Australia's Heart Foundation backs weight loss drugs to fight obesity and heart disease
Australia’s Heart Foundation has released new obesity guidelines urging weight loss drugs for patients with heart disease or high cardiac risk. The move comes as research suggests these medications may do more than just cut weight—they could also protect the heart. With nearly half the country expected to face obesity within a decade, the recommendations arrive at a critical time. The updated guidelines highlight GLP-1 drugs as a key tool in reducing heart attacks and strokes. Leading heart experts now back their use for high-risk patients, citing emerging evidence of cardiovascular benefits beyond weight loss.
For some, these drugs have already transformed lives. Teacher Scott Kenny lost 65kg after starting Mounjaro, reversing diabetes, hypertension, and even quitting smoking. He recalls wearing a 4XL shirt before his transformation—now, he describes his health turnaround as a new lease on life. Yet cost remains a major barrier. Monthly prescriptions run into hundreds of dollars, sparking calls for the federal government to widen subsidies for those most at risk. Advocates are also pushing drug companies to cut prices, arguing that patient health should come before profit. The Heart Foundation stresses that access must improve. Their goal is simple: ensure everyone who needs these medicines can afford them.
The guidelines arrive as obesity rates climb, with projections showing half of Australians could be affected by 2033. If subsidies expand and prices drop, more patients may soon benefit from drugs that could lower their risk of heart disease. For now, the focus remains on making these treatments available to those who need them most.
