Wegovy® showed an average 22.6% weight loss for premenopausal women with obesity, with more than 4 in 10 (41.4%) achieving 25% or more weight loss1
Substantial weight loss was consistent across all menopausal stages, as well as major reductions in waist circumference, a key indicator of metabolic health1
Women taking Wegovy® had an average 42–45% lower risk of migraine starting six months after initiation, and a 25% lower risk of depression, compared with menopausal hormone therapy alone2
Bagsværd, Denmark, 12 May 2026 – Novo Nordisk today announced data demonstrating that Wegovy® (semaglutide 2.4 mg and 7.2 mg) delivers substantial and consistent weight-loss results for women with obesity across reproductive life stages, from premenopausal years through the menopause transition and beyond1. The menopausal stages are perimenopause (the transition phase), menopause and postmenopause (after menopause).
The findings are based on the STEP UP clinical weight management trial, the landmark SELECT clinical cardiovascular trial and one large-scale real-world evidence study, all presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey1-3. The studies show that when women with obesity lose weight with semaglutide, they improve their body composition with reduced waist circumference, indicative of less visceral fat, and they also reduce their risk of heart attacks and strokes while improving their quality of life, from migraine burden to depression and menopause symptoms1-3
Nearly one in five women worldwide are now living with obesity, and the burden intensifies during the menopause years, when hormonal changes drive weight gain, redistribute fat to the abdomen, and increase cardiometabolic risk4-6. During menopause years, women’s risk of heart attack rises notably and to the same level of men’s cardiovascular risk7-9. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in women worldwide, claiming more lives than all cancers combined10. Yet women’s cardiovascular symptoms are frequently dismissed or misdiagnosed, and women remain underrepresented in heart disease research7
“For women with obesity, hormonal changes during menopause can drive weight gain and increase the risk of a heart attack,” 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.”
Weight loss and heart health data1,3
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® (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 ≥30 kg/m2) to the overweight (body mass index ≥25 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
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
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
“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, 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.”
Wegovy® and reduced risk of migraines2
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® alone or a combination of both. The women taking Wegovy® 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® with or without menopausal hormone therapy, was associated with a lower risk of migraine and depression compared to taking menopausal hormone therapy alone
