A New Purpose for GLP‑1 Medications

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP‑1) medications have made headlines as effective weight loss treatments, but their benefits extend far beyond the scale. Originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, GLP‑1 therapies like semaglutide (brand names Wegovy®, Ozempic®) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) are now being recognized for boosting heart health and longevity. This is exciting news, as cardiovascular disease remains the world’s leading cause of death (accounting for roughly 21 million deaths per year), and obesity is a major contributor.

  • How can GLP‑1 therapy help reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other complications even in people without diabetes?
  • Why these medications could add years to your life.
  • How can Mobile Care Health offer convenient telehealth access to GLP‑1 treatments when appropriate – especially helpful if insurance isn’t covering your prescription – and how can you get started?

What Are GLP‑1 Medications?

GLP‑1 medications mimic a natural hormone (GLP-1) that helps regulate blood sugar, insulin, and appetite. By activating GLP-1 receptors in the body, these drugs slow digestion and reduce hunger, leading to eating less and weight loss. They also help the pancreas release insulin after meals, keeping blood sugar levels in check. Popular examples include semaglutide and tirzepatide. Semaglutide is a pure GLP‑1 receptor agonist, while tirzepatide is a dual-action drug (it activates GLP-1 and another hormone called GIP). Both are weekly injections that have shown remarkable results for weight management.

  • Semaglutide (Wegovy®, Ozempic®): First used for diabetes, semaglutide is now FDA-approved at a higher dose (2.4 mg weekly as Wegovy) for chronic weight management in people with obesity.

  • Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®): Approved for type 2 diabetes, tirzepatide is expected to gain approval for weight loss as well. It combines GLP-1 and GIP hormone activity.

Weight Loss and Heart Health: Why It Matters

GLP-1 therapies are not magic pills, but they make meaningful, lasting weight loss possible. Clinical trials have shown that patients often lose 15–20% of their body weight with continued treatment. But the real impact isn’t just dropping 20–40 pounds—it’s keeping that weight off for 20–40 years. Maintaining a healthier weight over decades compounds the benefits: lower blood pressure, improved cholesterol, reduced blood sugar, and far less strain on the heart and blood vessels. That’s where these therapies truly change the trajectory of health and longevity.

New Evidence: Cutting Heart Attack and Stroke Risk in Non-Diabetics

 Two major pieces of research – one clinical trial and one real-world study – have shown that GLP‑1 therapy can prevent serious cardiovascular events in people who are overweight or are obese even if they do not have diabetes. This is a game-changer for preventive medicine and longevity.

1. The SELECT Trial (2023) – This was a landmark clinical trial involving over 17,500 adults across 41 countries, all of whom were overweight or obese and had established cardiovascular disease but no diabetes. Participants were randomly assigned to receive weekly semaglutide (Wegovy® 2.4 mg) or a placebo, and they were followed for about 3.8 years on average.

The results were remarkable: those taking semaglutide had a 20% lower risk of major cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death) compared to the placebo group.

They also lost an average of 9.4% of their body weight during the study. According to the researchers, this is the first time any medication or lifestyle intervention has been proven to reduce cardiovascular events in people with obesity who aren’t diabetic.

Previously, this benefit had only been demonstrated with diet/exercise alone in a clinical trial setting. These findings were so significant that semaglutide is now the only GLP-1 medication with proven heart protection for this population.

2. The STEER Study (ESC Congress 2025) – While SELECT was a randomized trial, another source of insight is real-world evidence. The STEER study (Semaglutide and Tirzepatide Effects on Cardiovascular Outcomes in People With Overweight or Obesity in the Real World) analyzed health data from over 20,000 U.S. patients in routine practice. Like SELECT, it focused on people with obesity and established cardiovascular disease without diabetes. STEER compared those who went on semaglutide (Wegovy®) with those who went on tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) to see who had more heart problems over time. The findings, presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in 2025, were striking:

  • Semaglutide users had significantly fewer major cardiovascular events than tirzepatide users. In all patients who started treatment (over ~8 months average follow-up), the semaglutide group saw about a 29% lower risk of heart attack, stroke, or death from any cause compared to the tirzepatide group. Put simply, people on semaglutide were less likely to suffer a heart-related emergency or die than those on the alternative therapy.

  • For those who stayed on semaglutide consistently, the benefit was even greater. In patients with no gaps in treatment, semaglutide was associated with a 57% reduction in the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death compared to tirzepatide. In raw numbers, only 15 individuals (0.1%) on semaglutide experienced such an event, versus 39 individuals (0.4%) on tirzepatide, over a few months of follow-up. This suggests that adherence matters – staying on the medication continuously maximized the protective effect.

These real-world results support what SELECT and other trials hinted: semaglutide in particular offers strong cardiovascular protection, beyond what might be expected from weight loss alone. It’s important to note that tirzepatide is also likely beneficial for heart health, but it has not yet demonstrated the same direct cardiovascular outcome reductions in studies. Ongoing trials will reveal more about tirzepatide’s cardiac effects, but STEER indicates that the heart benefits cannot be assumed to be identical across all GLP-1-based treatments. In other words, semaglutide currently stands out as the GLP‑1 medication with proven ability to “cut heart attack and stroke risk” in high-risk patients.

For health-conscious individuals, this is big news. It means that if you have obesity or other cardiovascular risk factors, GLP-1 therapy could significantly lower your chances of a heart attack or stroke, even if you’re not diabetic. By tackling obesity and its consequences, these medications are essentially treating heart disease before it happens. Fewer heart attacks and strokes don’t just save lives – they also preserve quality of life and independence as we age.

GLP‑1 Therapy and Longevity

Given their impact on major causes of death, it’s no stretch to say GLP-1 medications can be tools for longevity. Heart attacks and strokes are not only life-threatening; they can also lead to chronic disability. Preventing these events helps you live longer and stay healthier in your later years. In the STEER analysis, semaglutide was associated with reduced risk of death from any cause as well – a 29% lower risk in the general cohort, compared to those on tirzepatide. While longer follow-up is needed, this hint at lower mortality aligns with the idea that improving weight and cardiovascular health extends lifespan.

There are other longevity-related benefits of GLP-1 therapy:

  • Diabetes Prevention: GLP-1 medications dramatically lower the chances of developing type 2 diabetes in at-risk individuals. For example, in one trial of tirzepatide, only ~0.5% of patients on the highest dose developed diabetes over ~3 years, versus 13% of similar patients on placebo. Avoiding diabetes means avoiding its many complications (kidney disease, nerve damage, etc.), contributing to a healthier, longer life.

  • Improved Overall Metabolic Health: Beyond weight loss, GLP-1 treatments improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels (partly due to weight loss, partly due to direct effects). In trials, patients on these medications saw reductions in systolic blood pressure and improvements in markers like C-reactive protein (an inflammation indicator). A healthier metabolic profile reduces strain on organs and may lower the risk of other chronic conditions over time.

  • Enhanced Quality of Life: Many patients report not only feeling lighter but also having more energy, better mobility, and improved confidence as they lose weight with GLP-1 therapy. This can encourage more physical activity and positive lifestyle changes – creating a virtuous cycle that further supports healthy aging. There’s even ongoing research into whether GLP-1 drugs have benefits for conditions like fatty liver disease and cognitive health. While those areas are still being studied, it’s clear that achieving a healthier weight reverberates across nearly every system in the body, potentially staving off age-related ailments.

Accessing GLP‑1 Therapy Through Telehealth

With such promising benefits, you might wonder: How can I get access to GLP-1 medications? Drugs like semaglutide with B12 and tirzepatide with B12 require a prescription and oversight by a healthcare provider, given their potent effects and the need to manage any side effects. They are usually recommended for individuals with a BMI indicating obesity or overweight with other health risks. In many cases, your primary care physician or specialist might prescribe a GLP-1 if you meet criteria (for example, having a BMI ≥30, or ≥27 with conditions like hypertension).

However, insurance coverage for these medications can be a challenge. Some insurers have been reluctant to cover them when prescribed for obesity (as opposed to diabetes), viewing weight loss as non-essential or lifestyle-related. This has unfortunately left many patients who could benefit scrambling for options. Mobile Care Health is here to help bridge that gap. We offer telehealth access to GLP-1 therapy for eligible patients, ensuring that you can obtain these medications when appropriate even if your insurance isn’t cooperative.

How Mobile Care Health Works:

  • Telehealth Consultation: You can book an online consultation with one of our licensed providers who are experienced in weight management and metabolic health. They will review your medical history, discuss your health goals, and determine if a GLP-1 medication is medically appropriate for you. This can all be done from the comfort of your home via a video call.

  • Prescription and Support: If you are a candidate for therapy, our provider can prescribe a GLP-1 medication. We also provide guidance on how to use the medication with weekly check-ins.. Education on diet and lifestyle to maximize results is part of our support, because medications work best in conjunction with healthy habits.

  • Follow-Up: Through our telehealth platform, we follow up regularly to monitor your progress, address any side effects, and adjust treatment as needed. Follow-up appointments ensure you are losing weight safely and reaping the heart-health benefits of the therapy. This ongoing care is key to staying on track until you reach your health goals.

By offering GLP-1 therapy via telemedicine, Mobile Care Health removes the barriers of geography. You get expert care and access to cutting-edge medications without having to wait months for a specialist appointment or fight insurance alone. Our goal is to make these life-improving treatments accessible to those who need them, in a responsible and personalized manner.

Take Charge of Your Heart Health – Book a Consultation Today

At Mobile Care Health, we’re excited to bring this medical advancement directly to you through our telehealth services. Our team has already helped thousands of patients lose weight, feel better, and gain confidence in protecting their long-term health. We work with adults who have or are at risk of conditions like prediabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease, and we understand the unique challenges you face.

Ready to take the next step? 🩺 Book a consultation with Mobile Care Health today and find out if GLP-1 therapy is right for you. Our providers will give you an honest assessment and, if appropriate, get you started on treatment that could transform your health trajectory. Don’t let insurance hurdles or uncertainty hold you back – your heart and longevity are worth it.

Compounded tirzepatide/semaglutide with vitamin B12 is prepared by a state-licensed pharmacy for individual patients and has not been reviewed or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safety, effectiveness, or quality. FDA-approved medications in this class are available; your provider will discuss all options and determine what is appropriate for you. Individual results vary. Medication use requires medical supervision and ongoing lifestyle support.

Articles on this site are for general education and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult our providers for personalized recommendations