A weight-loss drug may be good for your heart

Plus more health news | Email not displaying correctly? [View it in your browser.]( [Health Matters]( The weight-loss drug Wegovy may also be good for heart health By Alice Park Senior Health Correspondent Most of the attention paid to popular drugs Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro has been about the way these drugs can lead to weight loss and their ability to reduce symptoms of diabetes. But on Saturday, doctors were excited to learn more about another potential benefit. I attended the American Heart Association annual meeting in Philadelphia to hear the results from a much-anticipated study of Wegovy and its effects on the heart. The session was standing-room only, in a huge hall in the Pennsylvania Convention Center. When the lead investigator announced the main finding—that people on the drug lowered their risk of heart events, including dying from heart disease, by 20% compared to those on a placebo—the audience erupted in applause. Heart experts in the room were excited by the idea of finally having an effective drug to treat the overweight and obese. Here’s what you and your doctors need to know and the study and how it will change the way heart disease is treated: - The study involved only people who had a body mass index of 27 or higher, and had already had a heart attack, stroke, or other circulatory issues. - The drug’s maker, Novo Nordisk, which sponsored the study, has asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to include the heart benefits in the drug’s label. - Many doctors are concerned that the drug will remain out of reach for those who might need it. At more than $1000 for a month’s supply, many insurers don’t cover it, but doctors are hoping the latest data showing the drop in heart disease risk and death could change that. [READ MORE]( What Else to Read [What to Know About Severe Asthma in Kids]( By Markham Heid In children, severe asthma can be an unruly medical condition. [Read More »]( [Can Cannabis Help Your Gut?]( By Stacey Colino It’s not a panacea for gastrointestinal disorders, but it eases some patients’ symptoms. (Originally published in 2021.) [Read More »]( [9 Ways to Squeeze in More Steps Every Day]( By Angela Haupt Stop texting the people you live with, and get (or borrow) a dog. [Read More »]( [7 Ways to Bring a Dead Friendship Back to Life]( By Angela Haupt Positivity, consistency, and vulnerability play a key role. [Read More »]( [6 Things to Do if Your Doctor Isn’t Listening to You]( By Angela Haupt and Video by Andrew D. Johnson Spend time preparing for every appointment, take someone with you, and get vulnerable. [Read More »]( ONE LAST READ [A deadly fungus is spreading and climate change may be to blame]( Cases of valley fever, a disease that can result in paralysis caused by a flesh-eating fungus found in the U.S. Southwest, have more than quadrupled over the last 20 years. The fungus is now spreading beyond it's traditional geographic footprint, according to the Washington Post, and climate change is believed to be the culprit. [Read More »]( If you were forwarded this and want to sign up to receive it daily, [click here](. Today's newsletter was written by Alice Park and Oliver Staley and edited by Oliver. [Want more from TIME? Sign up for our other newsletters.]( [Subscribe to TIME]( TIME may receive compensation for some links to products and services in this email. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Connect with TIME via [Facebook]( | [Twitter]( | [Newsletters]( [UNSUBSCRIBE]( [PRIVACY POLICY]( [YOUR CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS]( TIME Customer Service, P.O. Box 37508, Boone, IA 50037-0508 Questions? Contact health@time.com Copyright © 2023 TIME USA, LLC. All rights reserved.