A landmark study published in JAMA (August 2025) shines a powerful light on what we at Boli have long believed: GLP-1 and dual-agonist therapies are not just weight-loss tools—they are tools for transforming lives and protecting organs. The article, Semaglutide and Tirzepatide in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF), shows that patients with obesity + type 2 diabetes who begin treatment with semaglutide or tirzepatide have over 40% lower risk of hospitalization for heart failure or death, compared with those on a comparator drug with no known benefit in heart failure risk.
Key findings matter deeply:
- The reduced risk holds up in real-world, large cohort data (tens of thousands of patients), not just in tightly controlled trials.
- Tirzepatide did not show meaningful superiority over semaglutide in this outcome, which suggests the choice of therapy should be driven by patient profile, tolerance, cost, and support, not just hype.
- Safety profiles looked acceptable; no large new safety signals were detected in this study’s period.
Why This Changes Everything for the Market
The obesity-GLP-1 wave has mostly been seen through the lens of weight loss. But now the stakes are much higher: heart health, life expectancy, and hospital burden are in the picture. Regulatory bodies, insurers, and clinicians are going to take note.
Drugs that can lower risk of hospitalization or death by 40%+ become not just elective weight-management tools but likely staples in cardiometabolic disease management. The commercial opportunity shifts: it’s not enough to help people lose weight — you must show you prevent serious harms.
What Patients Need to Know
For individuals considering or already on GLP-1 or dual‐agonist therapy, this is potentially life-changing news. It validates that these treatments can protect the heart—not just reduce pounds. But protection does not happen automatically. It requires:
- correct patient selection
- monitoring, especially among those with HFpEF or heart failure risk factors
- support to maintain the medicine, manage side effects, ensure consistent use
This kind of study also provides hope and evidence that can help patients advocate for coverage, better guidance from their providers, and more comprehensive care.
What It Confirms for Boli
From where we stand at Boli, this is confirmation of several pillars of our approach:
- Holistic, evidence-based care — We’ve always believed that obesity medication must be part of a full framework: monitoring, supportive coaching, real-world outcomes, not just a prescription. This study supports our mission to deliver outcomes beyond the scale.
- Long-term outcome focus — Preventing hospitalizations, preserving heart function, reducing mortality risk—these are outcomes Boli is built to deliver toward. Weight loss without long-term health protection is only part of the story.
- Personalization of therapy — With tirzepatide and semaglutide both demonstrating strong benefit, choosing the right molecule for the right patient (considering comorbidities, kidney health, cardiovascular risk, cost, tolerability) becomes central. Boli’s capacity to individualize care (dose, support, follow-up) is more relevant than ever.
- Data & real-world evidence — This JAMA article proves the value of large-scale observational data in supplementing randomized trials. Boli aims to contribute to this evidence base, tracking how our supported patients fare—not just in weight, but in heart health, hospitalizations, and mortality.
Vision Ahead
We are entering a phase where obesity care is evolving into cardiovascular risk care. Treatments like semaglutide and tirzepatide are entering new territory: not just metabolic regulators but protectors of heart structure and function. For Boli, that means our job is to ensure every patient who begins treatment has the highest likelihood of reaping these broader benefits: creating care journeys that are safe, sustainable, and powerful.
At Boli, we don’t just believe in change. This study tells us change can be life or death. We’re here to deliver both.
