Current research have raised alarms about GLP-1 medication, like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, highlighting that a good portion of the load misplaced could come from lean muscle mass. In truth, some research report that reductions in lean mass vary between 40% and 60% as a proportion of complete weight misplaced.
Nonetheless, Dr. Darshan Shah, board-certified surgeon, well being and wellness specialist, makes it clear: It’s not the drug, it’s what individuals do (or don’t do) whereas taking it that makes the distinction. This muscle loss isn’t an inevitable aspect impact of the remedy itself. As a substitute, it’s typically as a consequence of sufferers in lots of the printed research not being correctly educated on sustaining muscle throughout their weight reduction journey. “Folks in these research are given GLP-1s with none steerage on protein consumption, power coaching, or metabolic well being. After all they’re shedding muscle,” says Dr. Shah.
Muscle loss doesn’t must be a given. Should you use GLP-1s strategically, you may lose fats whereas conserving—and even gaining—muscle. For ladies, the stakes are even greater.
Dr. Jessica Shepherd, a board-certified OB/GYN, factors out that getting old already predisposes ladies to muscle loss and declining bone density, making it much more essential to protect lean mass throughout weight reduction.
“Girls ought to pay attention to this potential impact and keep on prime of it with their healthcare suppliers; commonly monitoring muscle mass can be certain that weight reduction doesn’t compromise total well being, significantly as ladies navigate the bodily adjustments that include getting old,” she says.
Dr. Shepherd provides that sustaining a nutritious diet with ample protein consumption and incorporating power coaching workout routines might help mitigate muscle loss. “By integrating focused power coaching, ladies can defend their bones, keep mobility, and assist long-term well being.”
Why Do GLP-1 Medicine Trigger Muscle Loss?
Dr. Shah explains that individuals are shedding muscle on GLP-1s for one major motive: “They aren’t consuming sufficient protein and energy.” The intense urge for food suppression causes many to unknowingly devour too few vitamins to maintain muscle tissue.
On prime of that, there’s one other issue at play: Many individuals on GLP-1s develop into much less energetic. Whereas not but extensively studied, Dr. Shah sees this pattern in sufferers. “I consider individuals on these medication typically really feel decrease vitality and, because of this, they transfer much less, work out much less, and in the end lose extra muscle mass than they should.” Plus, he provides, with out the stress from muscular tissues on bones, bones could have extra breakdown versus constructing. “So that you’ll completely lose bone mass as properly,” he says.
Dr. Arnold Avendano is a metabolic well being skilled and a former ER physician with 20 years of expertise. Avendano, who now focuses on useful medication, says that mineral deficiency is one more rising difficulty. Decrease meals consumption means decrease mineral consumption, decreased intestine biodiversity, and decrease absorption fee. “The mineral standing of sufferers on GLP-1s could swing out of stability, which in flip can have a damaging affect on lean mass and bone mineral density,” he says. “With out key minerals like magnesium, calcium, and potassium, muscle operate and bone well being take successful.”
How To Lose Fats, Not Muscle, on GLP-1 Medicine
Medical doctors like Dr. Shah, and Dr. Avendano, who work within the useful medication house, have a battle-tested protocol for sufferers utilizing GLP-1 medication with out sacrificing muscle. Right here’s what it’s essential do:
- Prioritize protein
- Energy prepare
- Complement correctly
They advocate 5 key dietary supplements which will assist keep muscle and metabolic well being whereas on GLP-1s:
- Creatine: Helps muscle retention and restoration.
- Vitamin D + K2: Essential for bone and muscle well being.
- Omega-3s: Helps with irritation and restoration.
- Magnesium: Helps muscle operate and insulin sensitivity.
- A high-quality multivitamin: To cowl any micronutrient gaps.
Enhance your intestine well being
Your intestine microbiome performs a significant position in your metabolic operate. To assist the physique develop into extra environment friendly in rising its ranges of endogenous GLP-1, Dr. Shah recommends taking a probiotic pressure referred to as Akkermansia muciniphila. It’s been proven to assist wholesome glucose metabolism, intestine barrier operate, and GLP-1 secretion. “There’s lots of analysis behind it,” he says, including, “I’m an enormous believer in Akkremansia as only a upkeep complement. So, I maintain my sufferers on it.”
Cycle your GLP-1 use and monitor progress
Neither Avendano nor Shah believes GLP-1 medication ought to be a long-term crutch. Avendano says that with long-term use, sufferers can plateau when utilizing these medicines. “That’s why I like to recommend biking on and off to advertise wholesome variations with out changing into depending on the drug,” he explains.
Dr. Shah provides that “we use them as a jump-start to assist individuals reset their metabolism and relationship with meals, however they shouldn’t be a without end answer.” He stated his method additionally contains monitoring a number of blood biomarkers equivalent to APOB ranges, LDL, triglyceride, C-reactive protein (CRP), homocysteine, and serum insulin ranges. Plus, he advises lots of his sufferers to make use of steady glucose displays to evaluate metabolic enhancements.
The Backside Line
The well being business wants extra analysis to completely perceive how these GLP-1 agonists affect long-term well being. Dr. Avendano says he’s curious to see what future outcomes will reveal as soon as we have now 10+ years value of knowledge on affected person well being and metabolic operate.
However for now, analysis exhibits that these medication, very similar to many prescription medicines, do provide advantages however not with out trade-offs. So when you assume you want a bit nudge on the load loss division, as an alternative of utilizing them as a fast repair, be good about it.
Take them with the intention to assist wean off of processed meals and alcohol, enhance your relationship with meals, and construct sustainable habits that assist long-term metabolic well being. Prioritize protein consumption, resistance coaching, and key vitamins to guard your muscle mass and bone density. Monitor your progress with common checkups and work with a healthcare supplier to make sure you’re shedding fats—not power.