New Drugs Have Multiple Benefits in Addition to Weight Loss

GLP-1 receptor agonists protect the heart and other organs in many ways.

Published: February 19, 2026

Screen Shot 2026-02-07 at 6.39.59 PM — © Jacob Wackerhausen | Getty Images GLP-1 RAs give patients plenty of reason to smile. These drugs reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, cardiac arrest and kidney disease, while benefiting patients with heart failure, obstructive sleep apnea, fatty liver disease and many other conditions.

If any class of drugs could be said to have superpowers, it would be glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), which were developed for blood sugar control in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). In clinical trials, the drugs were found to cause unprecedented amounts of weight loss and, subsequently, lower the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).