Health Benefits of Wegovy

Wegovy can help improve your health in several ways. It helps people lose weight safely and keep it off. Losing weight with Wegovy can also lower the risk of health conditions linked to being overweight, like heart disease, diabetes, and kidney issues.

This page explains the main health benefits of Wegovy and how it can help you feel healthier in the long term.

Medically reviewed by

Dr Brenda Ikeji

Last reviewed: 18 Nov 2025

What’s on This Page?

1. Weight loss
2. Heart health benefits
3. Diabetes benefits
4. Kidney health benefits
5. Brain benefits
6. Liver benefits
7. Potential benefits for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
8. Sleep benefits
9. Colon cancer
10. Improved quality of life
11. Success Stories From Our Patients

Weight loss

The main job of Wegovy is to help people lose weight. Doctors can give it to adults who are very overweight or have health problems because of their weight. When used with healthy eating and regular exercise, Wegovy helps people lose weight and keep it off.

How Wegovy helps you lose weight

Wegovy has an active ingredient called semaglutide that helps control your appetite. It works by:

making you feel full faster
helping you stay full for longer
reducing food cravings so you eat less

Evidence from clinical trials

Studies show that Wegovy effectively supports weight loss, for example:

people taking Wegovy lose about 15 to 17% of their body weight in just over a year
about half of people on Wegovy lose at least 15% of their weight, and some lose even more
most people keep the weight off when they stay on treatment over a 2 year period

Heart health benefits

Wegovy can help improve heart health in people who are overweight or living with obesity. Studies show it can lower the chance of heart problems such as heart attacks and strokes, especially in people who already have heart disease.

Wegovy supports heart health by:

helping people lose weight and reduce waist size
improving blood pressure and cholesterol levels
keeping blood sugar more stable, which reduces strain on the heart

The SELECT trial, a large study of more than 17,000 adults with obesity and heart disease, found that people taking Wegovy were 20% less likely to have a heart attack or stroke than those taking a placebo.

Following this trial, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved Wegovy as a treatment to help lower cardiovascular risk in adults with heart disease who are overweight or obese.

Diabetes benefits

Wegovy can help manage and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Its active ingredient, semaglutide, is a type of medication called a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It helps your body control blood sugar by:

helping the pancreas release insulin when blood sugar is high
slowing how quickly sugar is released from the liver
supporting weight loss and lowering appetite

Studies show that semaglutide can reduce average blood sugar levels (measured as HbA1c) and help prevent diabetes in people at risk.

In major studies such as the STEP and SELECT trials, people with overweight or obesity who had prediabetes were about 60% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes when taking semaglutide compared with those who did not.

Please note: ZAVA does not prescribe Wegovy for treating diabetes.

Kidney health benefits

Wegovy may help protect the kidneys, especially in people with diabetes or high blood sugar. When blood sugar stays high for too long, it can damage the tiny filters inside the kidneys. By helping control blood sugar and reduce inflammation, Wegovy can lower this risk.

A review of more than 85,000 people has shown clear benefits for kidney health in people with and without diabetes, including:

a reduction in serious kidney problems by around 18%
a 16% lower risk of kidney failure

Wegovy’s effects on blood sugar, blood pressure, and heart health all work together to help keep the kidneys healthy for longer.

Brain benefits

Wegovy may also support brain health, although research is still ongoing. Early studies suggest that medications like Wegovy could help with memory, thinking, and addiction, but more research is needed to confirm these effects.

Alzheimer’s disease

People who are overweight or have type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Recent studies have found that people taking semaglutide may have lower rates of memory loss and dementia compared with those taking other diabetes medicines.

This may be because semaglutide helps control blood sugar, reduces inflammation, and improves blood flow to the brain. However, these findings are early and need further testing in large clinical trials.

Addiction

Semaglutide may also affect areas of the brain linked to reward and cravings, which is why it works well for weight loss and appetite control. Research has shown that people using semaglutide are less likely to smoke or depend on nicotine.

Other studies found that it may reduce alcohol intake by around 40%. Scientists believe this could be because the medication helps balance dopamine (a brain chemical linked to pleasure and reward), but more studies are needed to understand how this works.

Liver benefits

Wegovy may benefit liver health in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), now often called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Studies show semaglutide can reduce liver fat and inflammation. It has also been found to be safe for people who already have liver disease:

in one study, about 6 in 10 people taking semaglutide showed signs that their liver was healing from NASH (a serious fatty liver condition), compared with 2 in 10 people taking a placebo
another study found that people using semaglutide were more likely to have less fat in their liver
in a larger trial, about 4 in 10 people taking semaglutide showed less liver scarring, and about 6 in 10 had signs that their liver inflammation was improving
in people with more serious liver damage (called cirrhosis), semaglutide did not repair the scarring, but it was safe to use and caused no new problems

These findings suggest Wegovy can help lower liver fat and inflammation, with emerging evidence for fibrosis benefits, while appearing safe in people with stable liver disease under specialist care.

Potential benefits for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Wegovy is not an approved treatment for PCOS, but early research suggests that GLP-1 medications like semaglutide could help manage some symptoms. These medications can improve how the body uses insulin and support weight loss, which may help regulate menstrual cycles.

PCOS can cause insulin resistance and higher body weight, which may lead to irregular periods and higher levels of male hormones (androgens).

Studies show that women with PCOS using low doses of semaglutide lost weight in about 80% of cases. Those who lost more than 10% of their body weight noticed their periods became more regular.

Reviews and meta-analyses also support the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists for the treatment of PCOS in people with obesity, showing that they can:

✓ help lower weight

✓ improve insulin sensitivity

✓ reduce testosterone levels, which may improve PCOS symptoms like acne or excess body hair growth and hair loss on the scalp

Sleep benefits

Weight loss achieved with Wegovy can improve sleep quality and reduce the risk of sleep-related breathing problems. Many people who lose weight say they sleep better, feel more rested, and snore less at night.

Obstructive sleep apnoea happens when the upper airway becomes blocked during sleep, often due to excess tissue around the throat. Weight loss with Wegovy reduces this pressure, helping air flow more freely at night. Clinical studies show that even a 10 to 15% reduction in body weight can significantly lower the severity of sleep apnoea and reduce the need for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) support.

Colon cancer

People who are overweight or have type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of developing bowel (colorectal) cancer. This is partly due to high blood sugar, inflammation, and extra body fat.

A large study of more than 1.2 million people with type 2 diabetes found that those taking GLP-1 medications like semaglutide had a much lower risk of getting bowel cancer, and the risk was:

44% lower than in people taking insulin
25% lower than in people taking metformin
up to 50% lower in people who were overweight or obese, compared to insulin users

Experts say these results are promising but still early. The lower risk may be linked to better blood sugar control, less inflammation, and weight loss. More research is needed to understand exactly how GLP-1 medications might help protect against cancer.

Improved quality of life

Wegovy helps people feel healthier in many ways. Along with weight loss, many people say they have more energy, feel more comfortable, and become more confident as their health improves.

Success Stories From Our Patients

Fiona, Newcastle

“It feels good to look in the mirror...”

“... and I feel much happier than before. Everything – so life in general – feels better.”

Neil, H., Scotland

“I use the phrase genuinely life changing...”

“... I feel normal again and not embarrassed about my size.”

A. P., London

“At my heaviest, I simply didn't recognise myself...”

“... Today, I feel like my old (youthful) self.”

Anna, Scotland

“I have regained so much more stamina and energy...”

“... since I started taking the medication - the entire experience is definitely worth it!”

Physical improvements

Weight loss can make everyday activities feel easier and less tiring. People often find they have:

greater mobility, which helps with exercise and daily tasks
reduced joint pain caused by excess pressure on knees, hips, and back
higher energy levels, leading to more stamina and better sleep

These physical changes can encourage an active lifestyle, helping maintain long-term health benefits.

Psychological benefits

Beyond physical health, many people notice better mental wellbeing after losing weight. Feeling healthier and more capable often improves self-esteem, body image, and confidence. Better sleep and reduced pain can also lift mood and lower stress levels, helping people feel more positive.

Together, these improvements can make daily life more enjoyable and support sustainable lifestyle habits that promote long-term health.

Medically reviewed by

Dr Brenda Ikeji

Brenda studied medicine at St Georges University of London and has most recently worked in John Radcliffe Oxford University Hospitals, covering acute and general medicine.

Last reviewed: 18 Nov 2025