Heart Health

Weight-loss strategies to protect your heart

New guidelines recommend GLP-1 drugs as a first-line choice. Here's what you should you know about using these popular medications.

By , Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
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A man eats a meal with a GLP-1 weight loss medication injector on the table in front of his bowl.

About 40% of adults in this country have obesity, a chronic, debilitating disease that poses a serious threat to cardio­vascular health. Lifestyle changes — following a healthy diet and being more active — can help. But while such habits can nudge down the number on the scale, these people often need to lose much more weight to lower their risk of heart-related problems.

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About the Author

photo of Julie Corliss

Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter

Julie Corliss is the executive editor of the Harvard Heart Letter. Before working at Harvard, she was a medical writer and editor at HealthNews, a consumer newsletter affiliated with The New England Journal of Medicine. She … See Full Bio
View all posts by Julie Corliss

About the Reviewer

photo of Christopher P. Cannon, MD

Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing

Dr. Christopher P. Cannon is editor in chief of the Harvard Heart Letter. He is a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and senior physician in the Preventive Cardiology section of the Cardiovascular Division at … See Full Bio
View all posts by Christopher P. Cannon, MD
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