targeting harmful fat and reducing inflammation and blood sugar levels, the drug may offer a multi-faceted approach to reducing heart disease risk.
If you or a loved one is managing obesity or high heart risk, it’s worth discussing options like liraglutide with a healthcare provider.
While no medication can replace a healthy lifestyle, this study highlights how combining medication with lifestyle interventions could make a big difference in improving overall health and reducing the risk of chronic diseases.
If you care about heart disease, please read studies about a big cause of heart failure, and common blood test could advance heart failure treatment.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about a new way to repair human heart, and results showing drinking coffee may help reduce heart failure risk.
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