health
NHS England to offer weight-loss drugs to 1.2m people to reduce risk of heart attacks and strokes
People who are not obese but overweight and at risk of serious cardiovascular events eligible for weekly jabs
TL;DR
- NHS England is expanding the use of semaglutide (Wegovy/Ozempic) to over 1 million people.
- The drug will be offered to individuals who are overweight (BMI 27+) and have experienced a heart attack, stroke, or circulation issues.
- This initiative aims to reduce the risk of future life-threatening cardiovascular events.
- Evidence suggests semaglutide benefits cardiovascular health independently of significant weight loss.
- The weekly injections will be an additional treatment alongside existing medications, diet, and exercise.