“For women with obesity, hormonal changes during menopause can drive weight gain and increase the risk of a heart attack,\u201d said Mette Thomsen, group vice president and head of Global Medical Affairs at Novo Nordisk. “New clinical and real-world data presented at ECO demonstrate that effective weight management with semaglutide around menopause addresses medical complications of obesity, such as heart disease and metabolic dysfunction. But it can also help address daily burdens such as migraine, depression and menopause-related challenges. We are excited to share new insights that may benefit the many women living with obesity.”<\/p>\n
Weight loss and heart health data1,3<\/p>\n
In a post-hoc analysis of the STEP UP trial, premenopausal women with obesity lost an average of 22.6%* of their body weight on once-weekly high-dose Wegovy\u00ae (semaglutide 7.2 mg) with over 4 in 10 (41.4%) achieving exceptional 25% or more weight loss, compared with placebo. Perimenopausal and postmenopausal women achieved weight loss of 19.7% and 19.8%, respectively*. By the end of the trial (week 72), nearly half of women in all groups had shifted from obesity categories (body mass index \u226530 kg\/m2) to the overweight (body mass index \u226525 kg\/m2) or normal range weight categories (body mass index 18.5-24.9 kg\/m2). The average waist circumference reduction was 17.5%, 15.6% and 15.3% in pre, peri, and postmenopausal women, respectively, indicating major loss of dangerous visceral fat.<\/p>\n
These findings indicate that treatment with semaglutide consistently benefits women with significant weight loss throughout all life stages and that early treatment, before the menopause transition begins, could lead to additional weight loss.<\/p>\n
Average weight loss and waist circumference reduction at 72 weeks for women taking<\/p>\n
semaglutide 7.2 mg in the STEP UP trial<\/p>\n
Menopausal stageWeight loss*Waist circumference reduction*Premenopause22.6%17.5%Perimenopause19.7%15.6%Postmenopause19.8%15.3% * Treatment effect if all people adhered to treatment<\/p>\n
In a post-hoc analysis of the SELECT trial, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women with obesity and heart disease experienced meaningful risk reductions in heart attacks, strokes and cardiovascular death. The results were consistent with the overall SELECT trial findings and showed a numerically larger risk reduction in the perimenopausal women (42% lower risk compared to placebo) compared to the postmenopausal women (13% lower risk compared to placebo), although the difference between the groups was not statistically significant. These findings suggest that semaglutide can lower the cardiovascular risks significantly in women with obesity going through menopause, regardless of their menopausal stage.<\/p>\n
“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,\u201d said Dr Emilia Huvinen, Gynaecologist researcher and associate professor at 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wegovy\u00ae and reduced risk of migraines2<\/p>\n
As well as risks to physical health, obesity can drastically impact quality of life and is a recognised risk factor for chronic migraine – a debilitating condition that disproportionately affects women11-13. In a 1-year US real-world study of over 34,000 women during menopause took menopausal hormone therapy alone, Wegovy\u00ae alone or a combination of both. The women taking Wegovy\u00ae alone versus menopausal hormone therapy alone had an average 42-45% lower risk of migraine starting six months after initiation and continuing throughout the study, and 25% lower risk of depression, compared with those who took menopausal hormone therapy alone. Findings showed that taking Wegovy\u00ae with or without menopausal hormone therapy, was associated with a lower risk of migraine and depression compared to taking menopausal hormone therapy alone.<\/p>\n
About obesity, women and menopause<\/p>\n
Obesity affects approximately 504 million women worldwide – nearly 1 in 5 women globally4. Obesity is associated with increased risk of numerous serious health conditions, including cardiovascular disease (the leading cause of death in women worldwide according to the World Heart Federation), type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, osteoarthritis, sleep apnoea and mental health disorders4,7,14.<\/p>\n
Women face unique challenges related to obesity across the lifespan, including weight gain during pregnancy, the perimenopause\/menopause transition (when hormonal changes promote abdominal fat accumulation and increase cardiometabolic risk), and higher rates of certain obesity-related complications such as migraine and depression5,15-17. An estimated 450 million women worldwide experience menopause or perimenopause symptoms, with roughly 80% reporting that menopause interferes with their lives and one-third experiencing depression during this transition18,19.<\/p>\n
About Wegovy\u00ae20,21<\/p>\n
Wegovy\u00ae is approved as once-daily Wegovy\u00ae pill (semaglutide tablet 25 mg) by the FDA and once-weekly Wegovy\u00ae injection (2.4 mg and 7.2 mg) by the FDA, EMA and other regulatory authorities worldwide. The Wegovy\u00ae pill is currently pending marketing approval from the EMA and other regulatory authorities.<\/p>\n
Wegovy\u00ae is indicated to reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long term in adults with obesity or overweight and in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbid condition, and approved by the FDA to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, such as death, heart attack or stroke in adults with known heart disease and either obesity or overweight. Furthermore, Wegovy\u00ae injection is indicated to reduce excess body weight and maintain long-term weight reduction in paediatric patients aged 12 years and older. It is approved by the FDA for the treatment of MASH in adults with moderate to advanced liver scarring (fibrosis), but not in those with cirrhosis of the liver.<\/p>\n
About the STEP UP trials22,23<\/p>\n
Novo Nordisk has completed two trials, STEP UP and STEP UP T2D, investigating the efficacy and safety of semaglutide 7.2 mg in people with obesity with or without type 2 diabetes. The 72-week STEP UP trial was a randomised, double-blinded, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, superiority trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of semaglutide 7.2 mg compared to semaglutide 2.4 mg and placebo as an adjunct to lifestyle intervention. The trial included 1,407 adults with a BMI \u226530 kg\/m2 without diabetes. The primary objective was to demonstrate the superiority of semaglutide 7.2 mg against placebo on weight loss. Key confirmatory secondary endpoints included the number of participants achieving 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% weight loss, respectively. The 72-week STEP UP T2D trial investigated semaglutide 7.2 mg in 512 adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes, with the primary objective to demonstrate superiority of semaglutide 7.2 mg against placebo on weight loss.<\/p>\n
About the SELECT trial24<\/p>\n
SELECT was a randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of Wegovy\u00ae (semaglutide 2.4 mg) versus placebo as an adjunct to standard of care for the prevention of MACE in people with overweight or obesity and established CVD with no prior history of diabetes. People included in the trial were aged \u226545 years with a body mass index (BMI) of \u226527 kg\/m2. The primary objective of the SELECT trial was to demonstrate the superiority of Wegovy\u00ae compared to placebo with respect to reducing the incidence of 3-point MACE consisting of cardiovascular death, non-fatal heart attack (myocardial infarction) or non-fatal stroke.<\/p>\n
About Novo Nordisk<\/p>\n
Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our\u00a0purpose is to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases built upon our heritage in diabetes.\u00a0We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines,\u00a0and working to prevent and\u00a0ultimately cure\u00a0disease.\u00a0Novo Nordisk employs about\u00a067,900\u00a0people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. For more information, visit\u00a0novonordisk.com<\/a>,\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0Instagram<\/a>,\u00a0X<\/a>,\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0YouTube<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Contacts for further information<\/p>\n _______________________<\/p>\n References<\/p>\n 1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Huvinen E, Jacobsen CSF, Abercrombie AK, et al. Body Weight Loss With Semaglutide 7.2 mg is Independent of Menopausal Status in Women With Obesity: A Post Hoc Analysis of the STEP UP Trial. Oral symposium presentation at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) 2026; 12-15 May 2026; Istanbul, T\u00fcrkiye.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Andrade MDH, Hjorth CF, Nance N, et al. Associations of Semaglutide, Alone or With Concomitant Menopausal Hormone Therapy, With the Onset of Menopause-Related Symptoms in a Real-World Cohort. Oral symposium presentation at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) 2026; 12-15 May 2026; Istanbul, T\u00fcrkiye.<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Huvinen E, Michos ED, Horn DB, et al. Impact of Semaglutide 2.4mg on MACE in Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Women With Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease. Oral symposium presentation at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) 2026; 12-15 May 2026; Istanbul, T\u00fcrkiye.<\/p>\n 4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0World Obesity. Prevalence of Obesity. Available at: https:\/\/www.worldobesity.org\/about\/about-obesity\/prevalence-of-obesity<\/a> Last accessed: April 2026.<\/p>\n 5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Marlatt KL, Pitynski-Miller DR, Gavin KM, et al. Body composition and cardiometabolic health across the menopause transition. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2022;30:14-27.<\/p>\n 6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0World Obesity Federation. World Obesity Atlas 2023. Available at: https:\/\/s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/wof-files\/World_Obesity_Atlas_2023_Report.pdf<\/a>. Last accessed: April 2026.<\/p>\n 7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Vogel B, Acevedo M, Appelman Y, et al. The Lancet women and cardiovascular disease Commission: reducing the global burden by 2030. The Lancet. 2021;397:2385-2438.<\/p>\n 8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0El Khoudary SR, Aggarwal B, Beckie TM, et al. Menopause Transition and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Implications for Timing of Early Prevention: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2020;142:e506-e532.<\/p>\n 9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ishaaya EC, Kinninger A, Schwarzman L, et al. CAC progression in men and women: Is there an inflection at menopause? J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr. 2025;19:494-495.<\/p>\n 10.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Uddenberg ER, Safwan N, Saadedine M, et al. Menopause transition and cardiovascular disease risk. Maturitas. 2024;185:107974.<\/p>\n 11.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pavlovic JM, Vieira JR, Lipton RB, et al. Association Between Obesity and Migraine in Women. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2017;21:41.<\/p>\n 12.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Vetvik KG and MacGregor EA. Sex differences in the epidemiology, clinical features, and pathophysiology of migraine. Lancet Neurol. 2017;16:76-87.<\/p>\n 13.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Gelaye B, Sacco S, Brown WJ, et al. Body composition status and the risk of migraine: A meta-analysis. Neurology. 2017;88:1795-1804.<\/p>\n 14.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Bl\u00fcher M. An overview of obesity-related complications: The epidemiological evidence linking body weight and other markers of obesity to adverse health outcomes. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. 2025;27:3-19.<\/p>\n 15.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Waliszewska-Prosol M, Grandi G, Ornello R, et al. Menopause, Perimenopause, and Migraine: Understanding the Intersections and Implications for Treatment. Neurol Ther. 2025;14:665-680.<\/p>\n 16.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Turek J and Gasior L. Estrogen fluctuations during the menopausal transition are a risk factor for depressive disorders. Pharmacol Rep. 2023;75:32-43.<\/p>\n 17.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Opoku AA, Abushama M and Konje JC. Obesity and menopause. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2023;88:102348.<\/p>\n 18.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Delanerolle G, Phiri P, Elneil S, et al. Menopause: a global health and wellbeing issue that needs urgent attention. The Lancet Global Health. 2025;13:e196-e198.<\/p>\n 19.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0McKinsey & Company. Closing the data gaps in women\u2019s health. Available at: https:\/\/www.mckinsey.com\/mhi\/our-insights\/closing-the-data-gaps-in-womens-health#\/<\/a> Last accessed: April 2026.<\/p>\n 20.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Wegovy\u00ae (semaglutide): US Prescribing Information. [online]. Available at: https:\/\/www.novo-pi.com\/wegovy.pdf<\/a>. Last accessed: May 2026.<\/p>\n 21.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Wegovy\u00ae (semaglutide): Summary of Product Characteristics. [online]. Available at: https:\/\/www.ema.europa.eu\/en\/documents\/product-information\/wegovy-epar-product-information_en.pdf<\/a> Last accessed: May 2026.<\/p>\n 22.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Wharton S, Freitas P, Hjelmes\u00e6th J, et al. Once-weekly semaglutide 7.2 mg in adults with obesity (STEP UP): a randomised, controlled, phase 3b trial. Lancet Diabetes Endo. 2025;13:949-963.<\/p>\n 23.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Lingvay I, Bergenheim SJ, Buse JB, et al. Once-weekly semaglutide 7.2 mg in adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes (STEP UP T2D): a randomised, controlled, phase 3b trial. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2025;13:935-948.<\/p>\n 24.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Lincoff AM, Brown-Frandsen K, Colhoun HM, et al. Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Obesity without Diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2023;389:2221-2232.<\/p>\n Attachment<\/p>\n
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