ECO 2026
Wegovy benefits may extend beyond weight loss in menopausal women
Clinical Takeaway: Women with obesity achieved substantial weight loss and cardiometabolic benefit with semaglutide regardless of menopausal stage. GLP-1 therapy during menopause may also offer quality-of-life benefits, including possible reductions in migraine burden.
Weight gain, visceral fat accumulation, and rising cardiovascular risk commonly accompany the menopause transition, yet women across menopausal stages remain underrepresented in obesity research. New analyses presented at the 2026 European Congress on Obesity evaluated whether semaglutide maintains efficacy across reproductive life stages and whether treatment may affect obesity-related conditions associated with menopause.
In a post hoc analysis of the STEP UP trial, premenopausal women with obesity receiving semaglutide 7.2 mg lost an average 22.6% of body weight at 72 weeks, with 41.4% achieving at least 25% weight loss. Perimenopausal and postmenopausal women lost 19.7% and 19.8%, respectively. Waist circumference decreased by roughly 15% to 18% across groups, suggesting substantial visceral fat reduction.
A separate post hoc analysis of the SELECT cardiovascular outcomes trial found that semaglutide reduced major adverse cardiovascular events in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women with obesity and cardiovascular disease, consistent with the overall SELECT population. Risk reduction was numerically greater in perimenopausal women than postmenopausal women, although the difference was not statistically significant.
Real-world data from more than 34,000 menopausal women suggested additional quality-of-life benefits. Women taking semaglutide had a 42% to 45% lower risk of migraine beginning 6 months after treatment initiation and a 25% lower risk of depression compared with women receiving menopausal hormone therapy alone.
“Menopause, associated weight gain and unwanted changes in cardiometabolic markers can significantly impact long-term health and well-being of women. Still, they remain one of the most neglected areas in obesity research,” said Dr. Emilia Huvinen of the University of Helsinki. “Whether we look at cardiovascular outcomes or weight loss across menopausal stages, semaglutide appears to offer meaningful benefits for women with obesity that extend well beyond weight loss alone.”
Source: Novo Nordisk. (2026, May 12). Press release. Wegovy delivered substantial weight loss in women across all menopause stages, plus heart and migraine protection, shown in new Novo Nordisk data at the European Congress on Obesity