A worldwide study published on Tuesday found that the weight loss drug Wegovy has significant benefits for heart health, reducing heart attacks and stroke incidents by 20%.

"People living with obesity have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, but to date, there are no approved weight management medications proven to deliver effective weight management while also reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death," said Martin Holst Lange, executive vice president for development at Novo Nordisk, the maker of semaglutide, found in Wegovy and the Type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic.

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The SELECT study started in 2018 and examined over 17,000 patients over the age of 45 from 41 countries. Researchers measured three primary adverse outcomes — cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and nonfatal strokes — all of which were reduced in patients taking Wegovy.

Both of Novo Nordisk's semaglutide products have become widely popular as social media influencers have touted their effects. High out-of-pocket costs and product shortages for Wegovy and Ozempic have made it difficult to obtain the drugs.

The Danish pharmaceutical company has also come under investigation in recent weeks in connection to semaglutide's adverse side effects, including in relation to thoughts of self-harm and suicide in patients. A Louisiana woman is also suing Novo Nordisk and rival weight loss drug manufacturer Eli Lilly for gastrointestinal distress caused by their diabetes management products.

Novo Nordisk previously told the Washington Examiner that patient safety is its top priority and that the company is taking all claims very seriously.

Several medical financial analysts commented on Tuesday's study, saying its findings will change the practice of obesity medicine and its corresponding insurance coverage.

"We see this as a pivotal result which has the potential to substantially change the obesity treatment paradigm, not only increasing patient stay-time on the drug (potentially even doubling the stay time of the drug to 24 months) but also revolutionizing physician attitudes to treating obesity early, which could increase the penetration of obesity treatment and particularly Wegovy," Richard Vosser of JPMorgan told Reuters.

Terence McManus of Bellevue Asset Management also said Wegovy's preventive care benefits would be significant for the healthcare system as a whole.

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"Cardiovascular events such as strokes are expensive for healthcare systems through the increased care such patients need, therefore, reducing these events should be supportive of pharmacoeconomic evaluations," McManus said.

Health insurance providers have slowly begun to cover Wegovy and the off-label use of Ozempic as a weight loss drug. Lawmakers also recently introduced bipartisan and bicameral legislation to have Medicare cover both prescription and therapeutic treatments for obesity.