Wegovy Cuts Waist Size by 11.6cm in East Asian Study

A recent clinical study focusing on East Asians, including Koreans, has revealed significant benefits of the weight-loss drug Wegovy (semaglutide) in reducing visceral fat and improving metabolic health. The STEP 6 trial, involving 437 East Asian participants from Korea and Japan, demonstrated that a 2.4mg dose of Wegovy administered over 68 weeks led to an average 40% reduction in visceral fat area compared to a placebo. This translated to an average decrease of 11.6 cm in waist circumference and improvements in metabolic indicators like blood pressure and blood sugar.

Visceral fat, which accumulates around internal organs, is known to increase the risk of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. East Asians are particularly susceptible to metabolic diseases even with a normal Body Mass Index (BMI) due to a higher proportion of visceral fat compared to Western populations. This study highlights Wegovy's potential to address this specific health concern.

Furthermore, the research indicated that Wegovy's benefits extend beyond fat reduction, with minimal muscle loss observed. A separate 12-month study, SEMALEAN, showed that while body fat decreased by up to 18%, muscle mass remained relatively stable. Muscle function also improved, with grip strength increasing by an average of 4.1 kgf and the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity decreasing from 49% to 33%.

Experts observe a paradigm shift in obesity treatment, moving beyond mere weight reduction to a more holistic approach that includes visceral fat reduction, metabolic health improvement, and muscle function preservation. A representative from Novo Nordisk Korea emphasized that the goal of obesity treatment is evolving towards "Quality Weight Loss," particularly crucial for East Asians prone to visceral fat accumulation. Managing not only weight but also waist circumference and metabolic health indicators is key.

“

The goal of obesity treatment is moving beyond simple weight loss to healthy weight loss (Quality Weight Loss). Especially for East Asians who are vulnerable to visceral fat accumulation, it is important to manage not only weight but also waist circumference and metabolic health indicators together.